Lake Wales blanks Lake Region to reach State Softball Final 4

Roy Fuoco, The Ledger
·4 min read
Lake Wales pitcher Macey Murphy celebrates with her teammates after defeating Lake Region, 4-0, on Friday night in the Class 4A, Region 3 final at Lake Wales.
Lake Wales pitcher Macey Murphy celebrates with her teammates after defeating Lake Region, 4-0, on Friday night in the Class 4A, Region 3 final at Lake Wales.

LAKE WALES — Lake Wales is going back to the state softball tournament but needed every bit of its arsenal to do so. The Highlanders got stellar pitching from freshman Macey Murphy, clutch hitting and solid fielding, and it all started with Zamya McBurrows' ability at the leadoff spot.

It all added up to Lake Wales defeating rival Lake Region, 4-0, on Thursday night in the Class 4A-Region 3 final.

The game was delayed for about 30 minutes in the fourth inning when the lights went out but that didn't stop the Highlanders.

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"Macey pitched (outstanding) tonight, and we had some timely hits," Lake Wales coach Mike Settle said. "Defense was outstanding again. We had great defense all season. This is just an exciting time. We had a couple of rough spells during the season, but we fought through them and I'm just so happy for the girls."

The victory sends Lake Wales (20-7) to the state softball tournament for the eighth time in school history, tying Lake Region with eight appearances for second-most in Polk County behind Bartow. Lake Wales, which has won two state titles ('07, '13) under Nancy Denton, now helping her successor, will be looking for its first under Mike Settle.

This is Lake Wales' second trip to the final four under Settle, the last time coming in 2018.

"This means a lot to be able to beat Lake Region and go on to state," junior third baseman Lydia Denton said. "It's a big deal. It's incredible."

Added senior Lexi Thomas: "At some point, you don't think you're going to make it, but we made it."

Most championship runs start with pitching, and Murphy outdueled the Lake Region combo of Alex Wright, the FACA District 12 Class 4A MVP, and Macey Meadows.

This was the third time that Lake Wales has defeated Lake Region this season.

"We faced them a few times, and I always want to do better than the other pitcher," Murphy said.

Murphy (13-5) lowered her ERA by tossing her third shutout of the season, all of which have come since the beginning of the district tournament. Pitching with a lead since the first inning, she allowed just two hits and struck out four with a pair of walks.

Lake Wales' Jaley Rodriguez scores on Zamya McBurrow's double in the third inning against Lake Region.
Lake Wales' Jaley Rodriguez scores on Zamya McBurrow's double in the third inning against Lake Region.

"It was definitely a lot easier (to pitch with a lead)," Murphy said. "It was a lot of weight off my back."

In her last 42 innings over six starts, Murphy has allowed just three earned runs for an ERA of 0.50

"When we have the lead and Macey's pitching good, I feel really confident," Denton said.

Lake Wales staked Murphy to a 3-0 lead after three innings, scoring one in the first without hit.

McBurrows walked then used her speed. She stole second then took third on a sacrifice fly in foul territory by first base. She then scored on Presley Smith's groundout to short.

McBurrows wasn't done. After No. 9 batter Jaley Rodriguez singled to lead off the third, McBurrows ripped a double to right-center to drive her home.

McBurrows then stole third and scored on a passed ball that didn't roll to far past the catcher.

Lake Wales pitcher Macey Murphy catches a pop fly to end the sixth inning against Lake Reigon as third baseman Lydia Denton backs up the play.
Lake Wales pitcher Macey Murphy catches a pop fly to end the sixth inning against Lake Reigon as third baseman Lydia Denton backs up the play.

"She (catcher) wasn't really running hard to the ball, she was jogging to it, so I knew it was my chance to go," McBurrows said.

Lake Region coach John Bridges replaced Wright with Meadows after McBurrows double. Meadows shut down Lake Wales and struck out six until the bottom of the sixth.

Presley Smith reached on an error with one out and Lexi Thomas singled. The with out outs, Lydia Denton, who celebrated her 17th birthday on Thursday with her teammate and twin sister Lilah, singled to drive in pinch-runner Kirsten McRae.

Lake Region's only scoring chance came in the second inning when Wright singled and Meadows walked on four pitches. After they were sacrificed to second and third, Murphy struck out the next batter on three pitches then induced a groundout to short.

Murphy walked a batter with two outs in the seventh then got the next batter to ground out back to her to clinch the victory.

"I was ecstatic," Denton said. "We're going to state. That's what we've been working for."

Roy Fuoco can be reached at roy.fuoco@theledger.com or at 863-802-7526. Follow him on Twitter: @RoyFuoco.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: State bound: Lake Wales blanks Lake Region to reach softball final four