BROOKSVILLE – On Thursday night, the Hernando Leopards (20-15) claimed a 4-0 victory over the Umatilla Bulldogs (19-16) to emerge victorious in the Region 2 Finals. The Purple and Gold took the rubber match at the Leopards’ Den thanks to a strong opening frame that catapulted them to a regional championship.
After the visitors’ offense was quickly retired in the top of the first, the Leopards’ batters went to work. On the second at bat, lefty Junior Kane Ellis stepped up to the plate and crushed a home run deep past the far rightfield wall. Fellow lefty and Junior Pitcher Austin Knierim must have thought it looked like fun because he blasted another ball to almost the same exact spot beyond the wall as Ellis had on the next at-bat.
Their consecutive homers in the bottom of the first would be more than enough to propel them to the regional final, too. Hernando Head Coach Tim Sims discussed how crucial the fast start was for game three and the entire series against the Bulldogs.
“All three of the coaches we coached against… They are very well coached teams,” Coach Sims said. “We knew we had to get out in front and continue to pound the zone to keep pressure to make them chase. We were able to do that in all three games… tonight they were locked in.”
Though there were still six frames to go, the Leopards head coach noticed that the early scores “kind of zipped the nerves” out of his guys. Throughout the rest of the night, the home team put their heads down and went to work.
The junior pitcher made the defense’s job easier by throwing a complete game, allowing only three hits, and painting the corners of the batters’ box the entire evening. Knierim’s performance drew effusive praise from his head coach after the game.
“What Austin needed was controlling emotion in pressure-packed situations,” said Coach Sims. “He is as laser focused with mental and physical effort of any player that I have coached. I mean, he has matured right before our eyes as far as playing situational baseball. I am so proud of him and was totally confident with him. The whole three playoff starts, [Austin] was the guy.”
Though he was initially against the three-game series format during the voting process, Hernando’s head coach acknowledged the passion for high school baseball that has been on display throughout these playoffs, and “the coaches are loving it” in other regions, too.
With the regionals behind them the Purple and Gold will advance to play in the Final Four of the 3A Baseball State Championships. The Leopards will travel to take on a one-seed in the tournament on May 19.
