Just as they have all year, when it came time to rise to the occasion, the Lincoln Christian Bulldogs did exactly that.

Lincoln won all three games in the regional tournament as the host, as the Bulldogs punched their ticket to the area tournament this week, needing just two wins to head back to the state tournament.

The Bulldogs (29-5) won the third regional championship in three years under head coach Greg Harmon by beating Keys and Holland Hall on Thursday before taking down the Dutch again on Friday.

"I was proud of our team and we are playing great baseball right now," said Harmon of his team that has currently won 13 straight games. "We have a strong resume and have challenged ourselves and come out with some big non-district wins."

Lincoln is the No. 5 seed in Class 3A and will host Kingston in super regionals this week.

Games will be played Thursday at LCS at 4 and 6:30 p.m. An if-necessary game will take place on Friday for a trip to state.

"We are playing well across all phases — pitching, hitting and overall execution," said Harmon. "We have turned it on at the right time."

LINCOLN 4, HOLLAND HALL 1

Lincoln's Carter Hunter completely dominated in the regional championship, as the junior put his team on his back and threw a complete game to advance the Bulldogs to super regionals.

Hunter pitched a complete game, going all seven and allowing just two hits and one run.

"It was the pitching performance for the year for us," said Harmon. "His fastball velocity was up, his breaking ball was sharp and his changeup was devastating. When he pitches like that, very few teams in the entire state can beat us. He is a horse on the mound and wanted the ball in that situation."

He walked none and struck out 12 hitters on an incredible 95 pitches.

After the game was tied 1-1 in the 6th, Lincoln broke things open at the bottom and top of the lineup.

Senior Cole Dooley led off with a double from the 9-jole, allowing senior leadoff Chandler Cozbey to move him over with a bunt single.

Senior Carter Ricke sacrificed Dooley in with a fly ball to center to give Lincoln the lead, before some youngsters delivered.

Sophomore Aiden Hendren doubled to score Cozbey and make it 3-1 before freshman Major Brooks followed with another double to score Hendren and push the lead to three runs.

Brooks started things off earlier in the game with an RBI to take a 1-0 lead in the 1st.

"Major has been hitting the ball exceptionally well for us," said Harmon.

Lincoln scattered 11 hits across the seven innings against a solid Holland Hall pitcher.

"They had a soft-throwing lefty that was making things difficult on us all night," said Harmon.

Hendren was 3-for-4 with two doubles, while Brooks was 3-for-3 with the double and a triple.

Dooley was 2-for-3 in the win.

LINCOLN 5, HOLLAND HALL 4 (THURSDAY)

The night before, Lincoln had its hands full with Holland Hall again, as the Bulldogs walked off the Dutch in eight innings to make it to the regional finals on Friday.

Lincoln had to battle against another tough pitcher but got to the bullpen late and came through.

Dooley singled to right in the top of the 8th to score Beaux Brumble, who reached on a 1-out walk to go up 5-4.

Ricke, who closed the game by getting the final eight outs, slammed the door in the bottom of the 8th to help Lincoln survive.

"We faced their ace and he was throwing 81-82 with an excellent changeup and curveball," said Harmon. "They scattered 11 or 12 hits but we struggled with timely hitting throughout the game."

"We had to outlast the starter and get to their bullpen late to pull out the win. They are scrappy and well-coached and better than their record indicates. They play clean baseball and this was a quality win."

Cozbey got the start and went 5.1 innings, allowing three earned runs and two walks on four hits.

Ricke allowed one earned while scattering three walks and striking out four.

He was also 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI double.

Cozbey was 2-for-5 and Hendren was 2-for-4 in the win.

Dooley had two hits, as well, while Jaxon Crumbliss and Silas Goff singled.

LINCOLN 10, KEYS 0

The Bulldogs made quick work of Keys last Thursday in the opening game of the regional tournament, as Lincoln scored in every inning behind a dominant collective pitching performance.

Cade Ryan, Reid Eddings and Nate Cottman combined to throw five shutout innings of one-hit ball. The trio struck out 11 hitters and walked just one.

"Those guys were dominant," said Harmon. "Keys has improved throughout the year but we cruised. We hit the ball well and played good defense, and we had to use minimal pitching which created a huge advantage going into the second and third games."

Lincoln scored two in the first, three in the second and a couple of runs in each of the third and fourth innings.

Ricke was 3-for-4 with an RBI double.

Lane Hunter was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Hendren drove in two runs, as well.

Ryan started and struck out seven of the 10 nine hitters he faced.

Photos by Lee Talley