Calvary Christian headed to regional final
Calvary Christian has 10 fewer state titles than its opponent on Wednesday, Westminster Christian.
Though there’s a lot to achieve to catch the Warriors 11 state titles, Calvary took a step closer with a 9-3 victory in a Class 4-4A regional semifinal at Calvary Christian.
Calvary had lost 3-2 to Westminster in a regular season game on April 19.
Calvary (11-14) will host the Florida Christian/Westminster Academy winner in a regional final 4 p.m.. Tuesday. The Eagles look to win the schools second title after winning the 4A championship in 2016.
Westminster’s last state title was the 2015 Class 3A championship and overall has the 11 state titles to its credit, which included seven from 1988-98.
The Eagles rallied from a two-run deficit and starting pitcher Christian Scott tossed a complete game, scattering six hits with eight strike outs in the victory. The University of Florida signee improved to 9-0.
As the saying goes, he who makes a great play in the field, has the big hit to lead off the next inning.
That’s what senior third-baseman Roberto Pena did.
Pena scooped a hard chopper toward third, throwing out Gabriel Patxot to end the top of the fifth. Pena then doubled down the left-field line for Calvary to leads of the bottom of the inning.
After advancing to third on a stolen base, the University of Florida signee scored the go-ahead run on a fielder’s choice giving the Eagles a 4-3 lead.
Trailing 1-0, Westminster (18-11) had taken a 3-1 lead in the top of the third inning, keyed by a pair of RBI singles from Danny Perez and Gabriel Patxot.
It was short-lived, though, as Warriors starter Jarrett Bond struggled in the bottom of the third with four walks, two coming with the bases loaded.
“Sometimes that’s baseball,” said Westminster coach Emil Castellanos. “Sometimes things don’t go your way. But you can’t take way the Calvary is a great ball club. We had some momentum and it was a one-run ball game until the sixth inning.”
Calvary pounced on Westminster relief pitcher Jamar Fairweather in the bottom of the sixth inning with five runs on seven hits for the final 9-3 score.
Mykanthony Valdez opened the inning with a home run over the left field fence for a 5-3 lead. Ryan Keenan also added a two-run single in the inning.
“We just continued to play our game,” Calvary coach Alan Kunkel said about the comeback. “It’s tough being down 3-1 in a playoff game, but you have to trust your players. Valdez’s home run kind of sparked us.”
Shortstop Dante Girardi, son of former New York Yankees catcher and manager Joe Girardi, went 3 for 3 with a double and two runs. Pena went 3 for 3 with a double and two runs.
“We want inspire the kind of tradition Westminster Christian has,” Kunkel said. “They have a program with great legacy and that’s what we want to build here.”
David Brousseau
MORE BASEBALL
▪ Region 4-4A semifinal — Florida Christian 3, Westminster Academy 2: Host Florida Christian was able to survive a late inning scare and hang on for the victory over Westminster Academy.
Jason Gonzalez scored the first run of the game on a solo home run in the second to put Florida Christian up 1-0.
Florida Christian (21-8) added two runs in the third off a pair of walks with the bases loaded.
Pitcher Matthew Fernandez led Florida Christian with 10 strikeouts and only allowed one run, but was pulled after the fifth.
“I was attacking the hitters and got ahead with the fastball,” Fernandez said.
Westminster Academy picked up its first run in the sixth on an RBI single by Alec Villanueva.
The Lions (15-8) loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh, but were only able to produce one run.
Florida Christian will travel to face Calvary Christian on May 15 in the region final.
WMA 0-0-0-0-0-1-1 2-4-0
FC 0-1-2-0-0-0-0-0 3-4-2
WP: Matthew Fernandez (7-1). LP: Christan Petrisko. FC: Jason Gonzalez 1-2, HR, one RBI, walk. WMA: Alec Villanueva 2-3, two singles, RBI, walk.
Darren Collette
▪ Region 4-9A quarterfinal — Miami Beach 2, Hialeah Gardens 0: Nolan Santos 2-hitter, 10 K; Emmanuel Arias 2-3; David Castillo HR.
▪ Region 4-9A quarterfinal — Columbus 3, Coral Reef 1: Anthony Arguelles struck out 10 to lead the Explorers, who will host Palmetto on Tuesday in the semifinals.
