Belen Jesuit Walks Off With 2-1 Win Over Westminster Christian

The Belen Jesuit Wolverines met up with the Westminster Christian Warriors at Columbus’ field Wednesday night for a duel between two storied programs.

The crowd -a mix of parents, friends and rival ball players from schools like Gulliver, Doral, Florida Christian and Columbus – got the drama they paid to see as the game came down to the final play, which ended with Belen players rushing the field in celebration of their 2-1 victory.

It was a preseason game, but it had the feeling of playoff rivalry. For sale at the concession stand, instead of burgers and dogs, were chicharrones de pollo with rice and beans, staples of the Cuban culture represented on the ball field. But enough about the food.

The game ended up being defined by what happened in the last inning, when Belen’s David Diaz-Fernandez hit the game-winning single, and his team rushed the field on the wings of a 2-1 victory.

Leading up to the drama in the seventh inning was an intensely fought defensive battle, spearheaded by the pitchers.

Taking the hill for Belen was Alex Lavandero, a prospect with an assortment of nasty pitches, who lasted for the first three innings before being switched out. He struck out six and gave up one hit and Westminster’s only run on a wild pitch.

Lavandero started off shaky, letting the first run in on walks and wild pitches alone, but he settled in and shut down the Wolverines’ meaty part of the order.

Starting on the mound for Westminster was Marc Sanchez, who held the the Wolverines to no runs and one hit while striking out four.

Robert E. Morgado and Andres Sanchez also looked sharp on the mound for Belen. They combined for six strikeouts, bringing the team total to 12.

Relieving for the Warriors were Brendan Auerbacher, Farid Silwany and Zack Tyre. Aurebacher’s first inning was an impressive two strikeout/flyball quickie that reassured Westminster’s early control of the ballgame would continue, but then both teams whipped out the defense and it became anybody’s ballgame.

Danny Guevara of Belen was an early hero at third base, making a diving stop and gunning out the batter at first, saving a run that would have come in. He also contributed one of Belen’s two hits.

On the other side of the diamond, Westminster’s Anthony Gonzalez made a diving play and contributed his team’s only hit to the mix, a double to left-center.

Though Belen had only one hit going into the bottom of the seventh inning, the tension was still palpable because it was a 1-0 ballgame. Belen had also ripped a few foul balls in the previous inning, indicating they were close to something good.

The first two batters were walked and then Belen’s starting pitcher, Alex Lavandero, ripped a single, bringing in Alan Acosta for the tying run. A Mike Iglesia bunt put the runners on second and third before Diaz-Fernandez came to the plate after a pitching change and smacked the game-winning single to center field.

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