Lincoln baseball overcame the nearly impossible.
After two seasons of failing to reach the title game, the almighty Trojans fought on to capture the Class 5A state championship on Wednesday with a 5-4 victory over top-seeded Winter Springs, completing a remarkable postseason run at Hammond Stadium.
It marks Lincoln’s first state title since 2017.
“It feels fantastic, surreal,” said Lincoln’s head coach, Mike Gauger. “I’m really proud of the guys. The pinnacle of high school sports is winning a state title. For us, it’s a huge thing. It is our World Series. It’s an awesome feeling.”
The Trojans seized control early against Winter Springs starter and Texas Tech recruit Tyler Kenast, who issued four walks that helped load the bases. Lincoln capitalized with four hits and an error to build a 5-0 lead by the third inning.
Cody Garber paced the Trojans at the plate, going 2 for 3, while Luke Thomas drove in two runs on an RBI single that accounted for Lincoln’s fifth score
Winter Springs rallied in the next inning, trimming the deficit to 5-3 with RBIs on a single and a pair of doubles. Then added another run on a sacrifice bunt in the fifth inning.
Despite giving away nine hits, four runs and an error, Lincoln’s pitching staff held firm down the stretch. Chase Fuller worked the final two innings after Jacob Rabion threw four frames and Zachary contributed 1 1/3 innings. Fuller shut out the Bears over the last two innings to secure his eighth save of the season.
“The feeling felt crazy. I won some big travel ball tournaments, but nothing compared to this,” Fuller said. “Just seeing the other guys around me just feels as much as I did, if not more, it made it even more special. I’m just so proud of this team for all the work we put in. Even when it was hard. We just got the job done.”
The title caps an improbable run for Lincoln, which battled a difficult schedule and injuries and finished the regular season with a losing record before surging through the playoffs to claim the championship and closed the chapter as an underdog team.
Lincoln’s 2026 baseball roster
Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics and Big Bend Preps for the Tallahassee Democrat. If you like to pitch a story on a high school athlete, don’t hesitate to get in touch with him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Lincoln baseball claims Class 5A state crown, 5-4 over Winter Springs
Reporting by Peter Holland Jr., Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
