Chaminade Upsets Pace In 3A Regional Quarterfinal

Chaminade-Madonna came into the season with a new manager, Mark McCoy, and the expectations were that McCoy could turn around the Lions program, but that it may take some time.

On Wednesday night, Chaminade exceeded all those expectations, and put the rebuild on a fast-track. The Lions went on the road against traditional 3A powerhouse Monsignor Pace, and came back home to Hollywood with a 9-7 victory.

“Big regional win for Chaminade tonight,” said McCoy. “I think it just kind of captures what this year has been about for us, turning this program around.”

Early on, things did not look good for the Lions as Pace took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. After the rocky first, Lions junior starter Manny Delaosa settled in, allowing only one other run in five innings of work. Delaosa finished with seven strikeouts, while allowing only two earned runs.

The Chaminade offense struck big in the third and fourth innings, with two runs to take the lead in the third, and then four runs to open up a 6-1 lead in the fourth.

In the sixth, Chaminade would add on three additional runs, upping the score to 9-2. The Lions were aided on the night by a patient approach at the plate, which led to 12 walks from the Spartans pitching staff.

Things became interesting in the late innings, with Pace scoring one run in the sixth, and then rallying in the seventh. The Spartans used a walk, an error, and a couple base hits to cut the lead to 9-6. reliever Gage Agate, however, was able to work out of the jam, inducing a flyout to center to end the game, and complete the upset.

“We couldn’t ask anything more of our guys today,” said McCoy. “Manny did a great job against a very strong offense over there, and gage coming in and closing the game, was a great job by him.

For Chaminade, McCoy’s squad delivered something the Lions haven’t experienced in 10 years.

“This was our first regional win since 2014,” said McCoy. “It was a lot of fun, and a good win. Now we have to get prepared for Saturday.”

The Lions, with the win, will move to the regional semifinal this weekend, and the opponent will only get tougher, as they travel to face the current HSBN Miami #2 team, Westminster Christian.

For the Spartans, their season ends on a bitter note, with a record of 19-8. Pace won their first 11 games, but struggled down the stretch, going 8-8 in their last 16 games.

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