Rojas tosses one-hitter to move Douglas baseball team one step from history
Tampa Alonso baseball coach Landy Faedo had a simple message to his hitters on Friday when facing Stoneman Douglas ace Gio Rojas.
'Don't strike out,' Faedo said. 'Or at least make it hard for him to strike you out.'
Such a marching order, which sounds easier said than done for starters, is even harder against a pitcher like Rojas.
As he's done throughout this season, the Eagles' junior lefthander mystified Alonso's lineup for seven innings, striking out 15 and allowing only one hit to propel Douglas to a 5-0 victory in a Class 7A state semifinal at Hammond Stadium.
'I haven't seen teams be able to string two or three hits together against (Rojas),' Douglas coach Todd Fitz-Gerald said. 'When he's on like he was today, first pitch to the end, he's as dominant as anyone I've ever had. The way he goes about his business, he's also our 3-hole hitter, he does a great job taking care of himself.'
The Eagles (30-2) won their 27th consecutive postseason game, and advanced to play Jupiter (26-9), coached by former Taravella and South Broward baseball coach Joe Giummule, on Saturday at 5 in the 7A final.
Douglas is aiming to make history if it can become the first team in Florida to win five consecutive state championships.
'Our preparation prepares us for the pressure of (an opportunity) like this,' Douglas senior shortstop Erick Torres said. 'Practicing every day the way we do gets us to this point.'
Rojas kept his fastball consistently around 92-93 mph and touched 96 mph during the first inning. He then kept Alonso (21-13) off balance with a deceptive slider and occasionally mixing in a changeup he pulled back to 78 mph with movement.
'He was strike 1 a lot to our guys, and he didn't make mistakes,' Faedo said.
Rojas struck out the side in three different innings and didn't allow a hit until Joshua Abrahante looped a ball into short center field in the fifth inning for a two-out single.
'It felt great. I came into the game confident,' Rojas said. 'I just tried to do my part and have my teammates be up and get that momentum like we always do.'
The outing had even more meaning for Rojas, who was unable to pitch in last year's state meet due to an arm injury. Although he still hit and played, Rojas relished the chance to be back on the mound at state.
'It was a little more personal for me today since I didn't get to pitch last year with the injury,' Rojas said. 'I just had to be in my groove.'
Douglas gave its ace a 1-0 lead quickly when Bennett Gary reached and came around to score on a pair of throwing errors by the Ravens.
The Eagles added more insurance in the fourth, driving in three more.
Torres went 2 for 3 while Lorenzo Laurel, Drew Freeman, Cade Raley and Jake Rizzo each had an RBI.
'This means everything,' Torres said. 'We have a standard here and that's to be in that spot and be in position to win this game (Saturday).'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
38 minutes ago
- Newsweek
DeVonta Smith Reflects on 'Dagger' Super Bowl Touchdown
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Since being drafted 10th overall in 2021, DeVonta Smith has become a key piece of the Philadelphia Eagles' offense. As he prepares for his fifth season with the franchise, he looked back at arguably the most memorable moment of his NFL career thus far. After making their way through the NFC playoffs last year, the Eagles found themselves facing off against a familiar foe in the Super Bowl. Things didn't go their way the first time against the Kansas Chiefs, but they made sure the rematch was a completely different story. Heading into the game, many expected a competitive matchup between two of the NFL's elite teams. However, that is now how things unfolded. The Eagles came out and set the tone early, and never looked back. Up 27-0 with about three minutes left in the third quarter, the Eagles found themselves with possession around the 50-yard line. Instead of running the ball, Philly decided to pour salt in the wound of their rival. Jalen Hurts dropped back and proceeded to launch a 46-yard touchdown pass to Smith. This catch accounted for most of Smith's production in the Eagles' 40-22 victory. He ended the night with four receptions and 69 receiving yards. LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 22: DeVonta Smith #6 of the Philadelphia Eagles catches a pass before the game against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Landover, Maryland Eagles DeVonta Smith... LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 22: DeVonta Smith #6 of the Philadelphia Eagles catches a pass before the game against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Landover, Maryland Eagles DeVonta Smith exits game with apparent injury. MoreEarlier this week, the Eagles began their mandatory minicamp. Following the opening day of action, Smith was among multiple players to speak to the media. During his press conference, the young wideout was asked about his jaw-dropping touchdown against the Chiefs in the Super Bowl. He dubbed the play one of the top three catches of his career before going on to poke fun at a division rival. "I would say it's top three," Smith said regarding his Super Bowl TD. "The other two would be two catches against Washington. There's a lot of them." Devonta Smith says The Dagger was one of the top 3 plays of his career The other two? 'Two catches against Washington' Which two? 'There's been a lot of them' — Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) June 10, 2025 Throughout his career, the Commanders are a team Smith has had a lot of success against. Across eight matchups, he's racked up 559 yards and three touchdowns. This is his highest number of yards against any team, with the Dallas Cowboys being a close second (484). Coming off a season where he recorded a career-high eight touchdowns, Smith is poised to continue being a primary component of the Eagles' offense. Alongside A.J. Brown, he'll attempt to keep Philly in the discussion of best wide receiver duos. Smith's jab at the Commanders is going to fester for some time, as the two teams don't square off until the later stages of the regular season. Their two matchups of the year are slated for Week 16 and Week 18.
