After a busy but successful spring break trip to the beach, Lincoln Christian returned home this week and moved to 4-0 in district play with two big shutout wins over Keys.

Lincoln (9-5) beat Keys 12-0 at home on Monday and followed that up with a 17-0 victory on the road Tuesday.

This comes after a 2-2 trip over spring break, where the Bulldogs traveled to Gulf Shores, AL, facing some tough competition but growing and playing well.

"Gulf Shores had some tremendous competition," said Lincoln head coach Greg Harmon. "Not only did it provide an opportunity to bond and grow as a team, but it also allowed us to be challenged on the diamond as well."

Lincoln beat Sequoyah Tahlequah on the Saturday before leaving, March 15, winning 6-3 over the Indians at home.

The Bulldogs left out early Sunday morning and faced Hardin Valley Academy (TN) on Monday, falling 13-3.

Lincoln rebounded with a win on Tuesday over an in-state foe, as the Bulldogs outlasted No. 19 (2A) Christian Heritage 4-3.

The Bulldogs faced Bayside Prep Academy (AL) on Tuesday in the later game, but fell 10-2.

Before coming home on Wednesday, Lincoln picked up another win over Trinity Presbyterian (AL), beating the Wildcats 7-3.

"We go down there and play some really top tier schools," Harmon said. "Coming away from that tournament 2-2 is not an insignificant accomplishment."

Aside from the encouraged play from the Bulldogs, the team was also able to take full advantage of the environment off-the-field, as well.

"On the beach was quite the adventure as well," Harmon said. "The week was full of spike ball, wave-jumping, ultimate frisbee, football, whiffleball, and even some 'Among Us IRL.'" 

Harmon spoke about the importance of growing together as a team and what it can do for his team going forward.

"I loved getting to spend time with our kids and watch them enjoy themselves," he said. "The parents were awesome. They treated us to a dinner at the famous Hangout, where one of the funniest things I've ever witnessed occurred. They also took us to a GoKart track that had mini golf, an arcade, and more. It was quite the experience. Our team has definitely come home prepared to chase a district championship."

Lincoln will be at the Zebra Classic in Claremore this weekend, before playing a home-and-home district set with Sperry next Monday and Tuesday.

LINCOLN 17, KEYS 0

Lincoln started fast and ended things early in Tuesday's win at Keys, as the Bulldogs scored 17 runs in two innings to take a commanding early lead.

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 9-0 lead in the 1st and added eight more runs in the 2nd inning.

Lincoln had 12 hits in the win, while allowing just two hits.

Carter Hunter pitched three innings to get the win, allowing one hit and striking out four.

Luke McCants continued his stellar senior season, going 3-for-3 at the plate with two doubles and five RBIs in the win.

Carter Ricke doubled, walked twice and scored two runs, while Chandler Cozbey was 1-for-2 with three RBIs and three runs scored.

Cade Ryan and Lane Hunter were each 2-for-2 with a double.

LINCOLN 12, KEYS 0

Carter Ricke pitched a five-inning no-hitter on a windy Monday afternoon, while Lincoln racked up nine hits and walked seven times in a big win over Keys.

Ricke walked just two and struck out nine hitters, facing just 17 batters.

Freshman catcher Jaxon Crumbliss was 2-for-2 with a double, triple and two RBIs in the win.

Colt Monsey had an RBI double for Lincoln, while Ricke walked twice and scored two runs.

After Lincoln led 1-0 through an inning, the Bulldogs poured on nine runs in the 2nd to take a double-digit lead.

Lincoln added two more runs in the bottom of the 4th.

LINCOLN 7, TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN 3

A big pitching performance from McCants and a big 5th inning proved to be the difference last Wednesday in the Bulldogs' final game of the spring break trip, as Lincoln picked up big 7-3 win.

McCants pitched a complete game, allowing just seven hits across seven innings.

"Trinity Pres was by far our best team win of the year," said Harmon. "We got a fantastic complete game pitching performance from Luke McCants. He located a three pitch mix as well as he's done since I've been here. He's a literal Bulldog on the mound. It was like he refused to allow us to lose."

After the game was tied 3-3 through four innings, Lincoln broke the game open with a big 5th.

