Posted on Sat, May. 03, 2008

The Miami Christian baseball team advanced to its first regional championship game in 33 years, defeating Dade Christian 4-0 at Crusader Field on Friday afternoon.

The Victors (21-10) got another dominant performance from ace Felix Roque, whose fastball stayed in the range of 90 mph.

''He's been phenomenal in the playoffs,'' Miami Christian coach Armando Rodriguez said. ``We told him to go out and call his own game because we trust him to do that.''

Miguel Leon drew three walks and was 1 for 1 with two runs, but his best moment of the day came on defense when the center fielder fielded a deep fly ball from George Bahadu and fired a strike to home plate, gunning down a Crusaders baserunner and ending the sixth inning.

''That's how it's been for us all playoffs, someone different steps up and makes the big plays,'' Rodriguez said.

The Victors got two runs in the second inning, the second of which came on a sacrifice fly from Jairo Acevedo, who scored Tito Marrero.

It proved to be all the scoring Roque (10-5) needed in the game.

Roque, who struck out six batters, also will start the Region 4-2A finals Friday after six days of rest.

This year, the regional finals will be a two-day, best-of-3 series that will benefit teams with depth on the mound.

That doesn't worry Rodriguez.

''We're three deep,'' he said. ``Chris Torres is 7-2 this year, and my lefty [Stefan] Singh is good, too.''

Roque avenged losses to Dade Christian earlier in the year and in the 2007 district championship game.

Miami Christian will play the winner of Westminster Academy and Highlands Christian.

MC 020 100 1 --4 9 0 HC 000 000 0 --0 5 1

WP: Felix Roque (10-5). LP: Mike Perez (3-3). Records: MC 21-10; DC 13-14.

• Southridge 3, Palmetto 0: The Southridge baseball team beat district rival Palmetto in a region 4-6A semifinal at Southridge to advance to the regional final for the first time since 2005.

''We knew each run was going to be tough,'' Spartans coach Eddie Doskow said. ``Give them credit that's a great team over there -- we didn't get a hit til the sixth inning.''

Palmetto starter Max Halasz held the Spartans (21-6) hit-less till the bottom of the sixth when Southridge broke open the game.

After walking the first batter of the inning Palmetto (19-8) switched Halasz for Casey Delgado.

With a man on second, catcher Anthony Angulo hit an infield single to put runners on first and third.

Delgado intentional walked the next batter, cleanup hitter James Young to load the bases.

With the bases load Mark Linfores hit a line drive over second base for the first Spartans run of the game.

Southridge closed out the inning with a two RBI single by Esteban Ponte.

Southridge starter Young pitched a complete game shutout recording six strikeouts and giving up four hits.

Young normally a relief pitcher started the game according to Doskow because of the strength of the Palmetto line up.

''It was a tight ball game, and I had a lot of defensive plays behind me,'' the 6-4, 210 pound Young said. ``No credit can go to one person it was a team effort -- I just went out their and threw strikes.''

Southridge will take on Goleman in the regional final next May 9 at Goleman.

Southridge has never won the Florida High School Athletic Association's state championship in the school's history and will be trying to make it back to the championship game for the first time since 2002.

Goleman beat American 10-0 in five innings to advance to the regional final.

-- JUSTIN AZPIAZU

Pal 000 000 0 --0 4 1 Sou 000 000 0 --3 4 1

WP: James Young. LP: Casey Delgado.

REGION 4-6A SEMIFINAL

GOLEMAN 10, AMERICAN 0

Amer 000 00 -- 0 4 1 Gol 602 02 --10 6 0

WP: Carlos Moreno (11-0). LP: Gonzalez. Top performers: The Gators had three home runs in the first inning to take Ryan Verdecia scored on a double by Andy Ruiz.

Frank Solis had a two-run home run.

Alex Pacheco had two home runs. Jason Bonilla had a two-run home run.

''This is the first time our school has gotten this far,'' Yanez said. ''We've got our work cut out for us.'' Records: Gol 24-3, Amer 14-11.

BOYS' VOLLEYBALL

• Wednesday -- District 14-6A championship -- Columbus d. Coral Park 25-20, 22-25, 25-17, 25-19: Michael Stephens took a set from Jordi Fonts in the deciding match and spiked the ball to give top-seeded Columbus its second district championship in three years.

After Coral Park won the second game 25-22, Columbus attacked the net.

Stephens, who is the only remaining starter from the Explorers' last district championship team, led the way.

Fonts had nine kills, Sergio Lozano had eight kills and Stevens a team-high 12 kills.

SATURDAY'S SCHEDULE

State track and field