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
Cooper DeJean Opens up on Viral Dunk With Saquon Barkley
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Not long after the Philadelphia Eagles drafted Cooper DeJean in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft, he became a favorite among the fan base. Before he begins his second year in the pros, the young defensive back opened up on one of his viral moments from the offseason. Aside from his talents on the football field, DeJean is an all-around gifted athlete. Like many other pros, he thrived across numerous sports. When he wasn't taking care of business on the gridiron, DeJean also turned heads with his basketball skills. Throughout his rookie campaign, fans constantly dug up old basketball clips from when DeJean was in high school. Before mandatory minicamp got underway, he showed he's still capable of delivering eye-popping moments. Three weeks ago, the Eagles paid a visit to the University of Pennsylvania. While there, the group found themselves on the campus' basketball court. Saquon Barkley and DeJean took this moment as an opportunity to have some fun. The star running proceeded to throw a dazzling alley-oop that DeJean dunked home with ease. During a recent episode of his "Exciting Mics" podcast, DeJean touched on this viral moment with teammate Reed Blankenship. He was slightly upset that this was the only clip caught on camera, as he felt he had better dunks that day. Cooper DeJean #33 of the Philadelphia Eagles reacts after a play in the fourth quarter of a game against the Carolina Panthers at Lincoln Financial Field on December 08, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Cooper DeJean #33 of the Philadelphia Eagles reacts after a play in the fourth quarter of a game against the Carolina Panthers at Lincoln Financial Field on December 08, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania."Saquon throwing me a lob, throwing it down," DeJean said. "I feel like I had a lot better dunks then this one throughout the day but they weren't on camera. Then we needed to leave." Coop can HOOP 😂🔥 — Exciting Mics (@excitingmics) June 9, 2025 DeJean's athleticism helped him provide an immediate impact for the Eagles both defensively and as a kick returner at times. He shined in his first year in the pros, finishing fourth in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. DeJean also managed to deliver a memorable moment in the postseason, returning an interception for a touchdown in the Super Bowl. Heading into his sophomore campaign with the Eagles, DeJean's athleticism could be further utilized in an expanded role. As minicamp continues, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said he might use the standout defensive back at safety in some scenarios. "We'd like to keep him at nickel, and then in our base package we'll find a spot for him, either at corner or safety," Fangio said. "A lot of it will end up depending on how the other guys develop and where we most need him." DeJean has some experience playing safety from his time in college, which could make such a transition easy for him. Given his past experience, the Eagles might utilize his talents to fill the void left by C.J. Gardner-Johnson.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Move over, Jalen Hurts: Saquon Barkley leads NFL in player merchandise sales during historic 2024 season
The 2024 NFL season might be over, but Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley continues to top statistical leaderboards. Barkley led all NFL players in merchandise sales during his debut season with the Eagles, the NFLPA announced Wednesday. In doing so, he dethroned teammate Jalen Hurts, who led the NFL in merch sales during the 2023 season. The Eagles have been well-represented on that list that past two seasons, as center Jason Kelce ranked second in merch sales in 2023. Advertisement Hurts didn't fall too far behind Barkley on the 2024 list, which included player sales between March, 1, 2024 and February 28, 2025. The Eagles' quarterback finished third in merch sales last season, behind Barkley and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. It shouldn't come as a surprise that NFL fans rushed out to buy Barkley merchandise last season. In his first year with the Eagles, Barkley put up historic numbers. The 28-year-old rushed for an incredible 2,005 yards in 16 games, becoming only the ninth running back to reach the milestone. He scored 13 rushing touchdowns — and 2 receiving touchdowns — and helped lead the Eagles to a Super Bowl win. Here's how the rest of the top-10 shook out: 1. Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles Advertisement 2. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs 3. Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles 4. Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington Commanders 5. C.J. Stroud, QB, Houston Texans 6. Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills 7. Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Detroit Lions 8. Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Detroit Lions 9. Micah Parsons, OLB, Dallas Cowboys 10. Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings Very few names on that list should come as a surprise. Those 10 players are among the best and most popular in the NFL. It's notable, however, that Barkley is the only running back in the top-10. The next highest running back on the list was San Francisco 49ers star Christian McCaffrey, who came in at No. 15. Advertisement Due to a fantastic rookie season, Jayden Daniels ranked fourth on the list. That figure easily led all rookies, with Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams ranking No. 13. The list also marks the third year in a row a new player has led the NFL in player merch. The last player to repeat at the top of the list was Tom Brady, who led it in both 2021 and 2022. With Brady's playing days behind him, a different player could steal the title away from Barkley next season. While smart money is on an already established superstar, maybe Cam Ward or Travis Hunter will see their names near the top of next year's list if they play up to their potential immediately.
