Verot rolls to state semis
Perhaps Tampa Catholic’s run to the Region 3A-3 baseball finals could be best described by how former Colorado Rockies manager Clint Hurdle described his team’s run to the 2007 World Series.
It seemed like they had played the last few weeks coming from the loser’s bracket.
Well, just like how the Boston Red Sox responded that year, Bishop Verot showed the Crusaders how the game is played in the winner’s bracket.
The Vikings came about as close to a first-round knockout as one can, scoring seven runs in the first inning en route to a 12-1 rout at a jam-packed Duane Swanson Field Friday night that ended on a two-run walk-off home run in the fifth.
The Vikings will play Mount Dora, which knocked off Rockledge 5-1, in the Class 3A state semifinal Wednesday in Port St. Lucie.
For the Vikings (28-4) it was sweet revenge against a team that had knocked them out of the regional final last season.
For Verot coach Tom LoSauro, it was simply a plan that came together.
“We talked about getting ahead early all week. I never dreamed we’d be up by seven,” LoSauro said.
The Crusaders (14-15) made it this far by catching fire in districts and regionals, but their chariot turned into a pumpkin in the bottom of the first inning.
Josh Garcia led off with a single for the Vikings. Thomas Dougherty hit one back to pitcher Derek Martin, whose throw to first was wild resulting in a three-base error that allowed Garcia to score for a 1-0 Verot lead.
After first baseman Dan Vogelbach was walked intentionally and shortstop Nick Rivera was hit by a pitch to load the bases, pitcher Hudson Boyd unloaded a laser over the left field wall for a grand slam and a 5-0 lead.
“I got ahead on the count and was looking fastball. I got one and put a good swing on it,” Boyd said of his ninth home run of the season. “Thankfully, it went out.
Martin was done after recording just one out on a sacrifice-fly by Frank Romano that scored Zach Haefeli to make it 6-0. Garcia drove in another run on a groundout off reliever Nick Sucarichi to complete the outburst.
Boyd cruised from there, allowing five hits and one run over five innings. He struck out three without issuing a walk. The only dent was an RBI single by Billy Endris in the fourth that cut the lead to 7-1.
Sucarichi pitched well into the fifth, allowing only a solo home run to Vogelbach, his 17th of the year, to make it 8-1, but he couldn’t hold the Vikings forever. They loaded the bases in the fifth with no outs against reliever Ian Ham. Dougherty drove in a run on a fielder’s choice and Vogelbach hit a sacrifice fly to make it 10-1 before Nick Rivera sent the Verot faithful – who sat five-deep down the left field line – home happy with a two-run homer to right.
“Last year, they beat us and it didn’t feel good,” Vogelbach said. “We had a chip on our shoulder this time. We got up early and broke them.”
“We want to bring a state championship to Bishop Verot. It’s been our goal from Day One,” Rivera said.
For the Crusaders it was a dream ruined in a flash.
“The run was nice, but we didn’t come to play the way we played,” said Tampa Catholic coach Pat Russo. “If you don’t follow the game plan, you lose.”
Tampa Catholic 000 10 1 5 2
Bishop Verot 700 14 12 9 0
W – Hudson Boyd. L – Derek Martin.
2B – Zack Haefeli (BV). HR – Boyd (BV), Dan Vogelbach (BV), Nick Rivera (BV).