Baseball: Lakeland Advances to State Final Four

When Lakeland's Jonathan de Marte pitched a six-hitter against Cornwall at Pace University in Pleasantville Tuesday afternoon, he secured an 11-3 victory for the Hornets to advance to the state final four. 

Lakeland's baseball team was tied 3-3 going into the bottom of the fourth inning in its regional championship game, then the Hornets (22-4) scored twice in the fourth to take a 5-3 lead and eventually win.

"Cornwall is a good team so we knew we were going to need more than three runs to win the game," said Jonathan de Marte, Lakeland winning pitcher and Gatorade New York State Player of the Year. "To get those two runs in the fourth made me feel good and then to be able to add more runs after that was great."

The Hornets came back in the bottom of the inning with three runs, after allowing a run in the top of the first. Chris Salvo scored on an error and David Judisky was driven on a single by de Marte, who himself stole third and hustled to home after an overthrow by the catcher.

"We just capitalized on their mistakes," de Marte said. "We made them pay for their errors, we stayed strong defensively and got some clutch hits."

Cornwall's competitive drive made them rally to tie the game with two runs in its half of the third. Then in the fourth Lakeland began to break away from Cornwall.

With one out, Dom Priore walked and stole second base. Then pinch-hitter Joe Arena came through with a two-out single that drove in Priore for what turned out to be the game-winning run. Lakeland got one more run in the inning before scoring six more times to ice the game.

It was a game that earned the Hornets a final-four date they have been looking forward to.

"It means a lot to be able to go to the state final four," de Marte said. "I have never been there before. We just have to now be ready to play on Saturday."

The Hornets have put themselves in a position to win a state championship, largely due to the one-two punch on the mound of Jonathan de Marte (11-1) and Justin McCarthy (8-1).

In order to win a state title, de Marte says there is no magic formula. It's just a matter of getting clutch hits, solid pitching and defense.

"As pitchers, we have to keep on throwing strikes," de Marte said.

Lakeland has not decided yet whether de Marte or McCarthy will pitch in the semifinals. The Hornets would be in good hands either way, de Marte said.

"Justin has had a great year as well," de Marte said. "Whoever Coach decides to start, we will be in good shape."

Lakeland advanced to a semifinal to play against Wantagh at Union-Endicott High School on Saturday, June 12 at 10 a.m.

If the Hornets beat Wantagh, they will play in the championship game also on Saturday at Union-Endicott at 4 p.m. against the winner of Pittsford Sutherland and Whitesboro.