LEESBURG, Fla. (Baseball) – The Lake-Sumter baseball team has released their 2023 spring schedule. The Lakehawks loaded the schedule with 56 games, including 31 home dates.
Lakehawk baseball completed the 2022 season at a 17-33 overall record and 8-22 in conference play. They finished fifth in conference standing with two All-Mid-Florida Conference Team selections.
Sophomore Tim Kudlinski earned a spot on the first team in the designated hitter position and sophomore Caden Kresak was named to the second team for outfield.
In the 2023 season, baseball officially transitions from Division I to Division II and will be competing in the Sun-Lakes Conference against Florida Sate College at Jacksonville (FSCJ), South Florida State College (SFSC), St. Johns River State College (SJRSC), Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC), and Palm Beach State College (PBSC).
Head coach Rich Billings entering his 13th season with Lakehawk baseball is very enthusiastic headed into the spring "I am really looking forward to seeing our guys compete this season.
We have a lot of returning players that saw significant playing time as freshman and they are going to be a very exciting group to coach. We also have some very talented freshman and transfers that will also compete right away for us" said Coach Billings
The Lakehawks will open at home with a doubleheader against Florida Palms University on Saturday, January 28 at 12:00 and 3:00 p.m.
Sun-Lakes Conference play will begin later in February. The Lakehawks will travel to FSCJ on Friday, February 24 to play a single game 1:00 p.m. Then, the Bluewave will travel back to Lake-Sumter on Saturday for a double header at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m.
They will play each Sun-Lakes Conference opponent six times during the regular season, hosting three games and visiting three games. After the 30-game conference slate, the best regular season record will earn the rights to host the Region 8 tournament from May 5-8 with the championship series following May 12-15.
Sophomore Day will be against PHSC on Saturday, Saturday 22 at 12:00 and 3:00 p.m. 10 sophomores will be recognized for the time spent at Lake-Sumter: Dannon Smith, Kendal Spencer, Carson Russell, Nate Tinder, Ryan Monaghan, Dylan Schaffer, Anthony Griffith, Jordan Ackerman, Auston Chisenhall, and Jake Dorn.
The Region 8 preseason coaches' poll will be announced on Monday, Jan. 23. followed by the National Junior College Athletics Association (NJCAA) later that afternoon. Regular season polls will be released each Monday during the regular season starting Feb. 6 and Region 8 Player of the Weeks will be announced on Tuesdays starting Jan. 30.
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