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Cambridge not satisfied getting here

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By ADAM ADKINS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 11, 2009

Updated:

TAMPA - Most teams still playing in the high school baseball playoffs carry a bit of satisfaction being alive in a quest for a state title. The Cambridge Christian Lancers are an exception.

"I'm very proud of our team the way we've played so far to date, but I feel that if we don't make it to the final four, that we'll underachieve," Cambridge Christian coach Rick Shears said.

That sentiment certainly is understandable considering the way the Lancers, who lost just four players from last season's Class 1A state runner-up squad, have performed this season.

Cambridge Christian (17-7) enters a best-of-three Class 1A region final series at Sarasota Out-of-Door Academy (18-13) undefeated against 1A opponents (8-0). Most of those games have been one-sided affairs, with the Lancers outscoring their opponents 137-6.

The next step in the quest to capture the program's first state championship - making it back to the state tournament - is within view, but the Lancers know it's still a big stride to get there.

"We'd love to think about the state tournament right now. We'd love to think about how much fun it was last year," sophomore catcher Andrew Widell said. "But right now we've just got to focus on these two games coming up, because if we look past them it will definitely come back to bite us in the butt."

Shears prepared his team for this moment by putting together a challenging regular-season schedule, which included a trip to the Westminster Sunshine Classic in Fort Lauderdale. There, the Lancers faced larger programs from across the country yet still performed well, finishing as the tournament runner-up.

An added benefit also arose at that tournament. Inclement weather forced the Lancers to play doubleheaders on consecutive days, giving them a feel for what will transpire Friday, when the best-of-three series opens with a doubleheader. Most teams in the state will deal with that scheduling format for the first time this season.

The Lancers hope all the experiences to this point pay dividends, but understand the biggest key is to simply "play Lancer baseball," Shears said.

"We know we've played tough opponents, which has better prepared us this season for the playoffs," senior infielder Trent Tagliarini said. "Anything can happen, though. We can't take anything or any team for granted.

"We've just got to play our game, and we should be fine."

Reporter Adam Adkins can be reached at (813) 259-7616.

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