17-05-2025
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).'
