Aquinas sacks Mariner

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YUNET JOMOLCA Mariner sophomore Alex Santana slides safely tino third base as Carlos Asuaje of Aquinas reacts Tuesday. More photos from the Tritons’ 10-6 loss are available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.

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YUNET JOMOLCA Mariner pitcher Ryan Patton throws out a baserunner in Tuesday’s 10-6 loss to St. Thomas Aquinas in the regional quarterfinals.

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YUNET JOMOLCA Mariner senior Angel Laborde (center) celebrates his home run with teammates who greeted him at home plate in the first inning against St. Thomas Aquinas Tuesday. More photos from the Region 5A-4 quarterfinal game are available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.

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An early 2-0 lead for the Mariner Tritons quickly evaporated Tuesday night, and later, their stay in the Region 5A-4 quarterfinals ended with a 10-6 loss to visiting Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas.

Senior Angel Laborde got the Tritons (24-5) going with a solo home run in the first as they built a 2-0 lead, but Aquinas came back with two in the second.

They added to their total with a two-run shot by Pablo Martel in the fourth, a solo shot by Greg Bennis in the seventh, and a five-run, fifth-inning surge that began with two outs.

Martel led Aquinas at the plate, going 3-for-3, and Bennis went 2-for-4 and picked up the win on the mound.

The Tritons won back-to-back District 5A-15 titles to advance to regionals for the fifth time in six years. They lost to Davie Nova in the regional quarterfinals last year.

Junior Daniel Alimonti and senior Dan Cohill each went 2-for-4 with two RBI, and senior Michael Zunino had a double for the Tritons.

Aquinas 020 250 1 – 10 12 1

Mariner 200 130 x – 6 7 1

W – Bennis. L – Ryan Patton.

2B – Asuaje (A), Bennis (A), Martell (A), Michael Zunino (M), Daniel Alimonti (M), Dan Cohill (M). HR – Bennis (A), Martel (A), Laborde (M).