Flanagan Survives Scare To Advance To 8A-12 Championship
Andres Sanchez said he and his teammates were surprised to be behind against Everglades.
Flanagan outscored its district rivals 112-3 this season, but Wednesday night, the Falcons found themselves in a position they hadn’t been in against those rivals.
Flanagan had to battle against an upset-minded Everglades team and rally from a 3-2 deficit to earn a 13-3 win in a District 8A-12 semifinal at Cypress Bay High School.
On paper, the result was the same as the other two times the Gators and the Falcons matched up this season: Flanagan winning by 10 runs. Many coaches would be pleased to see their team mercy-rule its opponent, especially in a district semifinal with a regional playoff berth on the line, but after the game, Flanagan coach Ray Evans was anything but pleased. In fact, he said he was upset his team needed to rally when the game plan going in was completely opposite.
“We looked like clowns,” Evans said. “It was embarrassing that we had to play six innings. We should have come out with a fire and made a statement. I really didn’t like how we played. We’re going to have a hard practice tomorrow.”
Flanagan (16-4) came out with two runs in the first two innings and it looked as if the Falcons were on their way to another rout. Andres Visbal was hit by a pitch to start the game and came around to score on Rick Sanchez’s double. Daniel Oliveri added another run for Flanagan in the second after walking and stealing second. He came in on Christian Nelson’s base hit.
But then things began to unravel a little for Flanagan as they allowed Everglades (7-9) to go ahead 3-2 in the third. Ronaldo Nuersi singled and got to second on an error to lead off the inning. Andrew Hernandez got on base with a bunt single, and two batters later, another error allowed Gabriel Sanchez to reach first and Nuesi to score. Elias Macias’ squeeze bunt plated Hernandez, and Sanchez scored on an error.
“We were surprised,” Flanagan’s Andres Sanchez said. “We didn’t expect that to happen. That wasn’t part of the plan.”
But Sanchez said the Falcons were “confident. We didn’t expect to lose. We knew we’d battle back like we always do.”
Gentry Fortuno pitched a complete game for Flanagan on Wednesday. He struck out nine.
And battle back Flanagan did. The Falcons scored four runs in the fourth to go up 6-3 and restore order in Flanagan Nation. The top four of the Flanagan order — Visbal, Andres Sanchez, Rick Sanchez and Jose Mesa, Jr. — reached base by a single, a walk, an error and another walk. Mesa’s bases-loaded walk brought in Visbal, and Ryan Dodge’s walk plated Andres Sanchez. That ended the day for Everglades starter Adam Murray, who was relieved by Carlos Montero. Rafael Betances singled in another run, and Oscar Rodriguez’s walk allowed Mesa to score.
Flanagan scored seven runs in the sixth to end the game and Everglades’ season, one in which Gators coach Oddibe McDowell was pleased with how his players performed.
“I’ve got a good group of kids,” he said. “I told them that on day, anybody can beat anybody. I think they believed in that. Overall, the effort the kids gave I’m proud of.”
Flanagan now sets its sights on West Broward, and Evans said he is expecting the district title matchup Friday to “be a good game.”
Mesa has thrown 13 no-hit innings against West Broward this season, and Evans said “he wants this game and wants to win a title with himself on the mound.”
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