Big Innings Propel Hialeah-Miami Lakes To Win

Hialeah-Miami Lakes scored in bunches three times Friday night to pull away from a tight game with Dade Christian and take a 12-3 win.

The Trojans (4-1) got a big lead in the second inning as the bottom of the order — Joshua Vizdaino, Bryan Sanchez, Mateo Cuecha and Enrique Cardenas — got on base and scored.

Meanwhile, the Crusaders struggled to get runs on the board despite getting multiple runners on base in each of the first three innings. Dade Christian (2-1) loaded the bases in the first inning but two strikeouts got the Trojans out of it. Two more runners reached in the second, and again, HML held them off the board. Dade Christian also left the bases loaded in the third inning.

Trojans starter and winning pitcher Brandon Morffy said he used his curve ball and change-up to be most effective despite facing a little adversity himself.

“My knee, when I got hit by a pitch in the first inning, kind of bothered me, but I tried to play through it,” Morffy said.

Morffy’s father, Mario, the team’s manager, said it was an overall team effort that led to the victory.

“Brandon’s pitching was key, and our defense was good behind him,” . Our third baseman, who struggled at the plate today, had an incredible defensive day, started a double play and made some key defensive plays that kept the rally for Dade Christian down. And then we got it together and pulled away offensively in the late part of the game.”

Dade Christian made a game of it in the fifth, scoring three runs to make it 4-3. With one out, Connor Morris, who went 2-for-3, singled and scored on a wild pitch. Nik Haber, who advanced with a walk, came home when Xander Garcia was hit by a pitch, and Anthony Munoz also scored on a wild pitch.

The Trojans, who have put up 51 runs while allowing nine in four games, came back in their half of the fifth, scoring three more times to extend their lead to 7-3. Vizcaino and Sanchez came in on passed balls, and an error allowed Osmani Oliva to score.

“They had key hits with runners in scoring position and the game got a little tight,” Coach Moriffy said. “But the offense came through and put it away.”

The Trojans, whose only loss was 2-1 to Belen Jesuit on Tuesday, put the game out of reach with a five-run sixth. The inning included hits from Oliva, Jose Mora, Sanchez and Cardenas.

“We came out to play today,” the younger Morffy said. “We came focused. We were disciplined at the plate.”

The loss doesn’t take away the fact that Dade Christian has a solid team poised for success the rest of the season.

“We’re a good team as long as these guys buy into the program then we’ll be alright and we’ll be able to compete with anyone else,” said assistant coach Ernesto Brana, who was among the coaches who took over after Dade Christian Manager Reggie Rodriguez was ejected in the second inning.

Leave a comment using your facebook account!