2A-15 Preview: Small Schools, Mighty Teams

2A-15

Host: Miami Christian High School

Tuesday, April 23rd

3:30 – Game 1 – (3) Miami Christian vs. (2) Westwood Christian

Wednesday, April 24th

Rain Date

Thursday, April 25th

3:30 – Championship – Game 1 winner vs. (1) Brito

Full stats for 2A-15 can be found on the 2A-15 Stats Page!

Overview – Two of the strongest programs in Class 2A are represented in this district, and there is a great chance that should all go according to expectations they would meet again in the second round of the regional playoffs.

But for either Miami Brito or Westwood Christian to make another run at the state tournament, each knows the road becomes much easier as the district champion who hosts in the opening round of regional play. Which puts that much more pressure on both teams should the likeliest of scenarios pit the two in the 2A-15 championship.

The Victors have played the spoiler to this match up before, but this year’s team has been a bit further behind against these two squads this year. This is no slight to the young Miami Christian ballclub, but rather recognition of the realistic capability that the other two teams in this district have of bringing home a state trophy this year.

The Warriors and Panthers split in the regular season, and the potential rubber match could be for all the marbles… unless they meet again two rounds later, that is.

1. Miami Brito – The Panthers learned a tough lesson in being bounced from the district tournament in an opening-round upset loss to Miami Christian last season.

Brito has won five state titles in its history, and that loss snapped a 19-year streak in which the program had qualified for the state playoffs, the second longest such streak in state history.

For the first time since 1992, Miami Brito did not play baseball in May.

The Panthers ensured that a new streak can be started this season, as they won the top seed in the district to earn a first-round bye and automatic regional-playoff berth by qualifying for the 2A-15 title game.

Brito has been among the top teams in Miami Dade all year as it works to maintain the high program standards.

Leading the way for the club is its one-two pitching duo of Angel Cortes and Richard Sotolongo, who have combined to pitch the majority of the innings this season. The Panthers pitching staff held its opposition to three runs or less in half of their games this year.

Offensively Brito has crushed the ball all year long, batting roughly .365 while slugging nearly .500% as well. Juan Carlos Millan, Andres Herrera and Savian Fernandez have been the toughest outs, leading the team in hits, runs and RBIs to account for a large portion of the total production.

This sort of production typically helps team lift up trophies.

If all goes as anticipated, Brito may feel like it is playing in a state final if it faces Westwood Christian. It might not count as a state title, but it could sure feel like one, and it could just be the type of victory that catapults the winner on to exactly that.

2. Westwood Christian – The Warriors came as close as one gets to winning a state championship last year, losing 1-0 to Trinity Christian Deltona in the 2A title game.

This year the team has played like a championship-caliber ballclub as it embarks on a quest to return to the state tournament and take care of unfinished business.

But first, they have a district title to defend.

Westwood Christian has dominated Miami Christian by a combined score of 28-9 in its two victories this year, and it is more likely than not that the team will take care of business to earn its way back into the 2A-15 championship.

Then the fun would begin, as the Warriors would next face district top-seed Miami Brito, a team which they split the regular season series with. The two programs are both equally matched, and present problems on both sides of the field.

For Westwood Christian, those problems for other teams start on the mound with their ace, Danny Garcia. The senior right-hander is set to pitch next year for the University of Miami, and he has thrown like a blue-chip college prospect in leading the team in innings pitched, ERA, WHIP and strikeouts.

Oscar Rivera and Andy Rivera have both added quality innings on the hill for the Warriors.

At the plate the Warriors have been even scarier, clubbing an amazing 17 home runs as a team while hitting around .325 for the year. Anthony Penas and Luis Diaz both share the team lead with five dingers each, and both have been among the toughest outs in the county this season.

Westwood has assembled a deep and talented team capable of returning to the state tournament, but first they will have to show that the new boys in town can pack enough punch to turn away the perennial powerhouse in Miami Brito.

3. Miami Christian – The Victors have the daunting task of defeating two state contenders in order to win the 2A-15 championship.

But Miami Christian has been here before and proven it is capable of an upset.

Last season the Victors downed Brito 9-7 to earn a berth in the 2A regional playoffs, which they earned as district runner ups after Westwood Christian beat them for the district title.

This year the Victors have gone 0-4 in district play while being outscored 48-10.

Miami Christian has batted just over .300 for the season, led by sophomore Laz Gonzalez, who leads the team in hits and extra-base hits while batting over .500 for the year.

Miguel Perez, David Lopez and Ernie Angueira are all also key pieces to the offense.

However, the team has struggled on the mound.

J.C. Llaser has led the rotation with nearly 40 strikeouts, an average of roughly one strikeout per inning.

The Victors have yet to beat Westwood Christian since joining the district, and should they accomplish such a feat in the 2013 district playoffs it would serve as one of the biggest wins in school history.

Leave a comment using your facebook account!