Sheridan Hills Shocks Zion Lutheran In 2A Regional Semifinal

After Zion Lutheran outscored Sheridan Hills 38-5 through the teams’ three previous meetings this season, few people would have given the Sharks much of a chance in Tuesday’s regional semifinal as the teams matched up a fourth time.

Those people can think again.

Sheridan Hills rode the arm of Chris Meyer and capitalized on its opportunities to thwart its District 2A-13 nemesis 6-3 in the biggest upset in the county this season.

The Sharks move on to a regional final for the first time in school history and will play the winner of today’s Westwood Christian/Miami Christian game. If Miami Christian wins, Sheridan will host Friday’s final.

“It feels really good that we weren’t expected to beat them,” Meyer said. “That says a lot. We came to win. This game mattered the most for us, so we really wanted to get a W out of it. We came ready to play.”

Sheridan Hills coach Tim Talpesh echoed Meyer’s sentiments.

“We made the routine plays and we worked hard,” Talpesh said. “Our kids came up ready for this game, believing we could win, especially after our last performance in the district championship. We were 2-1 in the fifth and then four errors on back-to-back-to-back-to-back plays led to those unearned runs in that game. So we were ready. They knew they can complete with this team. With Chris Meyer on the mound, we can compete with anybody. Our team believed it, and we put the ball in play.”

The Sharks (12-13) broke up a scoreless game in the top of the fourth. Meyer singled and scored on Eric Morla’s base hit, and Jedidiah Wilson came in on a passed ball at second base.

Sheridan Hills extended the lead to 4-0 in the top of the fifth. Jorge Hernandez’s base hit scored Jason Ketcherside, and Thomas Davis was awarded home after an interference call.

Zion (15-8) managed a run in the bottom of the inning when Manuel Rojas doubled in JR Meneses, who singled to lead off the inning. The Lions loaded the bases, but Meyer induced a pop-up to end the threat. It was the second time in the game Zion had the bases loaded but failed to capitalize.

“I knew I had defense behind me to make the plays, so I just trusted them and they came through,” Meyer said.

Morla added a run in the sixth and Hernandez scored in the top of the seventh to increase Sheridan’s lead before the Lions rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh. Nicholas Vasquez homered and Rojas followed with a triple, scoring on Johnny Mendez’s fielder’s choice.

“They were the better team today,” Lions assistant coach Julian Cabrera said. “They came out and played hard from inning one till the very last inning, very first pitch to the very last pitch. They came out and they wanted to win.”

Cabrera said Zion’s three previous wins gave Sheridan Hills extra motivation to win Tuesday.

“The odds are always stacked against you when you’re trying to beat a team four times in one season. All that does is fuel their fire. It would have been the exact same thing if they were in our shoes and had beaten us three times. We would have been fire hot ready to play. Unfortunately they came away with the win today, but the best of luck goes to them.”

Cabrera said the Lions didn’t underestimate Sheridan Hills, but Talpesh believes otherwise and said his team gained from it.

“I honestly think since they beat us three times, they took us a little lightly,” Talpesh said. “They wanted to save Eric Hepple for regional finals, and that benefited us greatly. We faced the lefty the last time in the district championship, and we didn’t do that well. I preached to them that we knew his style, we knew he was going to be throwing fastballs and working ahead in the counts, so I just told my guys when they get up there, be looking to swing the bat because he’s not going to walk you. So it helped that we got to see that guy, and I think it helped that they took us lightly. I think they were thinking they had a road to Friday, and they didn’t think they had to go through us. So I’m thankful for that, but on the other hand, that team is extremely solid one through nine and then some. They have athletes, but it just came out on our side tonight.”

Talpesh said the team will prepare for Friday’s regional final still searching for more.

“We’re not satisfied just because we’re father than we’ve ever been,” Talpesh said. “We’re still going to be working hard every day. The first and utmost thing that we have to do as a team is glorify God with our play on the field and our actions, and if we do that, we feel we have the grace on our side that can compete with anybody.”

Zion, meanwhile, will try to regroup and set it thoughts on next season after its best year since reaching the regional final in 2000.

“One of best qualities was the fight and will to win from each one of those kids,” Cabrera said. “They came out starting in the fall when we were in the sand pitch doing our beach runs out here. And we preached to them that giving it all you have is all you can do. You’re not always going to be the most talented, the strongest, the fastest. That doesn’t always happen, but all you can do is give it all you have. And that’s the best quality that this team has.”

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