Led by Diaz’s gem, Aquinas baseball earns chance to repeat as state champs
St. Thomas Aquinas’ baseball team needed late rallies three times in the recent regional playoffs to get back to the state final four.
This included two walk-off wins in last week’s regional final series against Miami Southridge.
But on Friday afternoon at Hammond Stadium, senior pitcher Julian Diaz made sure the Raiders wouldn’t need any late-game heroics.
Diaz gave up only one run on four hits over seven innings to help defending Class 6A state champion St. Thomas Aquinas beat Land O’Lakes 4-1 in a state semifinal.
The Raiders (27-6) will next take on Gainesville Buchholz (25-7) in the 6A championship game on Saturday at 2 in what will be a rematch of last year’s state final. Aquinas beat Buchholz 8-3 last year to secure their third state title all-time.
Diaz struck out five, walked two and allowed four hits on 86 pitches to save the Raiders from having to use any other pitchers.
After allowing the first two batters of the game for Land O’Lakes (25-8) to reach on a walk and a single, Diaz escaped the jam thanks to a 6-4-3 double play.
“Julian did everything he could possibly do today and he saved our bullpen for tomorrow,” St. Thomas Aquinas coach Joey Wardlow said. “If you follow what he’s done all year, it doesn’t matter what Julian’s first inning looks like because you know he’s going to get better. That was good for us too.”
Diaz’s only run allowed came in the third after Gators second baseman Dominic Figueroa reached on a bunt single and left fielder Evan Harris reached on a throwing error. Diaz struck out shortstop Jose Leger, but then a wild pitch allowed Figueroa to score. After an infield single by Ethan Barclay, another double play made by Jaden Doverspike, who fielded a grounder up the middle, stepped on second and fired to first, ended the threat.
“My defense was amazing in this game,” Diaz said. “I knew what I had to do on a big field after last year. Throw strikes and let your defense work. Pop outs and double plays.”
Prior to that third inning, Aquinas’ bats gave Diaz all the run support he would need when designated hitter Hayden Robinson lined a perfectly-placed, opposite field double down the left field line in the first inning to score Nico Sabatino and Jake Carruthers and give the Raiders a 3-0 cushion.
“It all goes back to my approach,” Robinson said. “I saw an outside curveball, sat back and took it the other way. You want to set the tone and get that big hit, it just got the guys excited and ready to go.”
Sabatino, a four-year starter for Aquinas, broke a school milestone with his single in the fifth inning. It was the 125th hit of his career, giving Sabatino the most career hits ever by an Aquinas player.
“I’m honored that Coach (Wardlow) played me at such a young age and trusted me through every step,” Sabatino said.
The hit also set up Aquinas’ fourth run, which came on an RBI double by Brady Bauxbaum.
