Columbus’ Magical Season Ends In 7-1 8A State Championship Game Loss

The Columbus Explorers had one of the most memorable seasons in Miami-Dade high school baseball history. They played the first-ever game at the new Miami Marlins Park. Mike Vinson picked up the first win at the new stadium with a dominant performance in front of more than 5,000 fans, and sophomore pinch-hitter Brent Diaz hit the first-ever thrilling home run at the new park.

The Explorers went on to win 27 games on the season with the help of not one, not two, but three aces of the staff. The team won its first-ever battle against neighboring rival St. Brendan. It won an 8A-District 15 title and only lost two games against Miami teams all season.

This was a year for Columbus in which the team won every pitcher’s duel, won the extra-inning battles, got the clutch hits, executed under pressure situations and worked flawlessly in the field most of the time — until the 8A state title game last night when just about everything fell in Spruce Creek’s favor as the Hawks won 7-1.

Click here to view the full photo gallery documenting the state final game for the Explorers.

In the top of the first, the Explorers threatened to get on the board first when they loaded the bases with one out. Frank Navarrete reached on a one-out infield single. Danny Lynch followed with a single, and Nelson Mompierre walked. Mike Vinson, the offensive star of the state semifinal game, then hit a ball hard to short, but it was turned into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning with no runs scored.

The Spruce Creek Hawks, on the other hand, did not squander its first opportunity in the bottom half of the inning. Lead-off hitter Zach Spivey singled and Kyle Marsh followed with a bunt base hit. When the throw went down the right-field line, the Hawks had runners advance to second and third.

A ground-out then plated the first run, and after a strikeout, it looked as though Columbus starting pitcher Luis Collazo would escape the jam. Charlie Sala, however, hit an infield single and moved to second on a throwing error. Sala then came around to score the third run of the inning on a bloop single off the bat of Jordan Brown. Collazo finally closed the inning by striking out Casey Bell, but the early damage had been done, and the Hawks led 3-0 after one.

The infield singles, bunts and overall strong fundamentals were what Columbus head coach Joe Weber had prepared his team for coming into the game.

“All we talked about last night and today was how we were going to defend the bunt,” said Weber. “We were well prepared for it, but we just didn’t make a couple of the plays.”

The Explorers fought back in the top of the second. Three straight singles from Mike Obregon, Chris Perez and Kevin Suarez, followed by a Laz Rivera sacrifice fly, cut the Hawks lead to 3-1.

While the offense started chipping away at the lead, Collazo settled in on the mound and threw a scoreless second inning.

In the third, Collazo again found himself in a jam when the first two Hawks hitters reached base. With a state title at stake, Weber went to his bullpen and brought in Ryan Guerra.

A perfectly executed suicide squeeze increased the Hawks lead to 4-1 and moved runners to second and third. Guerra then induced a routine ground ball to second that was sure to be the last out of the inning. However, as Navarette went to field the ball it took a wicked hop right over his head. The bad bounce allowed two more runs to score, so instead of 4-1, the score after three became a daunting 6-1.

“There’s no defense against a good squeeze bunt,” said Weber. “Then that ball took a bad hop on Frankie, and they scored a couple more runs. Today just wasn’t our day.”

The Explorers allowed another run in the fifth on a three-base error and a sacrifice fly. The fundamentally sound Hawks were taking it to the Explorers.

“You’ve got to give them credit, they played a great game tonight,” Weber said. “They are scrappy, and they execute, and when those two combinations come together, it can make for a long night.”

In the sixth, Columbus mounted what would become their final scoring threat of 2012. Mompierre was hit by a pitch leading off the inning, and Vinson singled sharply through the left side. The Explorers were unable to capitalize, as Spruce Creek starter Griffin Fuller got the next three batters out in order.

The seventh was much of the same for the Explorers, putting a couple of runners on base but unable to come up with the big hit at the right time, although almost every ball by the Explorers all night was hit hard, just right at Hawks’ players. Columbus left nine runners on base.

“I thought we squared some balls up pretty good tonight,” said Weber. “I was proud with the way the boys swung the bat.”

While the finals loss will sting for a while for Columbus, the team still will have plenty to look back on and be proud of. The Explorers finished their season 27-5 and were one of the better teams in the state throughout.

“It’s been a great ride,” said Weber. “Starting with playing the first game ever at Marlins Stadium, that was phenomenal, to ending up here. You definitely want to be on the winning side, but 11 kids getting D-I scholarships, that’s what you’re in this for. I am proud of that, but that doesn’t make tonight any less tough.”

Leave a comment using your facebook account!