East Lake and Kissimmee Osceola were both vying to win their school’s first baseball state championship.

Ian Lisle ensured his East Lake team still has a shot.

In the top of the 13th inning, Lisle’s sacrifice fly to right field scored Sawyer Wirth for the winning run of the Class 7A semifinals Friday night at jetBlue Park.

The 1-0 win puts East Lake in the 7A title game against American, a 7-1 winner over Chiles in the other 7A semifinal, Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The game will be carried live on BHSN Channel 47 or HD 1147 and also online at bhsnlive.com.
East Lake survived a marathon 13-inning game that tied an FHSAA state tournament record (Tate vs. Forrest Hill in 1962 also went to 13 innings.)

It was an endurance test for both team’s pitchers. Osceola starter Jake Grenus (eight innings, seven hits, six strikeouts) lasted until the ninth inning, as did East Lake’s Brad Deppermann . Deppermann, who pitched 8.1 innings, allowed only three hits and struck out 11. He was replaced by Steven Plaskett in the bottom of the ninth after Osceola’s Bay McIntosh lined one to right field.

Osceola got runners on first and second, but Plaskette was able to get the final out of the inning with a strikeout.

Plaskette (4.2 innings, 0 hits, seven strikeouts) escaped trouble again in the bottom of the tenth when Osceola put a runner on second. But the junior relief pitcher struck out three straight to send the game to the 11th.

The game literally had everything, including the hidden ball trick by Osceola in the top of the 11th for a key second out.

In regulation, East Lake had several scoring opportunities they couldn’t capitalize on, including a two-out, bases loaded scoring chance in the top of the sixth. Osceola was able to get out of that jam, just as they did the previous ones.

The Kowboys had opportunities to end the game sooner. Gustavo Rios sparked a two-out rally in the bottom of the fourth with a single to centerfield. Justin Degrandis followed with a shot up the middle to put runners at first and second. A wild pitch advanced the runners to second and third.

But East Lake got out of the jam when the next batter, Omar Colon, grounded out to second base.

Osceola got out of another jam in the top of the fifth. East Lake’s Andrew Monahan led off with a double to left field and then advanced to third. But then on a squeeze play that failed, Monahan was tagged out trying to steal home. Grenus got the final out of the inning with a strikeout.