The Bulldogs worked several walks to jump ahead, as well as kept things aggressive on the base paths to take a 6-3 lead after getting an elite pitcher to leave the game earlier.

"Offensively we faced one of our greatest challenges yet," Harmon said. "Their starter inspired radar guns to pop up all behind the backstop. He pitched at 87 and had a wipeout slider. We drew our walks, mixed in some hits, got a squeeze down and was able to chase a quality arm in the third."

Lincoln added another run in the 6th, when freshman Aiden Hendren doubled to left to score Cole Dooley.

"After we got on the high side of the scoreboard we never looked back. It really showing our progression as a team. We want to put people away when we can and we are starting to do that," Harmon said.

Cozbey was 1-for-3 with a triple and two walks in the win.

Ricke walked three times, while Dooley, Crumbliss and Reid Eddings also each walked three times for Lincoln.

The Bulldogs had just five hits but walked 13 times as a team.

BAYSIDE 10, LINCOLN 2

Lincoln managed just one hit last Tuesday in the loss to Bayside, as a big 3rd inning was the difference.

Lincoln jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the top of the 1st and led 2-1 through two innings.

But Bayside scored seven runs in the 3rd to break the game open, before adding two more in the 4th.

Hendren drove in Cozbey on an RBI single in the 1st before Ricke scored after walking when Lane Hunter was hit by a pitch to give Lincoln the 2-run lead.

Cozbey allowed four runs on four hits across 2.1 innings for Lincoln. Hendren gave up six runs on nine hits across 2.2 innings for the Bulldogs.

Dooley walked in all three plate appearances, while Lane Hunter walked twice.

Hendren had the lone hit for the Bulldogs. Brumble also walked twice.

LINCOLN 4, CHRISTIAN HERITAGE 3

A big 3rd inning gave Lincoln a lead and the Bulldogs held on late to take down in-state foe Christian Heritage in Alabama last Tuesday.

After the game was tied 1-1 through two innings, the Bulldogs pushed across three runs in the 3rd to take a comfortable lead.

Christian Heritage didn't go quietly, however, as the Crusades scored two runs in the 4th to make things interesting.

But Carter Hunter, who pitched a complete game, held on and gave the Bulldogs a big win.

Hunter allowed just six hits and three runs (one earned) across seven innings of work. He struck out six and walked just one.

Lane Hunter doubled for Lincoln and had two RBIs in the win. He also added three steals

The double in the bottom of the 3rd gave Lincoln a 3-1 lead, before he later scored on a passed ball.

Cozbey walked twice , while Dooley and Evan Jameson each singled in the win for Lincoln.

HARDIN VALLEY 13, LINCOLN 3

Lincoln got down early and couldn't recover in last week's opening game on the spring break trip, as Lincoln fell 13-3.

The Hawks scored four runs in the 2nd and four more in the 3rd to take a big lead.

The Bulldogs had seven errors in the loss.

Lincoln added a run in the top of the 4th but Hardin Valley stretched the lead to 11-1 with three more runs.

Cozbey had the lone extra base hit for Lincoln with a double.

McCants had an RBI single, while Hendren was 2-for-3 with an RBI in the loss.

Crumbliss also had an RBI single for Lincoln.

Ricke took the loss on the mound, as he allowed 11 runs (no earned) across four innings on six hits and four walks.

LINCOLN 6, SEQUOYAH TAHLEQUAH 3

Lincoln outlasted Sequoyah Tahlequah two Saturdays ago with some offense late to pick up a big home win.

The Bulldogs took a 2-0 lead through five innings and led 4-0 after the top of the 6th.

Sequoyah answered with three runs in the 6th to cut the deficit to one.

But two more Lincoln runs in the 7th gave Hendren some breathing room and the Buldogs held on.

Kade Poplin allowed three runs on four hits across five innings to pick up the win. Hendren pitched two shutout innings of relief to get the save, allowing two hits, two walks and striking out four.

McCants hit a 2-run homer in the 6th to put Lincoln up 6-3.

Ricke was 2-for-3 in the win, while Lane Hunter was 2-for-4.

Cozbey walked twice for Lincoln in the win.