A championship forged in adversity
Lincoln’s baseball squad capped a remarkable turnaround by winning the Class 5A state championship, edging Winter Springs 5-4 in a game that swung back and forth until the final outs.
The Trojans jumped out to a 5-0 advantage by the third inning, a surge sparked by a series of walks from Winter Springs starter Tyler Kenast that loaded the bases and set the stage for early scoring.
Cody Garber led the offense with a 2‑for‑3 performance, while Luke Thomas drove in two runs with an RBI single that extended the lead.
Winter Springs refused to go quietly, trimming the deficit to 5-3 in the fourth and adding a run in the fifth on a sacrifice bunt, but Lincoln’s pitching staff held firm despite surrendering nine hits and an error.
Closer Chase Fuller sealed the win with two shutout innings, recording his eighth save of the season and preserving the narrow margin.
The victory marks the first state title for the program since 2017 and comes after a season plagued by injuries and a challenging schedule, underscoring the team’s resilience.