Sunset Stuns Columbus, Goes To 6-0 In District Play

Miami Sunset’s season was ended last year by Columbus in the regional semifinals.

The teams must meet twice during the regular season each year. Tuesday night’s match up was their first meeting of 2013, and it was the Knights that avenged that season-ending loss.

Miami Sunset improved to 9-1 on the season with a 7-1 win, and remains perfect in 8A-15 at 6-0.

” That’s probably the best pitcher we faced all year long, but we told our guys to be aggressive and they did,” Sunset Manager Armondo Pelaez said. “These guys confidence right now is high and they came out swinging it.”

Sunset drove in seven runs off nine hits.

The Explorers (7-3, 5-1) kept it close early but were unable to answer back against the Knights’ defense. Columbus stranded six runners, and allowed just one hit after the second inning.

Danny Diaz won his fourth game of the year, pitching a complete game, striking out four while holding the state runner-ups to one run.

“To win here on the road is amazing,” Diaz said. “I kept my composure and kept everything low. Having a good defense behind me is really essential, and it helps us win.”

Miami Sunset attacked early and often, Michael Centeno singled to left field for the game’s first hit. Alfredo Iser connected with a fastball for a stand-up double, bringing in Centeno.

“We came out and did what we wanted to do,” Sunset’s Michael Centeno said. “We hit the ball, put it in play and scored some runs.”

Columbus responded with a single by Laz Rivera, and Rivera then stole second base. Chris Perez belted a shot to right field for an RBI single, tying the game at one apiece.

Sunset’s Michael Paez made some noise in the third after smacking a pitch over the left-field Blue Monster wall for a solo home run. Danilo De Armas led off in the fourth with a double to left field. Paez followed and was walked to first, the pitch got away from the catcher, allowing De Armas to come home on the play.

“I’ve known Bryan Garcia (Explorers pitcher) since we were kids, and I knew he wanted to throw his fastball.” said Michael Paez of his facing his friend in that at-bat. “I just tried to put a good swing on it and I connected.”

Centeno executed a bunt, putting Paez in scoring position, Iser then smacked his second double of the game, bringing in Paez. Alex Bravo hit a sacrifice fly, bringing in Centeno.

Diaz stunned the Explorers with his curve ball, and excellent play by the defense. Diaz gave up a walk in the bottom of the fourth, but regrouped with two fly outs and a strikeout to end the inning.

The aggressive Knights never let their foot off the pedal. De Armas and Paez found similar luck and got on base by way of a pair of errors. Centeno singled up the middle, bringing in De Armas, but Centeno was picked off trying to round first. Iser followed with a short pop up 10 yards past first base, but Paez showed off his blazing speed as he tagged third and headed home for the Knights seventh run of the game.

“We’re not satisfied just yet,” said Sunset’s Manager Pelaez, “I told my guys this is just the half way mark in our district, so we’re going to have a good practice tomorrow and then go after Braddock.”

With the top spot in the district on the line, Explorers Manager Karl Webber was disappointed his team came up short, even while realizing there is still plenty of season left to be played.

“The big games are at the end.” said Webber. “I want to be hot in April and May a lot more than I want to be in March, but still overall I’m still very disappointed the way we played today. We just have to get hot at the end and we have a lot of areas we need to improve on until then.”

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