Guess Who’s Back? McCarthy Returns To State

5A Regional Final Photo Gallery

If any team knows how to throw a party on the diamond it is the Archbishop McCarthy Mavericks. The four-time state champions welcomed their family and friends onto the playing field, where tears were shed and the party commenced on Friday after their 2-1 regional final win over Merritt Island.

The victory sent the Mavericks back to a place they’ve become familiar with over the past decade, the state final four, and the party that ensued was one of legend.

“These kids just amazed me this season,” said Archbishop Manager Rich Bielski. “And they amazed me again tonight. They kept their composure, came up with big defensive plays, and timely hits, and what can I say about Christian Demby tonight on the mound. He was special.”

Special indeed. After watching most of the team’s second half of the season due to a nagging injury, the Mavericks gave Demby the ball in what became the biggest outing of his career.

The senior rewarded the coaching staff for their trust by throwing a complete-game, two-hit gem. He punched Mustang batters out all night with a combination of change-ups, curve balls, and an overpowering fastball. He finished the game with 10 strikeouts.

“These guys have accepted me in and treated me like part of the family,” said an emotional Demby. “They have been patient with me through my injury, and I just wanted to reward them with throwing a good game. I couldn’t wait to get out on the mound, and it feels great to do my part to contribute to the amazing legacy here at Archbishop McCarthy.”

Of course, the Mavericks coaching staff was telling anyone that would listen before the season that if there was a year to get them, it was this year, due to their youth. Archbishop starts four sophomores and two juniors in their lineup, but on Friday night, this band of young brothers showed they had grown up.

“These guys are young, but they are talented,” said Bielski. “We worked so hard this year teaching them how to play the Maverick way, and they put a lot of time and effort into learning. Tonight was just a culmination of all the hard work that has been put in.

At the center of the offense was the lone Maverick who contributed to last year’s regional finalist team. Alex Toral, who had the only RBI in last year’s season-ending loss to Rockledge, came up big again on Friday, hitting an RBI double to start the scoring in the third inning. Toral later scored the second run of the game on an RBI single by Ubaldo Lopez.

“This is just such an amazing feeling,” said Toral. “To hear about the legacy that our brothers before us have left, and then to be able to make our own history and add to that legacy, tonight is really is the best feeling I have ever had playing the game of baseball.”

The win did not come without some scary moments for the Mavericks, who were playing in front of a record home crowd.

In the sixth inning, nursing a two-run lead, Demby took the mound, having not given up a hit. Mustangs lead-off hitter Bryan Frost broke up the no-hit bid with a bloop single to right. Ryan Lang then hit an infield single, and suddenly the Mustangs were in business.

A balk moved runners to second and third, and a bunt single on a squeeze play by Mason Denaburg brought in Frost, cutting the lead to 2-1.

It was then that Demby and the Mavericks showed what a championship pedigree was all about.

Demby induced a pop-up to shortstop Kobe Lopez for the first out of the inning. With runners on first and third, and one out, things were about to get crazy.

Denaburg took off to steal second, and when catcher Jake Ancia’s throw went high and into center-field, the game was tied. Or was it?

The home plate umpire ruled that batter Jackson Muldoney had interfered with Ancia, and declared Muldoney out. The runners had to return to their original bases.

A couple of pitches later, the Mustangs tried to execute a first-and-third trick play, but the Mavericks defense rose to the occasion for a 1-6-2-5-3 putout of Lang at home plate. The lead was preserved.

In the seventh, Demby set the Mustangs down in order for the fourth time on the night, and the wild celebration began.

“This feeling is just overwhelming,” said Demby, one of only three seniors in the starting lineup. “These young guys not only play well, but they have grown into leaders, which is something you just don’t normally see from sophomores. We still have two games left, but we want to hang another banner out there in that outfield.”

The next stop for the Mavericks will be jetBlue Park in Fort Myers, where they will take on Robinson, a 10-0 winner over Sebring. Game time is set for 10 AM next Friday.

Despite having no players on the roster that have ever been to states, Toral knows his team has all the experience they will need.

“We have one of the best coaching staffs in the country,” said Toral. “They prepare us for everything throughout the year, and states will be no different. They have been there many times, so I am confident they will have us prepared for the state tournament.”

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