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The Lely High baseball team dug a hole they couldn’t got out of in losing to Golden Gate, 12-2, in the Class 4A-District 12 playoffs on Tuesday.

The Titans scored two runs in the first inning on only one hit. In the second inning the Titans scored nine more on only three hits as walks, hit batters, a balk and three errors aided their cause.

After Lely got by those two innings, and freshman Max Tyler took the mound, the Trojans played a solid game.

Lely may have scored first if not for an umpire’s call on a ground ball. Lely’s Anthony Russo of Marco Island coaxed a walk from winning pitcher Mike Spano with one out in the first. Casey Jandro of Marco hit a sharp ground ball that almost got through the infield, but the shortstop made a nice grab tossing to second base. Russo slid into the base and the second baseman, Luis Perez, breaking up a possible double play.

However, after Perez crumpled to the ground, the infield umpire ruled that Russo intentionally slid into Perez, even though Perez was on the bag. The umpire not only ruled Russo out but Jandro too, based on Perez not being able to make a throw to first base.

Jandro knocked in Lely’s two runs with a double in the fourth inning. He ended the season with a .467 batting average.

Lely’s 5-15 record for the year was actually with two more wins than last season.

Seniors Jandro and Russo played their last game for the Trojans. In three varsity seasons they never saw a winning record.

“This year was more fun because we improved a lot and the coaching staff is better,” Russo said.

Jandro said the younger players need to keep working and step up next year to continue their improvement.

Russo said the team will need to find new leaders to help make the team jell.

Coach Mike Miller readily admitted that Russo and Jandro were this year’s leaders.

“They’ll be missed but the next season starts Thursday (yesterday),” he said. “The coaches will meet with the players on Friday. We are looking to get into a summer league to get our kids thinking baseball year-round.”