Long Balls Help Doral Academy Down St. Brenden
Chris Hernandez's three-run homer gave the Firebirds the late lead.
The Doral Academy Firebirds kicked off the 2013 high school baseball season on the road against 4A foes St. Brenden Sabres. The Sabres look to build off last year’s 21-win season while Doral’s coach Steve Iglesias looked to grab his first win as the Firebirds’ new head coach.
The Sabres and Firebirds combined for more than 16 hits, but it was Doral Academy that drove five pitches over the Carlos A Acosta field fence on its way to the 10-8 victory.
“This is the reward these boys get for working so hard.” Doral coach Steve Iglesias said. “Both teams fought until the end. Unfortunately somebody has to lose.”
The Firebirds attacked early on, jumping out to a two-run lead.
The Sabres answered in the bottom of the second with a hitting spree of their own. St. Brendan loaded the bases after Henry Knez, Max Guzman and Dennis Rivadineira were all hit by pitches. Danny Sirven grounded out to the shortstop, bringing in Knez. Laurent Polenghi followed and was walked, bringing in Guzman and setting up the bases loaded for lead-off hitter Jose “Chiqui” Carrera. Carrera ripped a shot into the outfield for three RBIs.
St. Brenden swung the bats around and was able to get out to an early lead.
Chris Hernandez led off for the Firebirds to start the third and was walked. Ryan Gronlier followed and inched the Firebirds closer to the lead with a two-run homer to left field.
Pitching was a struggle for both teams, as each team went deep into the bullpens, Rivadineira was walked in the bottom of the second, Sirven then drove in the speedy Rivadineira with a double. Chiqui Carrera started things off for the Sabres in the fourth with his second double, Carrera finished 3-4 with three doubles. Oscar Gordillo followed with a double to left field bringing in Carrera and giving the Sabres a 8-4 lead.
But the Firebirds struck gold in the fifth inning. Alejandro Juvier led things off, cranking a pitch over the right field wall for a home run, leaving a dent on a parked car’s hood. Hernandez was then walked, Ryan Gronlier showed off his hitting ability with a home run of his own to left field, putting Doral within one run of tying.
“It’s funny because we said we didn’t really have power in the beginning of the year,” Iglesias said. “It was surprising, but these guys made things happen.”
Doral Academy's pitching was able to seal the victory.
Doral continued to get on base in the sixth inning. Miguel Casanueva was sent to first after being hit by a pitch, and Carlos Pena held his bat and managed to get on base with four balls. The Firebirds, still down a run, were in search of a big play. Chris Hernandez found it when he belted a shot to right field for a three-run homer for the final margin.
“I was looking for a pitch in the zone and when I found it I swung away.” said Hernandez
St. Brenden attempted to rally in sixth, but the Sabres were shut down with two strikeouts to end the game. The game was called after the sixth inning because of darkness.
“They took advantage of runners in scoring position, and they hit the ball when they had to,” Sabres Manager Joe Cubas said. “We need improve in every aspect of the game, starting with the mental aspect.”
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