The Mariner Tritons were well on their way to winning the LCAC baseball championship Tuesday night when their defense failed them.

The Tritons had opened a 4-0 lead by scoring two runs in the sixth and seventh innings. Three defensive errors in the bottom of the seventh opened the floodgates and Estero came away with a 5-4 victory and the championship trophy in hand.

It was strangely reminiscent of the way the Tritons came back against the Riverdale Raiders in their final District 4A-11 game last Friday night.

Jason Carmichael pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing three hits and striking out nine for the Tritons. Certainly well enough to pick up the victory. With one runner on and one out, Carmichael was lifted for reliever Stanley Padfield.

Back-to-back infield errors led to the first run and a single plated the second as the Wildcats kept the inning alive. The third run scored on the Tritons’ third infield error of the inning.

A walk and a single tied the game at 4-4, bringing Will Anderson to the plate. Anderson singled through the left side of the Tritons’ infield to drive home the game-winning run off Padfield, who did not record an out and should have been out of the inning unscathed long before Anderson, the ninth batter of the inning, came to the plate.

The Wildcats, who were outhit 11-5 overall, recorded four hits around the Tritons’ three errors in the winning rally.

Carmichael had two hits, including a double, and Taylor Walker came through with three hits and one RBI for the Tritons, who scored their two runs in the seventh inning on passed balls.

The Tritons (20-4) travel to Palmetto Ridge Wednesday.

Mariner000 002 2 – 4 11 4

Estero000 000 5 – 5 5 0

W – Miller. L – Stanley Padfield.

2B – Jason Carmichael (M), Sean Pasek (M), Withstanly (E).

Island Coast 3, Lehigh 0: Taylor Renegar pitched a complete-game two-hitter to spark Island Coast to victory over Lehigh in an LCAC crossover game.

Renegar struck out 10 batters on his way to picking up his first victory of the season for the Gators.

With the bases loaded and two out in the fifth inning, Cole Ondrejka punched a ground ball into the hole between first and second that was misplayed for an error. What proved to be the game-winning run scored on the play. Chase Vogelbach drove in the second run of the inning with an infield single and the third run scored on a passed ball.

During the rally, the Gators collected two of their three total hits.

The Gators (15-9) host East Lee County Friday night.

Island Coast000 030 0 – 3 3 1

Lehigh000 000 0 – 0 2 2

W – Taylor Renegar (1-0). L – Whiteleather.

Cape Coral 15, East Lee County 1: Cain Spangler and Mike Padula collected three hits apiece and Brandon Marshall allowed four hits and struck out four over five innings to carry Cape Coral to victory at East Lee County in an LCAC crossover game.

Leading 5-1 in the fourth, the Seahawks struck for 10 runs on nine base hits to put the game out of reach.

The Seahawks (6-17) turn around and head back to East Lee County for a rematch to end the regular-season Thursday night.

Cape Coral320 (10)0 – 15 14 0

East Lee Co.010 0 0 – 1 4 6

W – Brandon Marshall. L – Lanier.

2B – Koji Spangler (CC), Brandon Marshall (CC). 3B – Brett Hobaugh (CC).

Ida Baker 11, Dunbar 4: Ida Baker banged out 13 base hits and scored three runs in an inning three separate times en route to a victory at Dunbar in an LCAC crossover game.

The Bulldogs got two hits apiece from Mike Gulotta, both doubles, Caleb Farmer, Rob Johnson and Justin Gubelman. Farmer and Gubelman drove in one run apiece.

Jon Ryker (1-0) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings to earn his first victory of the season.

The Bulldogs (12-13) are finished with the regular season as they prepare for the District 4A-11 Tournament that starts Monday at Terry Park. The Bulldogs open the tourney against Riverdale.

Ida Baker303 110 3 – 11 13 1

Dunbar000 400 0 – 4 3 3

W – Jon Ryker (1-0). L – Ritchey.

2B – Mike Gulotta (IB) 2, Caleb Farmer (IB), Justin Gubelman (IB). 3B – Rob Johnson (IB), Jacob York (IB).

Girls Tennis

Bishop Verot 7, Clewiston 0: Total domination is the only way to describe Bishop Verot’s victory Tuesday in the Region 6-2A semifinal round at Ace Tennis Center.

The Vikings dropped just three games in winning all seven matches in straight sets.

Linda Kornienko, Mariel Rickert and Nia-Marie Eddie captured their respective singles matches 6-0, 6-0. In doubles, Eddie and Kathleen Norris prevailed in a single pro set 8-0.

The Vikings advance to the regional finals Thursday against either Naples Lely or South Fort Myers.

Singles – Linda Kornienko (BV) def. Sarah Espinoza 6-0, 6-0; Mariel Rickert (BV) def. Deli Morern 6-0, 6-0; Nia-Marie Eddie (BV) def. Taylor Batty 6-0, 6-0; Kathleen Norris (BV) def. Carly Brenner 6-0, 6-1; Kayla Cheslosky (BV) def. Danielle Camaratta 6-0, 6-1.

Doubles – Kornienko-Rickert (BV) def. Espinoza-Batty 8-1; Eddie-Norris (BV) def. Morern-Brenner 8-0.

Boys Tennis

Bishop Verot 7, LaBelle 0: Bishop Veort advanced to its fourth straight regional championship with a straight-set triumph over LaBelle in Tuesday’s Region 6-2A semifinal at Fort Myers Racquet Club.

Kap Owens, Christian Padgett, Dom Merkli, Quade Marinell and Joe Deleeuw did not drop a single game in posting identical 6-0, 6-0 wins over LaBelle opponents. The doubles tandems of Owens and Padgett as well as Merkli and Marinell did likewise in a pro set 8-0.

“It would be nice if we could get past the regional championship (round),” said Vikings coach Tom McGlinn. “It will be an even match with Cypress Lake if we play them, a real nailbiter.”

The Vikings expect to face Cypress Lake Thursday in the regional finals.

Track & Field

Keller Invitational at Charlotte: The Mariner Tritons placed second in the 22-team Wally Keller Invitational on Friday with Andrew Dukas, David Tyrrell and Harrison Kuchman leading the way in the running events.

Kuchman ran the 800 meters for the first time and tied the school record time of 2:02. Dan Bordner placed second in the shot put with a throw of 48 feet, 7 inches, a personal best.

Dukas, Kuchman and Tyrrell hold school records in the 400, Tyrrell in the 300 hurdles as well as part of the 4×400 relay team.