McCarthy Earns Eighth Straight Regional Appearance

On a night when Pompano took a different approach into its 5A-16 semifinal match-up with Archbishop McCarthy, the Mavericks showed their championship pedigree and withstood a rash of unconventional methods aimed at disrupting the four-time state champs. Regardless of the approach, the game ended as so many before them have in the playoffs through the years, with a Mavericks win, 10-0 on this night.

“We try to focus on our task at hand, and playing our game, and we don’t worry too much about the other team,” said Mavericks Manager Rich Bielski. “We knew Pompano was coming in here with a veteran team, and we knew Joe would have them coached up well, and that was our focus.”

Before the game even started, Pompano sent two pitchers down to the bullpen, one right-handed, and one a lefty, to try and confuse the Mavericks. Once the game began, it was the lefty, AJ Marcantonio, who took the mound.

In the bottom of the first, Kobe Lopez led off the inning with a base hit. After a strikeout, Marcantonio threw over to first six straight times. The patience of Lopez, however, led to a balk. A second balk moved Lopez to third, and a wild pitch allowed the first run of the game to score.

“That’s the way we always play the game,” said Pompano Manager Joe Giummule, of his teams six straight pick-off attempts. “We knew they have some speed at the top of their lineup, and our objective in that spot is to keep the runner close.”

In the second, Dylan Bautista led off with a walk, pinch-runner Samir Sanchez moved to second on a wild pitch, and was sacrificed to third by Fred Matos. Adan Fernandez then doubled home Sanchez, making the score 2-0. Adan later scored on a double by Lopez.

The Mavericks added to their lead in the third. Alex Toral walked leading off, followed by an Jake Ancia double. Ubaldo Lopez then lifted a sacrifice fly to center, making the score 4-0.

While the Mavericks offense was rolling, Daniel Federman was taking care of the mound work. Pompano had several chances to score, leaving six runners on base in the first three innings. Federman worked out of each jam, and settled in, with his pitch count dropping in each of his four innings of work, from 25 in the first inning, to 21, 18, and 13 in his final frame.

“Daniel gave us a quality outing today,” said Bielski. “He did what we asked him to do, and he worked out of several jams. It is really what he has done for us all season long.”

In their half of the fourth, the Mavericks broke the game open with two additional runs. Adan walked, and Lopez had a bunt single, his third hit of the night. Toral doubled in Adan, and Lopez scored on a wild pitch, making the score 6-0.

Archbishop then put the finishing touches on the game in the sixth, when they scored three runs, to close the game out 10-0. In the center of the three-run rally was Lopez, the Mavs lead-off hitter, who ended the day 3-for-3, with a walk, a double, and RBI, and three runs scored.

“It is my job to get on base and get the offense started,” said Lopez. “Today I was able to do that. We have some guys that can really hit the ball behind me, so when I get on base, there is a good chance the guys behind me are going to bring me in.”

Another Maverick who had a big day at the dish was te right-fielder Adan Fernandez, who finished 1-for-1, with a double, a walk, two RBIs, and two runs.

“Our approach was no different today than any other day,” said Fernandez. “Their first guy was throwing a bit slower than we are used to, so we had to adjust and wait back. Overall, today was a good win against a good team in Pompano.”

Up next for the Mavericks will be a familiar foe, rival American Heritage, in the district title game.

“Well, you know what you are going to get when you get Archbishop and Heritage,” said Bielski. “It is a team we know well, and a team we have played some exciting games with over the years, and I would imagine tomorrow will be more of the same.”

While the Mavericks move on, Pompano ends its season 14-10 under first-year Manager Giummule.

“These guys played hard tonight, and we had our chances early,” said Giummule. “A couple of hits in big spots early, and we could have been up three or four runs and maybe this would have been a different game. But that didn’t happen, and McCarthy did what they always do, which is play good baseball.”

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