ALTAMONTE SPRINGS – Lake Brantley’s baseball team set out to accomplish three things when it started preseason preparation in January, one of which included playing for a state championship.
After winning 20 games and capturing a district title this spring, the Patriots (26-4) fell short of the trifecta Saturday during a 5-1 loss vs. visiting Port Orange Spruce Creek (22-8) in a Class 7A Region 1 final.
It was University of Florida signee Brandon Neely and four errors in the field that proved too much for the Patriots to overcome. Neely, a right-handed pitcher, held Lake Brantley’s potent lineup to three hits and struck out six batters during a complete-game performance.