Lake Brantley’s Luke Heyman hits 3 home runs; Eustis no-hits way into regional semifinals
Lake Brantley junior Luke Heyman does not recall ever hitting three home runs in a single game at any level during his playing career.
Heyman, a University of Florida commit, did just that Friday night while driving in seven runs and helping the Patriots (25-3) win 11-0 at home in five innings vs. Oviedo (18-10) during an FHSAA Class 7A regional quarterfinal.
“I was just happy to do well and get our team another game to play,” Heyman said. “Our seniors get to play another day, and we get to make another run at our goal of winning a state championship.”
Heyman was one of three Lake Brantley players who finished the night 3-for-3 at the plate, joining senior Matthew Delay and junior Evan Griffis. Delay hit a triple and Griffis doubled three times.
Connor Hensley held the Lions without a hit while striking out 10 batters and issuing two walks.
“It’s been like this all season,” Heyman said. “The bats have been hot, we played defense well and our pitcher pitched well, and hopefully we can do it again next week.”
The Patriots host Hagerty (16-11) in a regional semifinal matchup of district champions on Wednesday. The Seminole Athletic Conference opponents split a pair of games last month, with Lake Brantley winning 5-3 at home on April 6 and Hagerty prevailing 2-0 three days later.
The Huskies advanced with a 3-2 win vs. West Orange (18-9) as sophomore Garrett Baumann pitched a complete game and allowed just three hits. Schyler Arroyo had a pair of hits for the Huskies and Dylan Post drove in one run.
Bishop Moore (14-12) hosts Eustis (12-16) on Tuesday in a Class 4A semifinal in what will be the third meeting between the teams this spring. The Panthers defeated an injury-plagued Bishop Moore squad 11-1 on April 14. The Hornets won 13-0 for the District 6 championship on April 29.
Eustis, in the regional tournament for the first time since 2016, turned in an unusual no-hit performance Thursday during a 4-3 win at Citrus (16-10). Senior Scout Updike struck out eight batters and walked three in seven innings of work. Tanner Walker and Chase Roberts pitched the eighth inning during which Citrus scored its runs on an error and five walks before ultimately stranding the game-tying run on third base.
Ty Van Dyke drove in a run on a bunt in the top of the eighth during which the Panthers scored three other runs on walks while the bases were loaded.
Lake Minneola’s season came to an end in Class 5A during a 10-0 loss against Land O’ Lakes (18-8). The Hawks (17-8) helped head coach Kerry Whetro notch his 500th career win on April 15.
The First Academy (27-1) extended its win streak to 17 in a row after plating nine runs in the fourth inning during an 11-3 win against The Villages (16-9) in 3A. Junior Greg Pettay connected on a bases-clearing triple and finished the night 3-for-4 at the plate.
The Royals host Ocala Trinity Catholic (18-9) in a Region 2 semifinal on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
In Class 2A, Orangewood Christian (15-11) will host Mount Dora Christian Academy (20-6) after winning 7-2 against Real Life Christian (13-7). Friday’s result was incorrectly credited to Real Life as a win in our online and print coverage.
Dallas Dale and Ty’Quan Wiggins each tallied three hits as Mount Dora Christian won 15-0 on Friday against The Geneva School (12-9).
Baseball quarterfinal results
Class 7A
Region 1
Lake Mary (16-11) d. Jacksonville Mandarin (20-8), 6-2
Hagerty (16-11) d. West Orange (18-9), 3-2
Lake Brantley (25-3) d. Oviedo (18-10), 11-0 (5 inn.)
Region 2
Osceola (19-7) d. Dr. Phillips (16-9), 8-5
Lake Nona (18-8) d. Olympia (15-14), 5-3
Class 6A
Region 1
Orange Park Fleming Island (22-5) d. Lyman (6-18), 8-0
St. John Creekside (16-11) d. Winter Springs (13-14), 5-3
Region 2
Viera (18-6) d. St. Cloud (13-9), 2-1
New Smyrna Beach (16-8) d. Harmony (19-7-1), 4-1
Class 5A
Region 1
Jacksonville Stanton (16-12) d. Deltona Pine Ridge (8-14), 9-5
Region 2
Land O’ Lakes (18-8) d. Lake Minneola (17-8), 10-0
Class 4A
Region 2
Eustis (12-17) d. Citrus (16-10), 4-3 (8 inn.)
Bishop Moore (14-12) d. Tavares (11-16), 8-0
Class 3A
Region 2
Ocala Trinity Catholic (18-9) d. Trinity Prep (12-13), 9-0
The First Academy (27-1) d. The Villages (16-9), 11-3
Class 2A
Region 2
Mount Dora Christian (20-6) d. Geneva School (12-9), 15-0
Orangewood Christian (15-11) d. Real Life Christian (13-7), 7-2
This article originally appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email J.C. Carnahan at jcarnahan@orlandosentinel.com.
