Miami Springs’ remarkable repeat bid ends in state semis against familiar foe
No one would have blamed the Miami Springs baseball team if it had just been competitive and not won that much this season.
Coming off the first state championship in school history, the Golden Hawks weren’t going to settle for less no matter what their roster looked like.
So despite having lost 12 players and returning only two starters, Miami Springs battled its way back to Fort Myers on a Cinderella run like few in recent memory.
But on Wednesday, in spite of showing even more resilience against a daunting and familiar obstacle, the magic ran out.
In a rematch with nationally-ranked Santa Rosa Beach South Walton - the team the Golden Hawks beat last season to win that aforementioned state championship - Miami Springs stood tough, but eventually fell, 6-2, in a Class 3A state semifinal at Hammond Stadium.
“You never want to make it to this stage and lose and we’re not ones for moral victories, but we’re very happy to have been here today,” said Miami Springs coach Corey Estrada, who was an assistant on last year’s team before being promoted to head coach following the departure of coach David Fanshawe to Doral Academy.
“I’m proud of my guys for battling, especially against such a great and experienced team. We were in the game until the last inning and that’s all we can ask from our boys to go out there and give us 100 percent and give us a chance in the game.”
The Golden Hawks (19-12-1) did not back down against South Walton (29-4), which entered the game ranked No. 11 nationally, and its ace Coleman Borthwick, a projected MLB draft pick this summer and Auburn signee.
Miami Springs faced Borthwick last season. But the Hawks’ revamped roster was facing a pitcher, who entered the game with a miniscule 0.12 ERA and having allowed just one earned run and 11 hits this season while striking out 110 batters.
Miami Springs mustered eight hits and plated a run against Borthwick.
“They drove his pitch count up with quality at-bats and that was probably the highest it’s been early in the game all year,” South Walton coach Nick Borthwick said. “You’ve got to give them credit for those at-bats.”
The issue was the Golden Hawks were unable to do much damage with those hits.
Miami Springs stranded 12 runners on base and most of their hits came with two outs.
“My main focus was having my arms back and being ready early,” said Taylor Ancheta, who had two hits, including a double.
Adrian Henriquez, who opposed Borthwick on the mound, also had two hits and Kris Mederos also had two hits and a walk.
“It helped knowing who we were going to face having faced him in the state championship last year,” Estrada said. “We prepared for him in batting practice the last couple of days, focusing on being able to hit velo. To get eight hits on a guy like that is impressive. Unfortunately, we had some chances and couldn’t get it done and he barreled down and got out of jams.”
Miami Springs was unable to hold down South Walton’s lineup for long, and a defensive miscue began a three-run second for the Seahawks.
Carter Hawk singled to left, and two batters later, Declan Fowler scored after Hudson Quinn hit a high chopper that Matthew Munoz did not handle cleanly. Two batters later, Nathan Whitney roped a two-run single.
“Coming from last year and winning last year, you wanted to do it again, but we faced an experienced team and it was a battle,” Henriquez said.
Miami Springs took solace in the fact that it was able to exceed outside expectations on its way back to state. The Golden Hawks became the first South Florida team and only second overall in the state to advance to state as a No. 8 seed since seeding began five years ago.
“When you lose 12 guys off your roster, it’s tough,” Estrada said. “And we had one senior on the field so for us to get this opportunity, it’s a great accomplishment for these boys and we feel like we have the pieces to get back here next year.”
