Highlands Christian’s State Bid Falls One Game Short In 4-1 Loss To Miami Brito

When it comes to baseball, sometimes the right pitch can still bring doom.

In a close game, even the smallest mistake can prove to be too costly.

These were the difficult lessons Highlands Christian was reminded of following Friday’s 4-1 loss to Miami Brito in the Class 1A regional championship, played at Florida Memorial University in Opa Locka.

With two outs in a tie ballgame in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Knights made two errors on the same play that allowed the deciding runs to cross home plate.

“That was just some aggression coming out there,” said Highlands coach Joe Shadowen. “They were errors of aggression, and I have no problem with aggression. That is what helped get us here.”

On the mound, freshman pitcher Eric Hepple had just evened the batter’s count to 2-2 with a perfectly spotted fastball. The right-hander followed with a well-placed off-speed pitch that the batter caught off-balance and unfortunately for Highlands the ball blooped into the right field hole. Miami Brito mixed this good fortune with aggressive running as the Panthers stretched the bases, which resulted in bringing in all three runners after the Knights made back-to-back errors on the play.

The Panthers’ Richard Sotolongo then closed out the final inning, and just like that it was over.

Highlands (15-11) had been vying for a return berth in the state championship, but instead watched the Brito players celebrate their first trip to states since the 2007 season.

In all they uncharacteristically committed five errors on the day.

Meanwhile the Panthers were sharp on defense, particularly in the infield where they had several diving grabs to rob the Knights of hits.

Highlands managed only four hits, significantly below the average of their high-powered offense.

“We weren’t playing to our full potential and we let them get the better of us,” said senior Jason Hepple. “I never understood why the seniors got so upset when it ended, but now I do. This is the last time I get to play on this field with my brother, and with my teammates.”

The younger Hepple started and went the entire game for the Knights, throwing 93 pitches and striking out three while falling to 6-5 to end the season.

Early on it seemed as if Highlands had the game in its grasp, even despite trailing 1-0 from nearly the game’s onset after the Panthers’ leadoff hitter doubled and came around to score in the first inning.

The Knights worked out of the inning without allowing any more damage, and again prevented the lead from growing any larger after Eric Hepple allowed a leadoff triple in the second.

“We were in it and it felt good,” said Shadowen. “We knew it would take 21 outs and we wanted to hang around until we got our chance.”

That chance finally came in the top of the sixth.

Jason Hepple singled with two outs, giving way to courtesy runner Nick Vasquez, who came around to score from first when junior Kevin Yambor followed with a deep double to left field.

The game was tied at 1-1 and the Knights’ offense was waking up.

But after senior Marvin McQueen worked a walk and sophomore Carlton Cleare singled to put two runners on with two outs in the seventh, Sotolongo was able to induce an infield ground-out to end the game.

“I’ve appreciated this opportunity from Reg Cook [Highlands Athletic Director],” said Shadowen, who will not return as coach next season. “We did a lot of good work and it got a lot better. We’re a lot more experienced. I don’t like the outcome, but to see the pain on their faces lets me know things bode well for next year. They will be ready.”

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