It took Coach Jim Macaluso 42 years to reach the pinnacle of the high school baseball world.
Guiding his King Lions to their first state championship game, Macaluso's going to have to wait a little longer for his first title.
Nease defeated King 11-0 in the Class 7A title game. It was the Panthers first baseball championship.
Nease took advantage of some early King jitters, scoring two runs in the first, including one off a throwing error.
The Panthers increased their lead to 4-0 in the second with Kyle Huber's two-run homer over the left field wall. It was only the second home run of the baseball tournament. Huber ended the game with five RBI.
King made a pitching change in the third. Jeremy Goins replaced Luke Drummond.
But the hits kept coming for Nease. Back-to-back RBI singles in the third made it 6-0.
The Panthers threatened to increase that lead in the fourth. King's defense had other plans.
First baseman Jamarcus Lyons made a great throw to catcher Matt Jernigan to make the tag out at home plate. Then the Lions ended the inning with a double play.
It was some of the few highlights for King.