Chaminade Upsets Second Seed University School In District 4A-13 Tourney

Coming into this season, Chaminade-Madonna was one of the favorites to win District 4A-13. By the end of the regular season, Chaminade found themselves in last place and having to face second-seeded University School in the first round of the playoffs. That would be no easy task with University riding high coming off a week in which head coach Rich Hofman won his 1,000th career game.

Those circumstances made what happened Monday evening all the more bizarre. Chaminade won the first-round match-up 4-3, but not before a wild seventh inning in which the Suns came within one runner coming around third of tying the game.

With the score 4-0 and Chaminade and starting pitcher Chris Flores cruising, the seventh started with a walk to Laurenz Reyes. After a flyout, Diego Perez also drew a walk. The two runners advanced to second and third on a passed ball, and Sebastian Diaz hit a sacrifice fly to center. The run seemed inconsequential at the time, with Flores needing just one more out to secure the win. An error and a walk later put the tying run on first base, and with the score 4-2, that’s when the crazy play of the game occurred.

J.J. Cormier hit a ground ball to short that appeared to be the game-clincher, but the ball was thrown away at first base and trickled down the line. Andrew Denis, who had drawn the walk, rounded second and headed for third. As the ball continued down the line, Denis rounded third, but was held, much to the surprise of many, including Chaminade head coach Mike Moss.

“I thought for sure that tying run was going to score. That was a tough angle for our first baseman, and I’m not sure he even would have had a play at home.”

The next batter grounded out to second, and the Lions had escaped with a 4-3 win. Flores picked up the win, despite losing the complete game with two outs in the seventh. The senior was lifted for Dustin Hanley, who closed out the game.

“I haven’t thrown a game with this many pitches in a while,” Flores said. “I’ve been able to keep my pitch count down this season, but today, I threw a lot of pitches. I tried to battle and finish the game, but I guess I just got tired at the end.”

For one of the few times this year, the Lions ace received run support from his offense.

In the first inning, Chaminade pushed across two unearned runs. Mitch Moorman started the inning by reaching on an error. After Luis Guillorme sacrificed Moorman to third, Kevin Nadar walked. White struck out the next batter, bringing Keith Oren to the plate with two outs. Oren promptly smashed a two-run triple down the right-field line.

In the second, the Lions struck again with the help of a two-out University error. Danny Vitello stole second and moved to third on a Moorman infield single. Guillorme then singled up the middle, plating Vitello and giving the Lions a 3-0 lead. They extended that lead to 4-0 in the fifth.

“That was big to get those runs early today,” Flores said. “Especially against Mike White. He’s a great pitcher, and I am impressed with my team that they were able to come through and score like that. That was a great put-on tonight by our offense.”

White did his job on the mound for University, striking out 10 and only giving up one earned run in six innings of work.

Chaminade came into the playoffs as one of the only teams in the district with two legitimate aces, and now the Lions are set up for a possible trip to the regional tournament if they can get by Pine Crest on Tuesday afternoon with co-ace Brandon Burgess on the mound.

“I have full confidence in Brandon, just like I believe he has full confidence in me,” Flores said. “I think Brandon will deal tomorrow and get the job done and get us to the district championship.”

Leave a comment using your facebook account!