Lakeland, FL - Last night I caught an intense Regional Finals matchup between Lakeland Christian hosting Berkeley Prep. After a 40 minute lightning delay, fans packed the stands for this highly anticipated matchup.

On the mound for Lakeland Christian was Junior Daniel Hartley, but his evening would not last long. Cade Kurland led off the game with a single off the right-center fence. Anthony Castillo followed with a single, and Owen McElfatrick was hit by a pitch. Up came James Hankerson who launched a no doubt grand slam to right giving Berkeley a 4-0 lead.

Gunnett Carlson followed Hankerson with a single then two batters later, Wyatt Ewanowski hit a two run homer. Still in the first inning, Drew Canody would single and Cade Kurland would get another at bat and drive a deep two run homer to center giving Berkeley an 8-0 lead.

Senior Andrew Jergins got the start for Berkeley. The Georgetown recruit worked three clean innings before running into some trouble in the 4th.

Junior Anthony Schatz relieved Hartley for Lakeland Christian and held Berkeley scoreless the rest of the game. He struck out 10 in 6.1 shutout innings.

The game remained 8-0 Berkeley until the bottom of the 4th where after two walks, Zach Lester brought home the first runs of the game for LCS with a two-RBI double. Brody Donay stepped up next and hit a moonshot to right field for a two-run homer, silencing the Berkeley supporters.

Berkeley led 8-4 as freshman Rivers Kurland came on in relief. He would go 3.1 innings allowing 1 run with 5 strikeouts. Kurland was able to get Berkeley out of some big jams down the stretch.

Lakeland Christian added a run in the 7th but that would be it as Berkeley Prep would go on to win this won 8-5 and capture the Regional Championship.