Pines Charter Comeback Falls Short In Extra-Inning Loss

The Archbishop Carroll Bulldogs have flown under the radar for most of the 2017 season despite having one of the best records in Miami.

On Tuesday night, the Bulldogs showcased all of the areas of their game that has allowed them to run to an 18-2 record in an 8-7 extra-inning win over Pembroke Pines Charter.

For one of the few times this season, the Bulldogs found themselves in an early hole and facing adversity. The Jaguars jumped to a 2-0 lead in the second off Bulldogs starter Sal Lorenzo.

With two outs and nobody on, Nick Martinez doubled, and scored on an Eric Hernandez single. Kyle Heim then drove in Hernandez to stake Pines Charter to the lead.

Jaguars ace Chris Nappi was cruising on the mound, allowing only one hit while striking out six in the first three innings. In the fourth, however, the Bulldogs finally broke through. Jonathan Leon and Chris Fernandez both reached on errors to start the inning. After a 5-4-3 double play, it appeared Nappi would work out of the jam. Austin Capote had other ideas.

The junior right-fielder drove a pitch to deep left, clearing the wall and tying the game at two. After another error, a hit-by-pitch and a single by Alex Perez, Ryan Pereda drew a bases-loaded walk, giving the Bulldogs their first lead of the game.

Archbishop Carroll added single runs in the fifth and sixth, and it looked as though their 18th victory of the year was safely in hand.

In their half of the sixth, the Jaguars mounted a rally of their own. A lead-off walk to Max Romero Jr., one of his three walks on the day, got the inning started. After a fielder’s choice, Brandon Andal launched a two-run homer to left-center, cutting the lead to 5-4. Martinez added his second hit of the night, as did Hernandez, and soon after Martinez scored the tying run.

In the seventh, the Bulldogs again showed why they have been one of Miami’s best teams this season, by taking a two-run lead on runs by Capote and Martinez.

Facing a two-run deficit, the Jaguars showed that they too had some fight in them. Romero Jr. singled to lead off the frame, and Julian Barcelo’s double suddenly saw Pines Charter with the tying run on second with nobody out. Relief pitcher Joe Luzarraga then settled in and struck out Andal, followed by a fielder’s choice groundout that cut the lead to one. Martinez then delivered the biggest hit of the night, a single, tying the game at seven.

Neither team scored in the eighth. The Bulldogs again took the lead in the ninth. With two outs, Gabriel Martinez singled, and scored on a Ricardo Alvarez double to right-center. Ryan Pereda threw the final two innings on the mound, picking up the win for Carroll.

Ranked #7 in Miami at 18-2, and having no teams left on their schedule with a winning record, the Bulldogs are looking to add to their best season ever in the seasons final two weeks.

For the Jaguars, their schedule only gets more difficult from here, having to face #14 Taravella and #5 St. Thomas, before closing their regular season at home versus North Broward Prep.

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