Archbishop McCarthy baseball can’t overcome familiar foe in state final loss

As a program, this is what Archbishop McCarthy’s baseball team was used to for so many years.

The Mavericks found themselves playing for a state championship, something they had done successfully seven previous times in their history.

But on Wednesday afternoon, an opponent McCarthy knew well was waiting.

Lynn Haven Mosley, a team the Mavericks beat on four previous occasions on their way to state championships, earned a measure of payback when it handed McCarthy a 9-2 defeat in the Class 5A final at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers.

The Dolphins (27-5) had lost three previous state finals and one state semifinal against McCarthy.

The Mavericks (21-9-2) made it to the final for the first time since 2017 when their run of seven state titles in eight seasons ended.

Vorachek, a longtime college coach, took over the program in 2018 after the previous coaching staff departed amid a scandal that season involving the use of ineligible players. Vorachek guided the Mavericks to the regional playoffs in 2018 and 2019 before last season was cut short due to COVID-19.

But this season, a squad led by a core of six seniors, which had been with Vorachek since he became the Mavericks’ coach, helped them take the next step toward restoring them as a state powerhouse.

“They were a major part of why we were there and why we’ll continue to have a chance to go back there every season,” Vorachek said.

“When I took over everyone thought the program was dead and they could have left like others did. They earned it and worked their tails off. I wish they would have had a chance to win a state championship ring, but I’m proud of them.”

The Mavericks committed two costly errors during the top of the fifth inning, contributing to four Mosley runs, which helped break the game open.

“We didn’t have innings like that in the second half of the year,” Vorachek said. “We made plays we needed to make and got us out of a lot of jams.”

The Dolphins (27-5), who won their first state championship since 2002, loaded the bases with one out and then Jaden Rudd laced a two-run double down the right-field line. Mosley added another run with two outs on an error by first baseman Jake Alfaro and a fourth on a wild pitch by Vega.

“I thought we’d be able to cut down that lead out but he slipped and the ball got away from him,” Vorachek said. “It is what it is. Those things happen even at the big-league level.”

Antonio Jimenez, Jack Cue and Vega each had singles accounting for the three hits McCarthy was able to scratch out against Mosley’s pitching combination of Hudson Rowan and Blake Thomas.

The Mavericks had a chance to take the lead early, loading the bases in the first inning with two outs, but failed to score. McCarthy left seven runners on base and didn’t break through until the seventh when Jimenez and Andrew Ildefonso picked up RBI after Mosley had built a 9-0 lead.

Vega pitched six innings and gave up only one earned run while striking out seven without a walk. Alfaro replaced Vega, who also pitched in Tuesday’s semifinal, on the mound in the seventh and gave up five runs on three hits and two walks.

“Both Andrew and Adrian were both outstanding all season long,” Vorachek said. “We always felt like we’d have a good chance whenever either would take the mound. They’re great kids.”