JENSEN BEACH — The Jensen Beach High School baseball team endured a rare losing campaign last season.
But through 24 games and counting in 2026, the Falcons have proven that 2025 was simply an anomaly.
Jensen Beach punctuated its turnaround with a 4-2 victory over Dr. Joaquin Garcia during the District 14-4A Final on Thursday, April 16 from Jensen Beach High School.
Breaking a 2-2 tie with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Falcons held on in the top of the seventh by escaping a jam to close out the program’s first district championship since 2023.
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“The standard that was set over the past years, and even before me, of this program and in this community is so high,” Jensen Beach head coach Corey Cooke said. “And to struggle like we did last year was so disappointing. We dedicated ourselves, made changes to our program and the things we did. … To have a district championship is kind of the cherry on top right now.”
Arguably the biggest difference from the two seasons is how the Falcons (15-9) play under pressure. A year after falling in the district title game, Jensen Beach was at its best Thursday when the game was in the balance.
The hosts got the fifth going when No. 9 hitter Peter Braid ripped a leadoff double to center. Two batters later, he was moved to third after Jayden Brancaccio grounded out.
Colin Ryan stepped up to the plate next and quickly got ahead 3-0 before Bulldogs pitcher Ryan Lampman fought back to push the count full. Ryan ultimately won the battle, launching a 3-2 pitch to left field for a go-ahead RBI double.
“He threw me a lot of curveballs,” the Falcons senior infielder said. “He threw me probably four straight. … I was ready for the curveball and when he threw the last one, I drove it for a double.”
Ryan, who transferred from Martin County High this season, stole third base and later scored after Jett Stier laced a line-drive single up the middle.
McClain Lewis took over on the mound for Jensen Beach in the top of the sixth in place of starter Peyton Baum, who threw five solid frames. The reliever didn’t allow a hit in the sixth, but ran into trouble in the seventh.
Dr. Joaquin Garcia got the go-ahead run at the plate with only one out after Peyton Holton walked and Van Kamen hit an opposite-field single. Lewis soon regrouped, first striking out Lampman before inducing a Joaquin Urrutia fielder’s choice at second base for the game’s final out.
“This feels amazing,” said Baum, who earned the victory. “We’ve been working for this for months. We’ve been grinding in the weight room. We’ve been pushing and pushing, and it feels awesome.”
Here’s three takeaways from Thursday night.
Baum bares down
With a runner on second base, Baum got Urrutia to fly out to right to end the top half of the fifth. The Falcons ace let out a roar as he walked toward the dugout.
It was redemption for Baum after he was burned by Urrutia two innings earlier, giving up an RBI single. It was also the final batter he faced in a strong effort. He allowed two runs on four hits and three walks with five strikeouts.
“I didn’t have my curveball or changeup at first, but I battled mentally,” Baum said. “I came out there the last few innings and had the curveball and changeup going.”
The most impressive part of Baum’s night was how escaped trouble. He left runners in scoring position in three of his five innings of work. The Bulldogs threatened often, but came up empty more often than not.
The senior has been Jensen Beach’s best pitcher this season. He has a 1.40 ERA and 53 strikeouts through 40 innings pitched.
“He’s shown so much growth and maturity. I’m so proud of him and the way he battles and pitches with composure,” Cooke said of Baum. “He used to get a little emotional on the mound. Now he’s more dialed in and can handle pressure. He didn’t have his best stuff, but he worked at it, he grinded and he gave us five great innings.”
Resurgent O
Stier worked the count to 3-0 immediately after his team surged ahead.
With a runner on third and two outs, the senior looked to his coach to see if he had the green light. One pitch later, the Falcons’ cushion doubled.
“I told him to be on time and he lasered one up the middle,” Cooke said of the glance. “Two-out RBIs are crucial and we had back-to-back ones there that helped us win the game.”
Jensen Beach exhibited other elements, from sacrifices to walks, of an offense much improved from a season ago. The team puts up 6.5 runs per game and holds a collective batting average of .277 in 2026. Those numbers are up from 3.2 runs a contest and a .228 average in 2025.
The Falcons are the area’s most patient squad, drawing 119 walks.
“We talked a lot about last year and the mistakes that we made,” Cooke said. “That was a great group and I love the seniors that we had last year, but for one reason or another it didn’t click. These boys learned from that.”
Finally No. 1 at home
Cooke has been Jensen Beach’s head baseball coach for 12 seasons.
He’s delievered a district title five times. However, Thursday was the first time the Falcons won a district on its home field. The players celebrate by dumping a bucket of water over Cooke and taking a lap around the field with the trophy in hand.
“It feels awesome to be the first team to win it on this field,” Baum said.
Jensen Beach was the top seed in the district while the Bulldogs were seeded second. Thursday’s Final may have been a win-or-go home game. The Falcons entered the tournament ranked eighth in Region 4-4A and may have been on the outside looking in if they needed an at-large berth. Instead, the team earns an automatic bid and may play a regional quarterfinal next week at home as long as they are not pitted against a higher-seeded district champion.
If rankings remain unchanged, Jensen Beach will play host to Key West in a 1-8 matchup by virtue of the Conchs falling to Belen Jesuit in the District 16-4A Final.
Patrick Bernadeau is a sports reporter for Treasure Coast Newspapers. He can be reached at 772-985-9692, on X at @PatBernadeau or via email at pbernadeau@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Jensen Beach baseball punctuates turnaround season with district crown
Reporting by Patrick Bernadeau, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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