Calvary’s Taborda No-Hits Somerset For 4A-14 Title

After seeing his team defeat Coral Springs Charter in a one-hitter earlier in the day, Tommy Taborda took that momentum and did just a little bit better.

The senior fired a no-hitter with nine strikeouts and a walk Friday, as Calvary Christian won the 4A-14 title with a 2-0 victory against Somerset. The Panthers had advanced to the title game by defeating Pine Crest 9-5 earlier in the day.

It was Taborda’s first career no-hitter at the high school level.

“I actually threw a perfect game one time when I was 12, but nothing like this ever happened in high school,” said Taborda, who will be playing for Mississippi College next year.

Calvary hasn’t played for a district title since 2012, when it lost to Coral Springs Christian. So by winning the title Friday, the Eagles achieved a milestone.

“It’s a long time coming for us,” Calvary Manager Greg Mucerino said. “We have a great bunch of seniors, and what can you say about the pitching performance tonight and in both games today. The weather got us yesterday, but 14 innings, one run and one hit. It’s hard to lose when you play that kind of pitching and defense.

Somerset Manager Onel Garcia praised Taborda’s efforts.

“We’re a good-hitting team, but Tommy Taborda, he was great tonight,” Garcia said. “That’s what I just told the team. Sometimes you’re going to run into a good pitcher who’s on that day. He was making quality pitches. He had everything working. He was hitting his spots, and he was very, very good.”

Taborda sat the Panthers down 1-2-3 in every inning except the fifth, when he allowed the walk for the only batter that he faced over the minimum. He also helped his cause at the plate, driving in the second run by hitting a sacrifice fly to score Christian Scott.

The Eagles took a 1-0 lead in the fourth when Nick Benevento singled and then scored on an error.

Somerset starter Jose Hidalgo gave up three hits, and relief pitchers Tyler Hall and Angel Perez didn’t give up any hits.

Mucerino said the Eagles are looking forward to Wednesday’s regional quarterfinal against Cardinal Newman. As district champions, Calvary will host that meeting.

“The exciting thing for our club is I know we’re not done,” Mucerino said. “There’s a lot of baseball still in front of us this year. We have the club that has the mental maturity and the focus for better things to come even yet. “

Garcia also said his team is looking ahead to next week’s regionals with enthusiasm.

“We’re still alive, and that’s what it’s all about at this moment,” Garcia said.

For the Panthers, it doesn’t matter that they have to travel to American Heritage-Delray for Wednesday’s quarterfinal.

“We don’t have a home field, so we’re always on the road,” Garcia said. “We’re just happy to be alive. Right now, it’s about going forward and staying alive. That’s all that it’s about.”

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