Lancers capture Westminster title

Posted Mar 19, 2010 by Adam Adkins

Updated Mar 19, 2010 at 03:43 PM

Cambridge Christian closed the deal this year at the Westminster Sunshine Classic.

After losing in the title game at the tournament in Fort Lauderdale last season, the Lancers capped their 2010 tournament run with a championship-game victory Friday afternoon. Cambridge Christian, behind a stellar pitching performance from tournament MVP Zach Hessinger, knocked off nationally-ranked Charlotte (N.C.) Christian 3-0 to claim the tourney title.

It is the Lancers’ first win over a nationally-ranked program in Coach Rick Shears’ tenure.

“We played with a high amount of intensity and spirit,” Shears said. “Hopefully this will get us ready for a run at state title. I think this was big for that quest.”

The tournament certainly was a big test for the Lancers, who lost in the tournament final to Charlotte Christian last season. Their first three tournament games went to extra innings, including their tournament opener against Charlotte Christian, which ended in a 10-6 Lancers loss in nine innings. But Cambridge got revenge Friday, with Hessinger leading the way.

The freshman left-hander tossed a complete-game three-hitter against the Knights, who were ranked 29th nationally in the latest ESPN RISE FAB 50.

“He just kept them off balance,” Shears said. “He’s got a great curveball and a great changeup and just mixed in the fastball. He was great.”

Hessinger also came through at the plate. He had an RBI single in the second, scoring Logan McDougall. He also drew a leadoff walk in the fifth, and his speed-up runner, Levi Gilcrease, later scored on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Andrew Widell. Widell also brought home the Lancers’ first run of the game with an RBI single in the first, scoring Derek Self.

Hessinger wasn’t the only Lancers player to earn a tournament honor. Self was a member of the all-tournament team for a second consecutive year, while Peter Miller took home the event’s Cy Young Award.

“Our guys just never quit,” Shears said. “They never get down on themselves. They were great in the dugout, and the results happened.”

Photo: Cambridge Christian, shown celebrating a run at last year’s FHSAA state baseball tournament in Port St. Lucie, won the 2010 Westminster Sunshine Classic in Fort Lauderdale.