Chaminade Wins District Title With Another Extra-Inning Thriller

Chaminade-Madonna was one of the co-favorites coming into the 2A-14 district playoffs, along with University School. The two teams combined for a 45-6 record this year coming into their showdown on Thursday night.

After surviving COHEA in a 17-inning marathon in the semifinals, one of the best games in recent South Florida history, the Lions had to play extra innings again to capture their first district title in 16 years.

Chaminade defeated the Sharks 1-0, in a hard-fought, eight inning affair, dominated by strong pitching on both sides.

“It’s been the same story all year. Great pitching, good defense, a wall behind the plate, two strike hits, and focusing on our brand of baseball,” said Lions Manager Mark McCoy.

It was a three-headed monster that combined for the shutout, as Gage Agate went the first 3.2 innings, allowing only three hits. Manny Delaosa then got the final out in the fourth, and Santiago Arismendi threw the final four innings, giving up only two hits to a Sharks lineup that has terrorized opposing pitchers all season long.

For their part, University also held their own on the mound. Aiden Jacobs, who has logged quality innings all season for the Sharks, started the game and went 5.2, scattering three hits.

In the eighth, after two quick outs, Joshua Andel singled up the middle. Miguel Roa then walked, putting runners on first and second.

John Bishop then singled in the only run of the game. For Bishop, the single was his second late-game heroics of the week. Bishop also had the walk-off hit in the 17-inning affair with COHEA.

For the Lions, the win capped a nearly flawless 23-3 season. They will head to regional play with an eye on a state championship, a vision that began way back in the summer.

“These kids worked hard all summer, fall, and winter, In the end it came down to our captain Gage Agate on the mound, and our senior shortstop John Bishop, with a second extra-inning walk-off hit this week,” said McCoy.

Although they lost the title game, the Sharks have some strong momentum going into regional play. University had won 15 of their last 16 coming into the district final. They again will be co-favorites with Chaminade to represent their 2A region in the state final four.

In order to reach that goal, it is likely these two teams could see each other again in just a short few weeks, with more than a district title on the line.

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