s to state
Brito senior David Vidal, a career second baseman, told his coach Pedro Guerra twice this season to trust him to deliver a victory from the pitching mound.
Each time, Vidal came through.
Make that three times after Friday.
After going 4 for 5 with four RBI at the plate in the first game, Vidal tossed a one-hitter and struck out six to lead Brito to a Region 4-1A championship doubleheader sweep of Lake Worth Trinity Christian, 14-7 and 3-1 at Lantana Santaluces High School.
Brito (21-5) secured its second trip to the state final four in three seasons. The Panthers, who won the Class 1A title in 2006, will play either Jacksonville Eagle's View or Paxton on Monday, May 19, at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota.
Guerra said the entire season he has had players come through in pressure situations, even after making mistakes earlier in games.
Designated hitter Chris Fabregas did in the second game after going 0 for 3 in the first game. With Brito ahead 2-1, Fabregas lined a double down the right-field line that scored Ricky Espinal to give Brito an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth.
Freshman third baseman Jose Aguiar made three fielding errors during the second game. But in the top of the seventh inning, he fielded the sharp grounder hit to him by Warriors' leadoff hitter David Tressler and delivered a perfect throw to first baseman Yoemmy Gonzalez to end the game.
''When you have a team that is this united, you expect good things to happen in tough spots,'' Guerra said.
Leading 8-7 in the top of the seventh inning of the first game, Vidal helped break the game open with a triple to right field that scored Leo Rojas and Gonzalez. Aguiar doubled, then Espinal and Tony Suarez followed with consecutive run-scoring singles as Brito scored six runs in the inning.
Despite a 40-minute lightning delay, Suarez secured the final three outs, including a pair of strikeouts in relief of starter Sammy Diaz.
Gonzalez finished 2 for 3 with two RBI and Espinal went 2 for 4 with two RBI in the first game. Rojas also had two RBI and Jose Gomez went 2 for 3.
Brito picked up where it left off in the second game by scoring a run in each of the first two innings. Manny Machado hit into a fielder's choice that scored Gonzalez in the first inning. Gomez drove in another run on a ground out to first with the bases loaded and no outs to give Brito a 2-1 lead in the second inning.
Vidal closed out the game by not allowing more than four hitters to come up in any inning after the second. Fabregas and Gonzalez each finished 2 for 3 in the second game.
''Every pitch was working out there for me,'' Vidal said. ``I told Coach again that I had a good feeling we were going to have a great day.''
GAME ONE
Brito 003 302 6 --14 15 3 TC 101 050 0 -- 7 5 1
WP: Hector Hernandez (2-1). LP: Nick Lettas. Record: TC 16-9
GAME 2
TC 010 000 0 --1 1 1 Brito 110 001 X --3 5 3
WP: David Vidal (3-0). LP: Jacob Johnson.
Region 4-2A Final: Miami Christian vs. Highlands Christian -- The Miami Christian Victors and the Pompano Beach Highlands Christian Knights split the first two games of a best of three semifinal series Friday and will play a decisive third game Saturday at the Miami Christian Baseball Complex.
The Victors won game one in dramatic fashion, coming from behind to win 4-3, while the Knights turned up their offense in game two and tied the series with a 10-3 rout.
The teams played the two games back to back, with only a 30-minute break in between -- something neither team has done this season.
''I knew today was going to be a dogfight,'' Miami Christian coach Armando Rodriguez said. ``We tried to keep our guys hydrated and cool. We took them into the [air-conditioning] between games, and luckily our dugout was in the shade. [Highlands Christian's] was facing the sun.''
Highlands Christian coach Bruce Charlebois shared those sentiments.
''We're not used to playing a back-to-back on the high school level,'' Charlebois said. ``It was pretty hot out today, and we definitely had to make some adjustments. We changed our conditioning through the week, and we brought tents and extra water.''
Game 1
Miami Christian (20-11) put its best foot forward in the first game, starting ace pitcher Felix Roque. Roque, who has been on the mound for 10 of the Victors wins this season, took command of the game early, forcing the Knights into three consecutive pop-fly outs in the first inning.
The Knights would manufacture a run in the second inning when Aaron Rodewald hit a zinger down the right-field line, putting Highlands Christian up 1-0.
Miami Christian would respond with two runs in the fourth inning, capitalizing on two Highlands Christian errors. The first, a late throw by the Knights outfield on a pop fly allowing the Victors to tag up and bring in a run; and the second, a mishandled catch by Highlands Christian along with right-field line.
After trailing 2-1, Highlands Christian would regain control of the game, converting two Miami Christian errors into runs and took a 3-2 lead into the seventh inning.
With a runner on third and the Victors trying to generate a run to tie the game, the seventh inning took a dramatic turn when the home-plate umpire changed a call, deeming a Miami Christian player safe instead of out. The call put the game-winning run on first base for Miami Christian.
The Knights walked the next batter intentionally, loading the bases for catcher Chris Torres. After taking the pitcher to a 1-2 count, Torres won the game on a line drive through the first- and second-base gap, bringing in two runs.
Game 2
The second game was nothing like the first, as Highlands Christian's (17-12) bats came alive early and often.
Miami Christian took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but that lead would soon disappear. Highlands Christian manufactured four runs in the bottom of the first inning, fueled by the hitting of J.R. Pryor.
Trailing 4-1 in the top of the third, the Victors showed signs of life when Leo Parrondo crushed a fastball, sending it sailing over the center-field wall for a two-run home run.
The Victors would get no closer than 4-3, as the Knights were able to stave off their charge by answering right back with two runs of their own by Rodewald and Ryan Marrow. The Knights tacked on four more runs late.
Both coaches spoke of their confidence going into Saturday's decisive Game 3.
''We'll be fin. We'll be fine,'' Rodriguez said.
''We have some pitching depth. Our staff has been holding us together all year,'' Charlebois said.
-- J.T. WILCOX
GAME ONEHC 010 001 1 --3 6 2 MC 000 200 2 --4 7 2 GAME 2
HC 402 022 0 --10 8 2 MC 102 000 0 -- 3 5 3
