Posted on Tue, May. 13, 2008

Throughout the season, Goleman baseball players heard the doubts as to whether they were as good as their regular season record indicated.

The Gators silenced the critics for good this past weekend by sweeping Southridge to earn their first trip to the state final four.

''We've gotten used to being portrayed as underdogs,'' senior pitcher Joe Coto said. ``Even last week, we were supposed to get beat by Southridge. But we're still here.''

Goleman (26-3) will be in Sarasota on Friday when it plays Altamonte Springs Lake Brantley (28-3) in a Class 6A state semifinal at 1 p.m. at Ed Smith Stadium.

The Gators will be making school history as the first team in the school's 14-year history to advance to a state tournament in any team sport.

Even with a couple of days remaining before his team's hits the road, Goleman coach Manny Yanez said he still can't pinpoint a specific reason for this team's unprecedented success.

''We were a team still looking for answers by the middle of the year,'' said Yanez, the school's only baseball coach since it opened in 1995. ``We knew there would be strong teams waiting for us at the end and I honestly didn't know how we'd respond. I can't praise them enough for how they've stepped up to the challenge.''

The Gators, who remained a mystery to many during the season without high-profile players, aren't a typical state championship contender.

Goleman's players aren't physically imposing. The tallest player is 6-1 freshman outfielder Jason Bonilla. They aren't loaded with major college prospects like many of the teams competing in this week's tournament.

The Gators have hit 13 home runs as a team. One of the players they will face Friday, Lake Brantley 6-5 senior infielder Dalton Hicks, has hit 12.

Goleman's top hitter is second baseman Adrian Gongora, who led the county in batting average for most of the season. Gongora is hitting .542 from the No. 9 spot in the lineup.

The key has been the mix of unselfish players that have developed fundamentally sound baseball skill.

'We don't usually hit a lot of home runs, but we hit a lot, and do a lot of the `small ball' stuff like moving runners over and making sure we don't make errors,'' Gongora said. ``We're not a flashy team, but we work hard and we've accomplished a lot.''

Yanez said the heart of the team during their run has been its starting pitching rotation of Coto, senior Carlos Moreno and junior Jeralld Mejia.

Goleman allowed only two runs in four regional playoff games.

Moreno is 12-0 with 57 strikeouts in 53 1/3 innings and has a 1.37 ERA. He pitched a shutouts against American and Southridge during the playoffs.

Mejia is 8-1 with a 2.45 ERA and has 39 strikeouts. Coto is 6-1 with two saves and has a team-high 74 strikeouts in 57 2/3 innings. He's also .432 with two home runs and 18 RBI.

''They are all outstanding high school pitchers that have the potential to develop at the next level,'' Yanez said. ``Any given day, if each of them has their best stuff they are really hard to hit.''

Coto was the team's ace until a shoulder muscle injury sidelined him for a couple of games late in the season. Moreno and Mejia stepped in and won key games.

Yanez has adjusted the rotation depending on the opponent. The group has become symbolic of the team's non-superstar look.

'We're like `The 3 Stooges,' '' Coto said. ``We all have different personalities and different styles of pitching. But we each help each other out and give the team a boost when it needs it.''

IF YOU GO

• What: 87th annual FHSAA baseball state championships.

• When: Wednesday-Tuesday, May 20.

• Where: Ed Smith Stadium, Sarasota, 2700 12th St.

• Directions: Take I-75 North to exit 210 (Fruitville Road/Sarasota/St. Armands) and turn left. Turn right on N. Honore Ave, then left at 17th St. Turn left on N. Tuttle Ave. and make a right on 12th Street. Stadium is on left.

• Last year's champions -- Class 6A: Sarasota; 5A: Venice; 4A: Orlando Bishop Moore; 3A: Clearwater Central Catholic; 2A: Tallahassee North Florida Christian; 1A: Jacksonville Eagle's View.

• Tournament schedule -- Class 6A -- Friday's semifinals:Goleman vs. Altamonte Springs Lake Brantley, 1 p.m.; Lake Worth Park Vista vs. Lakeland, 5 p.m.; Saturday's final: 7 p.m.

Class 5A -- Wednesday's semifinals: Niceville vs. Stuart South Fork, 1 p.m.; Brandon vs. Dunedin, 8 p.m.; Thursday's final: 7 p.m.

Class 4A -- Friday's semifinals: Rockledge vs. Jacksonville Bishop Kenny, 10 a.m.; Palatka vs. Fort Myers Riverdale, 8 p.m.; Saturday's final: 4 p.m.

Class 3A -- Monday's semifinals: American Heritage vs. Pensacola Catholic, 5 p.m.; Keystone Heights vs. Fort Pierce John Carroll, 8 p.m.; Tuesday's final: 7 p.m.

Class 2A -- Wednesday's semifinals: Highlands Christian vs. Tallahassee North Florida Christian, 10 a.m.; Fort Meade vs. Jacksonville Providence, 5 p.m.; Thursday's final: 4 p.m.

Class 1A -- Monday's semifinals: Brito vs. Jacksonville Eagle's View, 10 a.m.; Tampa Cambridge vs. Deltona Trinity Christian, 1 p.m.; Tuesday's final: 4 p.m.