Killian Stays on Top of See-Saw Battle Against Coral Gables – Continues Streak

Killian win streak is aided by double plays like this one.

Leading into the Greater Miami Athletic Conference semifinal Tuesday night, the Killian Cougars had taken down HSBN Miami’s #2 Hialeah, #8 South Dade, #15 Goleman and #9 Coral Gables. And again they figured out how to hold off Coral Gables, 5-4. Now they will be heading into the GMAC championship Thursday night against #1 Columbus on a six-game winning streak.

Head coach for Killian, Angel Herrera, still feels little pressure about the streak.

“We try to play the game the right way and let the score take care of itself,” Herrera said, “so there is no pressure on us.”

Daniel Andrade and Alex Fernandez singled to start off the game against Coral Gables Tuesday night and Mandy Alvarez knocked in the first run for Killian. Killian scored a second run on a double play and Killian senior pitcher Andrew Fuente took the mound for the first time with a 2-0 lead. He held Coral Gables scoreless in the first, which setup a game of catch-me-if-you-can.

Coral Gables started chasing in the second when they got a run back after a leadoff walk eventually scored on a hit by Roland Eusubio.

In the third, Killian leadoff batter Andrade got his second hit of the game, stole second base, then later scored on an error.

In the fourth, Coral Gables’ Gerson Sotolongo led off the inning with a great at-bat. He fouled off many pitches deep and down the left-field line before finally connecting with one to properly knock it high over the left-field fence.

But every time Coral Gables tried to build a comeback, Fuente kept hitters off balance and do what he had to do keep the Cougars’ lead.

“He goes down as one of the Killian great arms,” coach Angel Herrera said of his ace after the game, “he sets the tone.”

In the fifth, Eusubio again singled for Coral Gables and later scored on an error, which also allowed the batter to reach second, putting the tying run in scoring position. That’s when Fuente got some help from his catcher, Nick Mira, who picked off the runner at second base, ending the inning and the threat.

Killian closer Mike Perez earned his seventh save of the season.

The see-saw battle continued, even into the bottom of the seventh. Trailing 5-4, Coral Gables was able to get two men into scoring position thanks to a walk and then a hit by Gables’ senior starting pitcher Dillon Maya. But in the end it was Killian closer Mike Perez who was able to stifle the threat with a strikeout to end the game.

“Having a guy at the end of the bullpen is conducive to winning close ball games,” Herrera said of his closer, who now has seven saves on the season.

“The team that can execute and deal with adversity, those teams are the ones that come out in the end, not the ones that just pull a rabbit out of their hat,” Herrera concluded.

One Response to “Killian Stays on Top of See-Saw Battle Against Coral Gables – Continues Streak”