Westminster Academy Wins Slugfest With Miami Brito
Devin Roche dropped an RBI single past third base to drive in Cristian Sosa in the bottom of the sixth inning to lift Westminster Academy to a 9-8 win over Miami Brito, in opening-round action in the Gold Bracket of the HSBN March Madness Shootout at Pompano Municipal Park on Saturday. Although the Lions (12-5) never trailed after taking the lead in the bottom of the first, the Panthers battled the entire way and tied it up in the top of the sixth.
Westminster Academy will next face the winner between St. Thomas Aquinas and Good Counsel.
Cristian Sosa had a huge day at the plate to lead all hitters, going 3-for-4 with three runs. Sosa ripped a triple with the bases loaded in the bottom of the second, sending in all three base runners and increasing the Lions’ lead to 6-0. JD Johnstone got the scoring started that frame after he singled and scored on an RBI from Alec Villanueva, and Roche added an RBI single that drove in Sosa.
Tommy Haggerty and Logan Riedel both also singled and scored for Westminster Academy.
Despite falling behind 7-0 after two innings, the Panthers (8-6) never gave up hope and fought their way all the way back. A five-run third inning got Brito back into the game. Deniel Munoz and Alex Nino singled to start things off, and Joanny Pariso reached on an error that loaded the bases. Onelio Perdomo then drove in a pair with a single to left, Carlos Perez plated two more with a base hit to center and Luis Ruiz added another with a single to center.
Perdomo added another run on an RBI double to left an inning later, and Brito evened things back up with two runs in the sixth. Alex Nino came in on a wild pitch and Pariso followed on an RBI walk.