Southwest rallies to beat rival Braddock, advance to GMAC baseball final
No matter how dire things may get for the Southwest Miami baseball team, its players believe they can emerge victorious.
The Eagles would just rather not wait until the sixth inning to make it happen.
But on Tuesday night, it took that long for Southwest to find enough offense to squeak out a thrilling 3-2 comeback win over rival Braddock at home in a GMAC tournament semifinal.
Southwest scored all three of its runs in that inning on four hits, highlighted by a game-tying double by Gabriel Carvajal that scored Joel Cabrera.
The Eagles (17-3) won their fourth in a row and 10th game in their past 11 to advance to their second GMAC final in the past three seasons. Southwest will host Miami Springs, which beat Columbus 3-2 in the other semifinal, on Thursday night at 6 p.m. in a rematch of the 2022 GMAC final won by the Eagles.
“I shine in those big moments when I try. When I get the opportunity I want to succeed and that’s when I feel the most comfortable,” Carvajal said. “Our team has the most chemistry it has had in years. We’re always confident we’re going to win.”
Carvajal’s hit nearly gave the Eagles the lead before senior Tyler Duarte was thrown out at the plate for the second out of the inning.
But Southwest scored on the next at-bat on a throwing error by Braddock shortstop Manny Sanchez that drove in the go-ahead run. Sanchez made a spectacular diving stop on the play on a liner by catcher Anthony Reyes but his rushed throw sailed wide of first.
Eagles pitcher Christian Vasquez then relieved starter Nestor Quintana, gave up one hit, but struck out three in the final frame to record the save.
Quintana showed some grit as well after a rough first inning in which he surrendered a solo home run to Braddock third baseman Mario Magana and, two batters later, an RBI double by designated hitter Alex Rodriguez-Gallo to give the Bulldogs (14-8) a 2-0 lead.
Quintana retired the next 10 batters in order and allowed only one hit and one walk over the next 5⅔ innings. Quintana struck out six over six innings overall.
“The season is really important to us, especially being a senior and we want to make the most of our opportunity,” Quintana said in Spanish. “We have a great team and we have to believe it and do damage even earlier in the game and not wait until the sixth inning.”
The Eagles quelled what had been a surging Braddock squad, which entered the game having won 13 of its previous 14 games.
After Duarte singled to score Michael Cabrera and plate Southwest’s first run, Braddock starter Miguel Diaz exited the game.
Braddock replaced him with senior Daniel Bravo, who had not allowed a run in 35.1 innings this season. Although the tying run was not charged to Bravo and the second run he allowed was unearned, Carvajal managed to deliver the big hit to right center off the FIU signee.
“I don’t know how but they continue to find a way,” Southwest coach Mandy Pelaez said. “The bats have been a little slow but they came through today. Nestor has been solid all year too. In that first inning, he missed his spots, but he settled down and I knew two runs wouldn’t be a lot. He settled down and got a lot of outs and our defense was solid behind him.”
The Eagles have won two of their past three meetings with Springs dating back to their 2022 GMAC championship win. Springs beat Southwest at loanDepot park last April and the Eagles won their most recent meeting on March 25.
“Since we geared up together in January they’ve been on a mission and that’s the key with any high school team,” Pelaez said. “We don’t have a lot of stars but everybody contributes and everybody finds ways to win.”
