Belen Goes Batty As It Cruises Past Westland Hialeah

Belen Jesuit overcame a fast start by the Westland Hialeah Wildcats to cruise to a big win on Thursday afternoon at Walker Park in Hialeah.

Ivan Botero hit a three-run home run, and Niko Fernandez hit a bases-loaded triple that helped the Wolverines earn the mercy-rule win after five innings.

“A couple of the kids at the top of the order got some good hits, and I think that relaxed people a little bit,” Belen Jesuit coach Jerry Albert said.

Westland Hialeah looked comfortable to start the game. Pitcher Mizael Alvarez retired the side at the top of the first inning. In the bottom of the frame with Frankie Morejon on first base, Wildcats catcher Luis Corrales proved to be the lone bright spot when he hit the first of his two towering home runs deep over the left-field fence. His performance left Albert impressed after the game.

“He’s an outstanding player,” Albert said. “He throws the ball well, and he hit those two beautiful home runs.”

The Wildcats pitching faltered in the second inning. With the bases loaded after three walks, catcher David Guevara and right-fielder Ryan Rodriguez-Mena walked to allow Alec Acosta and Alex Lorenzo to score. Westland coach Jose Alvarez went with a pitching change to stop the bleeding, but the move backfired. The next hitter, Alex Cabrera, laced an RBI single to put Belen up 3-0 before Fernandez opened the flood gates with a bases-clearing triple to put Belen up 6-2.

“I just tried to stay relaxed, and I hit the ball hard and broke the game open,” Fernandez said. “Now we’re 2-0, so we’re feeling confident.”

The Wolverines scored seven runs in the third inning and added nine more in the fifth while allowing their bench players to receive some game experience. Lorenzo went 2-for-2 with two RBIs and two doubles, Acosta went 2-for-2 with three RBI and a triple, and sophomore Pablo Cabrera had an RBI and two runs for Belen.

For Westland, Corrales provided most of the offense, going 2-for-3 with four RBIs and two home runs. Javier Gonzalez went 1-for-2 with a run scored.

Pitcher David Villa tossed two innings allowing two runs and three hits before he was replaced at the start of the third inning.

Belen Jesuit will try to remain undefeated in district play next week when it faces Hialeah-Miami Lakes on Tuesday. Westland Hialeah will try to regroup before it faces Mater Academy on Tuesday at Westland.

Gardens Park.

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