Romero’s Two-Run Homer Leads Coral Reef Past Killian, 3-2

The Coral Reef Barracudas and the Killian Cougars kept things close in Wednesday’s 8A District 16 matchup, but the Barracudas were able to snatch a 3-2 road win.

Killian ended with more hits than Coral Reef, but the Cougars left nine men on base.

“We played a very tenacious, low-scoring game,” Coral Reef coach David Bisceglia said. “We’ve been playing some good defense, and every game has been real tight, and that makes us a bit stronger. It’s just a team effort.”

Thomas Gordon wasted no time for Coral Reef, orchestrating a run in the first inning to jump out to an early lead.

Killian replied with a single by lead-off hitter Daniel Andrade, and a couple of walks loaded the bases for the Cougars. But Coral Reef’s Timothy Reker found the strike zone three times to escape the inning with the lead still intact.

Timothy Reker started on the mound for Coral Reef, pitching six innings and striking out five.

After leaving four guys on base in two innings, Killian’s Manny Careaga finally was able drive in Mike Perez to tie the game, but Reker got out of the inning with another strikeout.

Andrew Fuente initially opened on the mound for Killian but was relieved after walking Gordon to start the third. Fuente was dealing with an injury and in his short role he allowed just one hit and gave up only one run.  Lazaro Romero recaptured the lead for the Barracudas after blasting a pitch passed the left-field wall and bringing in Gordon for a two-run homer.

Killian continued to fight, with Erik Molina’s line drive splitting between the outfielders for a double.  Spencer Levine then drove in Molina with an RBI double to right field, giving Killian its second run of the game and putting them within a run of retying the game, but Reker again ended the inning with his third strikeout of the day.

Coral Reef attempted to expand the lead in the fourth, but twice the Barracudas were caught trying to steal by Killian catcher Nick Mira. Mira allowed three stolen bases on the day.

Trying to rally in the sixth, Killian banged out its sixth hit of the game, but Reker and the Barracudas mandated three outs by a pair of grounders and Reker’s fifth strikeout. Reker was relieved by closer Daniel Lann to start the seventh.

Lann put the tying run on base in the final inning after hitting Killian’s Molina, but an undaunted Lann forced three pop flies for the final outs of the game and secured the win.

“Our big guy Reker pitched well,” Bisceglia said. “He got us out of some trouble, and we just felt like we needed to make a change late in the game and give them a different look.”

Coral Reef picked up its second district win of the year and improved to 5-8-1 overall.

“Every game has been a real tight matchup,” Bisceglia said. “This is how our district games have been going.”

Coral Reef will host South Dade on Thursday.

“If we can win at home on Thursday, we’ll be starting to make a little bit of a run to the playoffs, which has been our goal all year,” Bisceglia said.

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