Archbishop State Streak Ends Where It All Began

The year before the Archbishop McCarthy Mavericks won their first state title, the Mavs were fighting for respect in Class 4A. In the regional finals back then, a two-out-of-three championship series was played to determine the regional champs. Archbishop handled that 2009 series by beating Rockledge 13-0 and 4-0, with both wins being no-hitters.

Although the Mavericks ended up losing in the state semifinals that year to Naples, the Rockledge wins started what would become a four year state championship run from 2010 to 2013. The string of titles are a state record for consecutive titles.

On Tuesday night, the Mavericks came full circle as they traveled to face Rockledge, this time in a 5A regional final. There would be no shutouts or no-hitters on this night, as the Raiders showed the poise that no team in four years has been able to exhibit against the Mavericks. The result was a thrilling, 2-1 Rockledge win in nine innings.

“Rockledge executed in every phase of the game with clutch pitching, defense, and situational hitting,” said Archbishop Manager Rich Bielski. “They were well coached and very prepared to match energy with us, and they did.”

The Mavericks sent ace Brian Gonzalez to the hill on Tuesday. Gonzalez came into the game having giving up one hit in his last 21 innings of work. On this night, Gonzalez would have to wiggle out of several jams, as the Raiders put runners on base in five of his six innings of work.

In the second innings, Mason Studstill, the Raiders starting pitcher, worked a one-out walk. Gavin Spinneweber followed with a walk of his own, and after a second out, Michael Hall’s infield single gave Rockledge a 1-0 lead.

On most days, a 1-0 lead would not be enough versus the Mavericks, but Studstill had the Archbishop hitters off-balance all game long, giving up only four hits through eight innings of work.

With their record run down to its final three outs, the Mavericks showed in the seventh why they have been champions for so long. Aaron Soto led off the seventh with a walk, and pinch-runner Alex Carballo promptly stole second. Ryan Sinzenich dropped a sacrifice bunt, moving Carballo to third, and freshman Alex Toral lifted a sacrifice fly to left, tying the score at one.

In the bottom of the seventh, Bielski went to his bullpen, replacing Gonzalez with Soto.

“Brian battled all night and kept working out of jams,” said Bielski. “He kept us in the game and gave us the chance to tie it in the seventh.”

Soto threw a scoreless seventh and eighth, and when the game went to the ninth, the Mavericks finally were able to shake Studstill. Archbishop immediately went to work on reliever Austin Dennis, laoding the bases on a Soto base hit, a Toral hit-by-pitch, and an Alex Rodriguez infield single. Dennis was able to strike out Dylan Bautista looking to end the threat.

In their half of the ninth, the Raiders’ Justin Robedeau hit a one-out single, and Kevin Clanton walked. Michael Hall had a bunt single, loading the bases, and when Dennis delivered a base hit up the middle on a 1-2 count, Rockledge had claimed the regional title.

The Mavericks had suddenly experienced a feeling that had eluded them for four years, the devastation of a playoff loss. Despite the emotional roller-coaster of the game, Bielski was able to put his program’s remarkable run in perspective.

“While we fell short tonight in extras, we do appreciate so much how challenging it is to win one championship, so we’re blessed to have won four. Our 13 seniors will graduate next week and will leave a legacy of championships they will remember for the rest of their lives.”

Leave a comment using your facebook account!