▪ Region 4-9A quarterfinal — Hialeah 8, Coral Park 3: Nick Garcia struck out nine and pitched a two-hitter, allowing no earned runs for the T-Breds. Lazaro Hernandez and Kevin Warrens each went 2 for 3 with an RBI. Hialeah will host Miami Beach on Tuesday at Alex Fernandez Field.
▪ Region 3-9A quarterfinal — Flanagan 10, Taravella 2: Edinson Renteria and Noah Martindale each went 3 for 4. Renteria had two RBI as did Tyler Evans and Tyler Epstein. The Falcons move on to play at Douglas on Tuesday at 4.
▪ Region 4-8A quarterfinal — Coral Glades 7, Fort Lauderdale 1: Gustavo Lino 2-run home run; Casey Shrifel 2 for 2. Kyle Durham and Matt Russo 13 combined Ks. The Jaguars will host St. Thomas Aquinas at 6:30 Tuesday.
▪ Region 4-8A quarterfinal — St. Thomas Aquinas 12, Boca Spanish River 0: Blake Hely 1-hitter, 6 K; Matt Archer 3 for 4, 3 runs; Andres Antonini 4 RBI; Cade Fergus 3 RBI.
▪ Region 4-8A quarterfinal — Westland Hialeah 5, Cooper City 0: George Aguilera CG, 5 K, 4 hits; Michael Uz 3 for 4, 2 RBI. The Wildcats will travel to face Nova on Tuesday at 7.
▪ Region 4-8A quarterfinal — Nova 3, Mater Academy 1: Trace Moore CG, 5 K, 4 H, 3 BB; Jared Campbell 1 for 3, RBI; Andre Martinez 1 for 2, RBI.
▪ Region 4-7A quarterfinal — Pembroke Pines Charter 9, Terra 1: The Jaguars will host Doral on Tuesday at 7.
▪ Region 4-6A quarterfinal — American Heritage 10, Goleman 0: The Patriots host Archbishop McCarthy on Tuesday at 7.
▪ Region 4-6A quarterfinal — Archbishop McCarthy 8, Miami Springs 3
▪ Region 4-5A quarterfinal — Monsignor Pace 4, Gulliver 2: Michael Montes, Michael Machin and Kenny Gonzalez each went 1 for 3. Yordani Carmona struck out nine and walked three, allowing one run over six innings to pick up the win. Pace coach Tom Duffin recorded his 400th career victory. The Spartans advance to play the winner of Mater Lakes and Key West, which will be played Wednesday night.
▪ Region 4-5A quarterfinal — North Broward Prep 6, LaBelle 0: Anthony Tomczak and Parker Foss combined no-hitter. Tomczak 5 IP, 8 K, 2 BB; Foss 2 IP, 2 K. The Eagles travel to Fort Pierce to play Lincoln Park on Tuesday at 7.
▪ Region 4-5A quarterfinal — Lincoln Park 3, Pompano Beach 2: Mike Schuler, 6 IP, 9 K, 4 H, 3 BB, 1 for 4, run. Chase Costello 1 for 2, RBI.
SOFTBALL
▪ Region 8-4A final — Westminster Christian 9, Chaminade-Madonna 1: WP: Brooklyn Maguire (11-6) 7 IP, 10 K, 0 BB; Victoria Perez 2-3, 2 runs, 2B, RBI; Hailey Donovan 2-run HR; Susana Perez 2-4, run; WC 22-6.
▪ Region 4-5A semifinal — Gulliver 6, Key West 5: WP: Hayley Miller; Kaylee Rodriguez 2-3, HR, 2 runs, 3 RBI; Ajah Mallary 2-4, 2B, RBI; Cici Castillo 2-5.
▪ Region 4-9A semifinal — Coral Gables 2, American 0 (13 inn.): WP: Angelina Bonilla (7-5) 13 IP, 3-hitter, 22 K, 2-5, double, triple; LP: Ashley Alfonso. Gabby Cutie 1-5, double, 2 RBI; Rebecca Rodriguez 1-5, BB, run; Tatiana Campos 1-4, run; CG 17-11.
VOLLEYBALL
The 14th annual Miami-Dade County All-Star match will be played Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at iMater High School located at 620 West 20th St. in Hialeah. The North team will be coached by Ashley Nugent of Mourning High School and the South team will be coached by Alex Rivero of Southwest High.
This story was originally published May 9, 2018 at 10:37 PM with the headline "Calvary Christian headed to regional final."