Panthers
| 03/03/26 vs Citrus | 3 |
| 02/26/26 vs Hernando | 0 |
| 02/24/26 @ Pasco | 10 |
| 02/20/26 vs Cypress Creek | 7 |
| 02/19/26 @ Springstead | 9 |
| + 3 more games |
Lecanto hasn't had much luck against Nature Coast Tech recently, but that could start to change on Thursday. The Panthers will take on the Sharks at 7:00 p.m. Lecanto is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 6.1 runs per game this season.
Citrus hit Lecanto with a five-run sixth inning on Tuesday, which goes a long way in explaining the final result. The Panthers fell 6-3 to the Hurricanes.
Lecanto saw five different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Ryder Pollard, who went 1-for-4 with one triple and one RBI.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Nature Coast Tech, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Saturday. They were the clear victors by an 8-1 margin over Weeki Wachee on Tuesday. The victory continues a trend for the Sharks in their matchups with the Hornets: they've now won four in a row.
Nature Coast Tech also got a great performance from MARIO DEANGELIS as he struck out six batters over five innings while giving up just one earned run off seven hits (and only one walk). DEANGELIS has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in three consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, AIDAN O'NOLAN and JACKSON PATTERSON did most of the damage at the plate: O'NOLAN went 3-for-4 with three runs, one triple, and one double, while PATTERSON went 2-for-4 with one home run, three RBI, and one double. That triple marked the first that O'NOLAN has hit this season. BRYCE HEWELL was another key player, going 1-for-3 with one run and one RBI.
Nature Coast Tech's win bumped their record up to 8-1. As for Lecanto, their defeat dropped their record down to 4-4.
Lecanto's speedy runners might be the difference in Thursday's contest. The Panthers have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 2.9 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Nature Coast Tech, though, as they've been averaging only 1.3 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Lecanto continue to outrun the ball?
Lecanto might still be hurting after the 11-3 loss they got from Nature Coast Tech in their previous meeting back in February. Can the Panthers avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
