McKeel Academy Rallies To Win Hawks Classic Championship

McKeel Academy won its 11th in a row and overcame a one-run deficit to beat Owasso, Oklahome 4-2 on Wednesday in the Dan Gianni Hawks Classic Championship at Santa Fe Catholic in Lakeland. Owasso came into the tournament as the #19 team in the nation, according to USA Today, and the program won its thirteenth state championship in 2015.

The Rams took a 1-0 lead in the first as Parker Dunn hit an RBI groundout that brought in Athanie Leeviraphan. Owasso carried that lead into the bottom of the third, where the Wildcats (16-2) rallied for three runs to get on top.

Clark Grenfell blasted a double to right to lead off the inning. After a popup, Josh Jano hit a line-drive single to left to plate Grenfell. Two batters later, Bryce Barter singled to left, and then Dylan Lefebvre followed with a single to left to bring home Jano. Barter scored on an error, but a strikeout ended the inning.

Shane Lang’s fly-ball single to center field scored Dunn to help Owasso narrow the margin to 3-2 the next inning, but McKeel came back for another run in the bottom of the inning. After singles by Blaine Wellslager and Ross Nelson, the next two batters struck out. Jano came through with a line-drive single to right to score Wellslager.

Owasso (4-3) threatened in the sixth, getting runners on at first and second with one out, but Nelson, in relief of starter Cody Woodring, induced a fly out and a ground out to squash the threat. Woodring pitched five and one-third strong innings, allowing three hits while walking three and striking out two.

The Wildcats are in action next on Tuesday when they take on the last team to beat them this season, district rival Avon Park. The Red Devils (11-2), who defeated McKeel 9-4 on February 26th, are 4-1 in 5A-10 like the Wildcats, so first place will be on the line. Avon Park has won its past three games.

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