As the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) State Baseball Championships approach, two Lake County teams—Umatilla High School and Mount Dora Christian Academy (MDCA)—find themselves with a chance to punch their ticket to Fort Myers and chase a coveted state title.

For Umatilla High School, the Bulldogs have been building toward this moment all season long. Led by a core group of seniors and powered by gritty pitching and clutch hitting, Umatilla has found its stride in the postseason. Head coach Tanner Clark has instilled a “one pitch at a time” mentality that’s kept the team focused through each playoff round.

“We’ve faced adversity, but these guys never back down,” the coach said recently. “They believe in each other, and they’ve earned the right to be here.” Umatilla has faced two elimination game three’s and each time they have won. Umatilla also faced elimination from the playoffs entirely a few weeks ago in the District Semifinals but won against The Villages and assured themselves a chance at an FHSAA Playoff run.

The team has been considered underdogs most of the year but now, Umatilla is no longer an underdog but one of the top contenders to win an FHSAA Class 3A State Championship. Incredibly they will host the Regional Final for the first two games of the series as a #5 seed. The likelyhood of that happening was less than 5% when we first started the playoffs. But with both The Villages and North Marion losing in the bottom half of the bracket and Umatilla winning against South Sumter, the road to the FHSAA State Championships now run through Umatilla.

(Keegan St. Amant put in one of the best pitching performances of his career agains South Sumter High to pull a big upset and move Umatilla High into the Regional Finals.)

Umatilla’s pitching staff, anchored by Wyatt Strawbridge, has been dominant, while hitters like Tate Bagwell and Aidan Ross have delivered in key moments. Also a shoutout to Gavin Touchton who has come on late in the season swinging a hot bat. The Bulldogs are now just two wins away from Fort Myers and know they must bring their best against Hernando High who have been through just as much this postseason as Umatilla has been. Both are small town programs with incredible heart. Regardless of who wins this series, the team who does earned it the right way.

Meanwhile, just down the road, the MDCA Bulldogs are making noise of their own. The private school powerhouse, known for producing strong athletic programs across sports, has showcased exceptional discipline and fundamentals throughout the postseason. Head coach Jason Sanders praised his squad for their unity and hunger.

(MDCA is just two wins away from headed back to the FHSAA State Championships once again. The last time was 2021 where MDCA took on St. Johns Country Day and lost 3-2 in the State Semifinals. MDCA also beat Orangewood Christian that year 10-0 in the Regiona Semifinals and will look to replicate that success.)

“These boys play for each other,” he said. “They’re coachable, they work hard, and they believe. Orangewood has been a rivalry game in the past and it will be and entertaining series.”

Standout performances from players like Ethan Priest have fueled MDCA’s surge, with the team dominating so far this postseason. Britton Wise, Jayden Wise and Braden Waring are just some of the standouts at the plate this postseason. As they prepare for their regional final against Orangewood Christian, the MDCA Bulldogs know that a spot in the state championships is within reach—and they’re ready for the challenge.

If both teams can win their next two matchups, Lake County will be represented by not one, but two schools in Fort Myers. MDCA represents FHSAA Class 1A where Umatilla High represents FHSAA Class 3A.