‘Magic in the air’: Belen baseball team rides momentum into Region 4-4A finals
Sometimes baseball teams navigate through a rough season with the belief things will click at the perfect time.
Just ask Belen Jesuit.
The Wolverines have hovered around the .500 mark the entire season, reaching it again on Thursday night.
But Belen could care less what the record looks like.
The goal was always to play in May.
The Wolverines won in May impressively on Thursday night, securing a series-clinching 2-0 victory over Merritt Island in the third game of their Region 4-4A semifinal series at Belen Jesuit.
“There’s really no words to say other than ‘there’s some magic in the air,’” an emotional Belen coach Jesse Fernandez said. “It’s been up and down all year for these kids. But if you want to watch a team that plays with heart, doesn’t give up, come watch the Belen Wolverines. They’re something special to watch.”
The Wolverines (16-16) advanced to the regional final for the first time since 2017 and will face American Heritage in Plantation in a best-of-3 series beginning at Heritage on Monday at 7. Game 2 would be Tuesday at Heritage at 7. Game 3, if necessary, would be at Belen at 6.
The Wolverines will attempt to advance to the state final four for the first time since 2016.
“You go through a whole season and you keep preaching ‘play for May’ and it’s May now and here we are,” Fernandez said. “I’m excited to get to American Heritage, it’s going to be a dogfight.”
Belen lost to Heritage 11-0 on March 4 at home. But the Wolverines have since gone through a tough slate that includes wins over regional final-qualifying teams like Mater Academy and Miami Springs.
“Every single one of those teams we faced tested us and we got here because of that competition,” Fernandez said. “It’s been awesome.”
Junior right-handed pitcher Victor Escobar came up huge on the mound, tossing a three-hitter while striking out three and walking three to lead Belen.
“This is where guys make their moment and I couldn’t be happier for Vic,” Fernandez said. “He carried us on his back and did what we needed him to do.”
Escobar gave up a pair of doubles, but worked himself out of trouble each time.
“I felt great. A lot of emotions in a big game, but I felt loose,” Escobar said. “For the first few innings, I was trying to find myself, but once I got to the fifth, I felt like I was rolling. I just threw fastballs and attacked. I took a few breaths and kept attacking.”
Sophomore Jose Batista went 2-for-3 and gave Belen a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI single that scored Andres Gross. Batista then led off the fourth with a double and came around to score on an error and a hit by David Del Pino.
The Wolverines have been resilient so far in the playoffs, winning games on the road at Melbourne Eau Gallie to win their regional quarterfinal series in three games and this week, winning a game at Merritt Island (24-8) to stretch the series to a third game at home.
“We’re just coming together for one common goal to win every pitch and every game and yeah, there’s definitely something going on here,” Escobar said.
