Westwood Christian Reaches State By Beating Sheridan Hills 10-0

How important is momentum in sports ?

The Westwood Warriors lost their last regular-season game 5-2,  but in their five games in the playoffs the Warriors have allowed a combined seven runs, while tallying up 67 and ending each game by way of a mercy-rule.

The Warriors scored nine runs in the first two innings of Friday’s 2A regional final en route to a mercy-rule 10-0 win against Sheridan Hills Christian. And it is momentum that has ignited a spree of hitting for the Warriors.

“We’re just focused,” Warriors coach Luis Padron said. “We go one batter at a time, and the kids are focused. We were out here practicing late, and we hit all night, today our hitters showed their power and dedication, they all hit the ball well.”

Nestor (Gaby) Lorenzo started on the mound for the Warriors and was lights out, allowing just one hit and recording five strikeouts against 15 batters.

“Nestor Lorenzo was huge for us,” Padron said. “We’ve got two ace pitchers, and Lorenzo is big for us. He’s a great pitcher.”

Leadoff hitter Robert Hernandez wasted no time attacking the plate with his bunt landing him on first. Jose Suarez then hit a two-run homer for the first runs of the day. Anthony Penas jumped on first after getting hit by a pitch. Alex Hernandez hit his fourth homer of the playoffs, bringing in Penas. Just when Sheridan Hills thought the bombs were over, Josh Cedeno sent a pitch past the fences for the third homer of the inning and a five-run lead.

“From the beginning, we were heads on and never stopped,” Alex Hernandez said. “We can jack them up, and we’ve had a goal in mind all year.”

Sheridan Hills found some more trouble in the bottom of the second. Luis Martinez and Robert Hernandez got on base by way of base-on-balls, J.C Cardenas then struck a shot to center field that was mishandled, bringing in Martinez and Robert Hernandez. Suarez was hit by a pitch in his second at-bat, putting two runners on for Alex Hernandez, who hit a stand-up double, bringing in both runners.

Nestor Lorenzo got to work in the top of third. After striking out the first batter and forcing an infield fly, Lorenzo then sent Sheridan Hills back to the dugout by recording his fourth strikeout to end the inning. Sheridan Hills finally was able to get its first hit off Lorenzo when Jose Fernandez singled up the middle. He was tagged out on a double play to end the inning.

“You have to go hard from the beginning.” said Lorenzo, “I kept the ball low and hit the spots, I had really good command on my fastball, and my curve ball was working also.”

The Warriors were held scoreless in the third inning, but picked up things in the fourth.  Sheridan Hill was able to squeeze two outs, but Ariel Bello singled to left field, Martinez followed with a single splitting the infield. Robert Hernandez then swatted a shot into the outfield, bringing in Bello for the Warriors 1oth run.

Sheridan Hills needed just one run to continue play in the top of the fifth. But Lorenzo and the Warriors defense forced two quick outs. The Warriors stood one out away from entering States, a grounder beamed to Anthony Penas, but Penas was able to control it and from his knees make the throw to first for the final out of the inning.

“This is was our goal since the summer,” Alex Hernandez said “This is just really awesome. It’s very exciting, Our goal is to win states.”

Sheridan Hills coach Tim Talpesh reflected on his team’s strong season.

“I’m very happy with our season,” Sheridan Hills coach Tim Talpesh said “We’ve worked hard, and I’m not hang my hat, it wasn’t our day today. Their pitcher on the mound dominated. But we only have one season, I expect us to get back here, for what we have with multi-sport athletes. They really came together and worked so hard to get to this spot.”

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