Brito baseball team’s title hopes dashed in frustrating state semifinal loss
The Brito Miami baseball team wanted to build a family and restore the proud tradition of their program.
The Panthers accomplished the first goal, building a team that defied expectations, advancing to the state final four for the first time in a decade.
As such, they achieved a measure of the second part.
But Brito was unable to overcome the odds one more time, and bring home the school’s eighth state title.
The Panthers were stifled by Orange Park St. Johns Country Day and its ace Brayden Harris during a 2-0 loss in a Class 1A state semifinal at Hammond Stadium.
“The kids tried their best, but we couldn’t come back,” Brito assistant coach Jose Orta said. “I’m happy they played with a lot of heart. It was a great season. I wish it would have gone another way because these kids worked hard to get here. We didn’t get any help from the (umpires), but it is what it is.”
Brito had its chances to score against Harris, a Florida State University signee, and later against reliever Chandler Dantzler. But the Panthers (16-14) left nine runners on base and couldn’t take advantage of their own starter Samuel Castro’s strong outing.
After giving up two runs (one earned) in the first inning, Castro tossed six shutout innings to keep Brito in the game.
But that opening frame ended up being too much to overcome. With one out, Hunter Rodgers singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Preston Cole followed when he hit a ball to the left center field warning track which bounced over the wall for a ground rule double to score Rodgers. After Cole moved over to third, he was caught in a rundown between third and home. But Brito third baseman Aldo Berrios threw the ball low and hit Cole on the foot, allowing him to score the second run.
Harris struck out eight, allowed four hits and walked two over 5 ⅔ innings. Dantzler recorded the final out of the sixth.
“We were facing a really good pitcher,” said Castro, a Miami Dade College signee. “I’m disappointed we lost but that’s baseball.”
In the seventh, Brito had a chance to put something together when Luis Diaz reached on a throwing error with one out. But when the ball kicked off Country Day first baseman Gibby Gilliand and into short right field after he tried to pick a low throw, Diaz took a wide turn at first and was then called out on a close play, trying to return to the base.
Raivon Pinder then doubled with two outs to keep the game going. Luis Amariz followed by hitting a sharp line drive to first, but right at Gilliand to end the game.
“I kept telling my guys not to get frustrated. I tried to keep it calm and keep pushing until the last out,” Orta said. “We had the runner on second with two outs and we hit a good line drive and we kept fighting until the last out.”
Orta is hopeful of Brito’s future since his team graduates only five seniors. The Panthers return a young core they hope can make it back to state.
“My team still has a lot of freshmen and sophomores, and I saw how our team competed with good schools that have older guys,” Orta said. “I’m glad we made it up here and I feel like next season we can do it again.”
