Hialeah Gardens Wins Epic 8A District 13 Title Battle With Hialeah High

Mayhem. That is the only word to describe the scene following one of the most dramatic and exciting seventh innings in Miami high school baseball history.

“I don’t even think I have the words to describe how I feel,” Hialeah Gardens head coach Tino Burgos said after his team’s 8A District 13 Championship win over the #2 overall ranked Hialeah Thoroughbreds.

Going into that fateful seventh inning the 9-12 Gladiators had only one hit on the day, and that hit only came on behalf of a bad hop that went over the first baseman’s glove in the fifth. With two outs in the seventh and a full count on freshman shortstop for the Gladiators, Raul Frias, the game looked to be over when he checked his swing – but that is when things got weird.

The Hialeah bench requested an appeal and the home plate umpire made a motion that looked like he was calling Frias out, but it was perceived as an appeal to the second base umpire, who called Frias’ check swing not a swing.

Starting pitcher for Hialeah, Alexis Herrera, who was going for the complete game shutout, briefly began to celebrate when he saw the home plate umpire make his motion, but then realized the second base umpire called Frias safe, and the confusion visibly rattled Herrera.

Going into the seventh Herrera had given up just the one hit and had only allowed one walk. To start off the seventh he got the first batter to ground out to short. The next batter, David Lara, hit a shot to the left side of the infield and Hialeah’s shortstop Alian Silva made a beautiful diving play but was not able to get the out. It was the first legitimate hit for the Gladiators, but still there was one out with a man on first and Hialeah Gardens still down by four. Herrera got the next batter to pop up to short and the Gladiators were down to their final out. That is when Frias came up and the controversy ensued.

Following the check swing call, Herrera hit the next batter to load the bases, putting the tying run at the plate. He then threw two balls to the next batter and Hialeah coach Michael Fulton pulled him from the game for senior closer, Kevin Betancourt. Betancourt proceeded to walk that batter, forcing in a run, making the score 4-1. Still with two outs, the tying run was then on first. A wild pitch allowed the second run to score and the tying run to move into scoring position.

Note: That is when the electricity in the Hialeah Gardens’ stands began to erupt.

Next up was the 3-hitter for the Gladiators, Gabriel De La Rosa. He hit a line drive to center that knocked in both runners to tie the game. With a runner then on second, senior Tony Fernandez hit a soft liner that just barely got over the leaping Hialeah second baseman’s glove and for the first time in the game, Hialeah Gardens took the lead, 5-4.

For both the tying and go ahead run in the top of the seventh Hialeah Gardens players had poured out of their dugout to celebrate. Fans were running up and down the bleachers in uncontrollable excitement. No one could believe this all happened with two outs in the seventh – it had become the Gladiators game to win.

But the game, and the drama, was not yet over. In the bottom of the seventh the Gladiators brought on their closer senior David Martinez. He battled the first hitter of the inning, Hialeah’s cleanup hitter Jeff Izquierdo. Izquierdo fouled off pitch after pitch and eventually earned a walk. He was taken out for a pinch runner and Jorge Rey put down a nice sacrifice bunt to move the tying run to second with one out. Then Lian Roque hit a grounder to short that moved the tying run to third, then with two outs. With a pinch hitter up, Martinez through a wild pitch and the runner on third attempted to score. But Martinez rushed to cover home and the throw was on line and the runner was called out.

Note: That is when the pandemonium of excitement exploded in the stands and on the field.

After the game the team piled up at home plate in excitement. Then they piled up when the district title was handed to them. Then Gardens coach Garcia got doused with a bucket of juice.

There was so much excitement in the air that Gladiators coach Tino Burgos couldn’t even find words as his school’s film crew interviewed him.

“I’ve had these guys since they were freshman,” he said, “the one thing I wanted them was to walk out as seniors as champions, and they did it.”

“It was great,” said Gabriel De La Rosa after the game, “we believe until the end, until the last out.”

And that they did. They will now host a regional semifinal game.

Hialeah scored three of their runs in the fifth after Gladiators’ starting pitcher Chris Reyes ran out of steam. Singles by Cody Fulton, Izquierdo, and Jorge Rey resulted in the three runs. Hialeah will now move on to face … in a regional semifinal game.

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