15-05-2025
Mater Academy brushes off early deficit to advance to 5A state baseball final
Mater Academy learned early this season not to give up no matter how far behind they were in a baseball game.
At one point in early March, the Lions put together three consecutive walk-off victories in games where they were either behind by three or more runs or trailing in the seventh inning.
So a 5-0 deficit after three innings on Thursday at the state final four didn't do much to faze the Lions.
'We've been in situations like today all year so we knew we could come back and score,' said Mater Academy catcher Jacob Amador, who finished with two hits. 'We chipped away and chipped away and punched back.'
Mater Academy answered with three runs in the fourth and four more in the sixth to erase that deficit and come away with an 8-5 victory over Fort Myers in a Class 5A state semifinal at the Lee Health Sports Complex - Hammond Stadium.
The Lions (24-9-1), who made it to state for the first time in a decade, earned the opportunity to play for their first state championship since 2014 and second ever for their school. Mater Academy, the No. 2 seed, will face No. 4 seed Wesley Chapel on Saturday at 11 a.m. in the 5A final. The Wildcats (19-14) upset top seed Tallahassee Lincoln, 7-2, in the other semifinal on Thursday.
Mater Academy, which started the season losing five of its first six games, is riding the momentum of a 10-game winning streak.
'There was a bit of frustration, but once we got those couple of runs, we exploded,' Mater Academy coach Humberto Bencomo said. 'I knew it was going to happen, but I was just worried that we'd run out of time. It's not how they wanted to start. They wanted to take control from the start, but we're playing good teams. This is the final four.'
The Lions began chipping away at their five-run deficit in the bottom of the fourth when they caught a bit of a break on a deep ball, hit by Dylan Fernandez, which carried over the head of Green Wave right fielder Luke Fleming to the wall.
Mater senior Alfrin Rosario, who walked with one out, scored on a ground out by Bryan Fernandez.
Some aggressive baserunning led to two more runs as Mater Academy effectively pulled a double steal twice, allowing Dylan Fernandez to score when the throw to second went into center field. On the second double bag swipe, Eiker Noguera took second, allowing courtesy runner Robert Bencosme, who was running for catcher Jacob Amador, to score.
In the fifth, Mater knocked Fort Myers starter Owen Augustine out of the game after Bryan Arrieta doubled and junior shortstop Brandon Lorenzo, a University of Florida commit, singled with one to cut the Green Wave's lead to 5-4.
After Rosario walked and stole second and Lorenzo stole third, reliever Brady Best was called for a balk, sending Lorenzo home and tying the game.
A Bryan Fernandez sacrifice fly and an RBI single by Amador put Mater ahead 7-5.
The Lions fell behind quickly when starter Jeuri La Rosa struggled, allowing three runs on four hits and a balk in the top of the first. La Rosa would give up another run in the next inning, and seven hits overall before being pulled for reliever Vladi Baldepina, who often is Mater's closer.
Baldepina allowed one run in the third on an RBI single by William Davey, but proceeded to shut the door on Fort Myers (22-12) for the next three innings. Baldepina tossed 4 ⅓ innings, allowing four hits and four walks and striking out seven.
'It's a team effort, but I know I have guys behind me that go out there and compete,' Baldepina said. 'When you who's playing for you, it make things easier. You just go out and do what you do and execute.'
Noguera finished with three hits and Amador had two while Bryan Fernandez had two RBI.
Mater added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when Noguera doubled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Yoelkis Quevedo.
Rosario then took the mound in the top of the seventh after Baldepina gave up a leadoff single to Fleming.
After hitting Alexander Mankin with a pitch to put two runners on with no outs, Rosario was helped by his defense, which made a couple of great put outs including a diving stop by Lorenzo to save a run and record the second out when he threw out the speedy Madrid Tucker at first base. Mater sealed it when Quevedo, an FSU commit, made another strong throw from the third base side to retire Michael Magas on a ground out. In the prior inning, Noguera battled exhaustion and the heat, but remained in the game, and made another key defensive stop.
'He's definitely invited to my wedding,' Baldepina said with a laugh. 'He's my best man.'
Rosario added about Noguera: 'He's a dog. He shows a lot for how little he is and what a huge heart he has. We all follow his lead.'
