Spencer Krasner strikes out 10 as Chaminade baseball clips NSU University School

Based on what took place a week earlier in the district championship, the Region 4-2A quarterfinal between Chaminade-Madonna and NSU University School was destined for another epic showdown.

It certainly didn’t disappoint.

In a fiercely played game, Spencer Krasner struck out 10 in 6 1/3 innings, and yielded just one run as Chaminade-Madonna prevailed, 2-1, in a single-elimination contest.

From the first pitch to the final out, the game was packed with energy and emotion. There was plenty of chirping from both sides, with the umpires at least once informing both dugouts to calm things down.

Welcome to playoff baseball, with the season on the line.

The foreshadowing of how tense the contest could be was displayed last week, when Chaminade claimed the District 14-2A title with an 8-7 walk-off win in the seventh inning.

Unlike the district title game, where the offenses took over, Saturday’s nail-biter was a classic pitchers’ duel between the left-handed Krasner and right-hander Aidan Jacobs.

“Oh yeah,” Chaminade coach Jerry Albert said. “Two bulldogs on the mound. Two mentally tough kids. Two kids that knew they were going to keep their team in the game, and they battled and they battled.”

Krasner, one of the top left-handers in the state, decommitted a few weeks ago from South Carolina, and is in the process of finalizing where he intends to play college.

Jacobs, a senior, battled in his five-inning outing, yielding two runs on four hits with one strikeout.

“We knew we were going up against a very tough opponent, with [Jacobs] on the mound, because he’s a bulldog,” Albert said. “We have our own, Spencer is terrific. As the moments get bigger, he gets bigger. He wants it no other way.”

Seeded third in Region 4, Chaminade (17-11) advances to face second-seed, St. John Paul II Academy, Friday and Saturday in the best of three regional semifinals in Boca Raton.

NSU (12-6) had its season come to an end on Saturday.

“Intense battle,” NSU coach Dan Rovetto said. “These clubs know each other well. The kids are friendly off the field. Just utmost respect for coach Albert and what he does as a program.

“But in that token, I’m really proud of our kids. I feel athletically, at times we’re overmatched, but they kept competing the whole way through. Their effort has been undeniable these last couple of weeks. We came up on the short side, but I leave here, proud of these kids.”

NSU opened the scoring in the first inning. Isaac Rosa led off with a double on the second pitch of the game. Rosa swiped third, putting the Sharks in business. Ernie Aguado’s ground-ball out produced the first run of the game.

The lead was short-lived. With two outs in the first inning, Josh Wright unloaded on a home run to left field, evening the score and raising the intensity level on both sides.

“Josh has had some great, great at-bats this year,” Albert said of his 2027 class shortstop. “He’s so locked in up at the plate. He’s got a great approach, and he has done everything possible to make himself an excellent baseball player. That’s truly what he’s become.”

From that point, Krasner and Jacobs kept posting zeroes on the scoreboard.

In the fourth inning, Jacobs worked out of a jam, stranding a runner at third base.

But in the fifth inning, the Lions generated the only other run they’d need. With two outs, and pinch-runner Alejandro Fernandez at third base, 2028 class second baseman, Nolan Loonan, lined an RBI double to right-center.

“The great part of that at-bat,” Albert said of his left-handed hitting infielder. “Not only was it two outs. But he had two strikes, and kept fouling off. He had an idea of what he was trying to do up there. He really executed the two-strike approach very well.”

The Sharks threatened off Krasner in the sixth inning. Jacobs had a one-out double that put runners on second-and-third.

But Krasner struck out the next two batters.

“Those last two innings, I was kind of working backwards, because they were taking all the off-speed for first strikes,” Krasner said. “I landed the curveball for a strike almost every at-bat the last three innings. That set up my fastball in, changeup away. It gave me all four options to get wherever I needed to go.”

In the seventh inning, Krasner issued a one-out walk, and the southpaw was pulled because he reached his pitch maximum of 105.

Tyler Krasner, Spencer’s young brother, notched the final two outs, stamping the Lions’ ticket to the regional semifinals.

“Did anybody think this game was going to be any other way, after what happened last week. My goodness,” Albert said. “I really do feel like it’s Ali-Frazier. I feel like I’m in a 15-round prize fight every time we play them.”

MORE RESULTS

Region 3-3A quarterfinal - North Broward Prep 6, Coral Springs Charter 4 (9): After falling behind 4-0 in the first inning, the Eagles (20-6) rallied, tying the game in the seventh and scoring two in the bottom of the ninth. Zach Tavarez struck out eight, walked three and allowed one hit over 7 2/3 innings of relief. Alex Smith had two hits, including a home run and two RBI. North Broward Prep will next host Lakeland McKeel next Friday and Saturday in the regional semifinals.

Region 4-7A quarterfinal - West Broward 2, Western 1

Region 4-3A quarterfinal - iMater Prep 10, Sunset 0 (6): Jayden Castillo had three hits, including a home run and a double, and three RBI to lead the Knights (16-6), who broke the game open and walked off following an eight-run sixth inning. Jorge Alderete hit a bases-clearing triple while Alexis Vargas and Niuler Lima each had two hits.

Region 4-3A quarterfinal - Gulliver 6, Killian 2: Jacob Lombard had three hits and Lucas Murphy had two doubles to lead the Raiders (16-10), who will next travel to face Monsignor Pace next Friday and Saturday in a best-of-3 regional semifinal series. Omar Falcon and Darwin Vargas each had a hit and an RBI.

Region 4-3A quarterfinal - Monsignor Pace 7, Cardinal Gibbons 1: Marco Loreto struck out eight, walked two and allowed three hits over six scoreless innings to lead the Spartans (13-12). Jacob Reyes had two hits, including a home run and three RBI, and Giovanni Padron had four hits, including two doubles. Derek Lyman had two hits, including a double, and two RBI.

Region 4-2A quarterfinal - Palmer Trinity 17, Westminster Christian 14: Joshua Martinez led the Falcons (22-5) with two hits, including a home run and a double, and a game-high six RBI. Tommy Barcinas Jr. had a grand slam and five RBI. Leonardo Debasa and Manny Coya each had two RBI. Julian Alvarez had a home run and three RBI to lead Westminster Christian (16-8) while Ray Lopez had three RBI. He and Adrian Pineiro each had three hits. Palmer advances to play True North in the regional semifinals.

Region 4-2A quarterfinal - True North 10, Archbishop Carroll 0 (6): William Foss struck out seven and gave up two hits over six innings to lead the Titans (17-7). Matias Fischer had three hits, including two doubles, and three RBI. Jayden Cedeno also had three hits, and Ernie Velasco had two hits and three RBI. Mikey Cuenca and Carlos Victorero each had two hits and two RBI.

Region 4-2A quarterfinal - Boca Raton St. John Paul II 4, Florida Christian 0

Region 4-1A quarterfinal - Miami Christian 14, Highlands Christian 4 (5): Fabrizio Sangroniz, Santiago Guillen and Luis Mijares each had three RBI to lead the Victors (16-12). Raymond Santiago had four hits, including a double and a home run, and two RBI. Miami Christian will next host Schoolhouse Prep in the regional semifinals.

Region 4-1A quarterfinal - Brito 6, West Palm Beach Atlantic Christian 0: Claudio de los Santos struck out eight and walked two over six shutout innings to lead the Panthers (8-13) to the road victory. Leandro Vazquez had two hits and two RBI. Brito will next host Jupiter Christian in the regional semifinals.

Region 4-1A quarterfinal - Schoolhouse Prep 7, Dade Christian 5