Maverick “Supermen” Roll Into State 6A Final With 6-4 Win

The team concept of the 2012 edition Archbishop McCarthy baseball team is easy to understand if you listen to head coach Rich Bielski, who was emotional after Thursday’s state semifinal win. When told that his players were all talking about taking pride in the team concept after the game, coach Bielski said, “You just gave me chills when you said that.”

“Individual achievements are great,” Bielski said, “but a one-man pile at the end of the game isn’t fun. They’re only fun when you have a bunch of guys to pile up with.”

That attitude can be seen throughout the Mavericks roster, and they put their team concept on display again Thursday in the 6A state semifinal game with Lakewood Ranch.

The Mavericks scored five runs in the second inning and then held on in a wild seventh inning for a 6-4 victory. The win sends Archbishop back to the state finals for the third straight time. The Mavericks have won the past two titles and will get their chance for a three-peat Friday afternoon when they play Pace at 4 p.m.

Lead-off hitter Adam Duarte was one of the key players for Archbishop in the semifinals. Duarte, who last year helped save the state semifinals and finals with outstanding defensive assists from the outfield, this year contributed with his bat. The senior was 1-for-2, with two walks, two RBIs, and a double. After the win, which featured six different Mavericks getting hits, and five different Mavericks scoring, Duarte again stated the theme by which the team has been motivated.

“It shouldn’t be one person, that’s not how teams accomplish goals and win,” said Duarte. “It should be everybody. Every day, somebody different contributes. No Superman. We’re all a team, and that’s why we’re here.”

The team may have tried to drive home the point of no Superman, but their pitching staff has certainly been kryptonite for opposing batters. On Thursday, it was Nick Travieso’s turn to take the mound, and outside of a run in the second, Travieso did not allow a runner past second base in any inning until the seventh.

In the seventh, Travieso’s pitch count was rising, and after he got the lead-off batter out, the Mavericks co-ace worked into a jam. Travieso walked Lakewood’s Mike Lolli, and then gave up a base hit to Connor Lewellen. A double off the bat of Seth McGarry ended the evening for Travieso, and Bielski called on reliever Ryan Castellanos.

A Mavericks error was followed by a foul pop-out to catcher Mike Hernandez. Castellanos then walked the next two Mustang hitters, although many in attendance felt the senior had ended the game with a couple of close pitches in both at-bats.

With the tension rising, Bielski again went to the bullpen, this time calling on co-ace Andre Martinez. The lefty went to a 3-1 count on Tyler Daughinee before inducing a game-ending fly ball to Duarte in center.

Once again, it was time for the Mavericks to celebrate.

“We were prepared for this game,” said Travieso. “The week leading up to this, we knew what we had coming at us. We had great scouting reports and I had a feeling we were going to come out early and get something going.”

Travieso also spoke of how the experience of being here before helped the Mavericks, as opposed to this group of Mustangs who were here for the first time.

“The first time coming here, you walk into the stadium, and your just in awe. You start to realize how many major league pitchers throw off this mound in Spring Training. But this year, we have a lot of seniors who have been here the past few years, and that definitely helped us today.”

In the game-changing second inning, the Mavericks showed their balance by sending nine batters to the plate. Nick Basto, Ryan Sinzenich, Hernandez, and Duarte all had walks in the inning, while Eddie Silva, Jason Morozowski, and Brian Roberts contributed RBI singles during the frame. Sinzenich finished the game 2-for-2 with a walk and a run. Hernandez reached base safely all three times he came to the plate.

The Mavericks are now headed back to the state finals, although this year’s team is much different than the power-hitting squads Archbishop has had the past few years. The coaching staff knew early this year that with the new BBCOR bats, and the players coming back, that they would have to alter their coaching style if they wanted to return to Port St. Lucie, and Thursday’s win shows how well the team took to the new style.

“In this game, you have to evolve and you have to change sometimes,” said Mavericks Director of Baseball Operations Alex Fernandez. “Sometimes, like this year, the bats change. You deal with different type of talent, so as a coach, you’ve got to change your style to fit that talent. These boys execute the fundamentals of the game very well, and that’s what makes them successful.”

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