4A-14 Playoff Preview: Just The Right Pace For A Repeat

4A-14

Host: Monsignor Pace

Monday, April 22nd

7PM – Game 1 – (3) Archbishop Carroll vs. (2) Miami Jackson

Wednesday, April 24th

7PM – Championship – Game 1 winner vs. Monsignor Pace

Full stats for 4A-14 can be found on the 4A-14 Stats Page!

Overview – Although top-seeded Monsignor Pace returns a team that is perhaps even more talented then last year’s, the district as a whole is much tougher this season.

Both Archbishop Carroll and Miami Jackson have shortened that gap, and both have had their sights set all season on beating the Spartans.

Being the ones with a target on your back is not always the easiest pressure to handle, but fortunately for a team and program heaped with winning traditions Monsignor Pace has always proven up to the challenge.

The Spartans again host the district tournament this season, which not only provides a nice overall atmosphere for baseball but also gives the top seed an extra advantage in playing on its home turf in front of its home fans.

But before either underdog can take their swings at the defending district champs, first they must deal with one another.

Archbishop Carroll has held the advantage by beating the Generals twice already this year, but now they are left with the difficult task of defeating that same club for the third time.

It’s a daunting task for either team, and it is everything great about playoff baseball.

1. Monsignor Pace – Seven starters returned from last season’s Spartans team that made it all the way back to the state tournament, and this year the team has been on a mission to bring the program home its seventh state title.

With a group this talented, there is no question they are capable of doing exactly that.

Eight of the team’s starters have committed to college programs, and they have three strong arms in the rotation that will give them a great chance to stay in every game.

Headlining this deep rotation is St. Thomas University-signee Alex Perez and Barry University-signee Jonathan Hernandez. Closer Luis Deville is also heading to Barry University, but in the meantime he will likely be the guy coming out of the bullpen late in these playoff games for the Spartans.

Offensively the team has a lineup nine deep, with a combination of power and the ability to hit to both sides of the field with great consistency. Manuel Pazos, Brandon Gomez and David Palenzuela are just a few of the names keeping the Spartans’ opposing pitchers awake at night.

Since the Spartans have already clinched the top seed in 4A-14 with a perfect 4-0 district sweep, they have earned a berth in the regional playoffs as well as a spot in the district championship.

With the position that Pace has played itself into this year, the magic number of wins to another state title is six. But first the team must defend its 4A-14 crown.

2. Archbishop Carroll – The Bulldogs find themselves in the exact same position as last season, needing to beat Jackson in the semifinals just to create a rematch in the 4A-14 title game with the top-seeded Spartans.

After falling just short in a 2-1 decision last year, there would be no greater reward than to return this season and turn the tables.

But in order to do that, first the Bulldogs must get past a scrappy Generals squad that is hungry and aggressive.

Power-hitting has been a key to Archbishop Carroll’s success this year, as the club hit ten home runs and clubbed 17 doubles.

Leading the way for the offense is Dean Garabedian and Amilcar de Cesare, two consistent hitters who helped the squad average more than five runs per game.

On the mound the team has used a mix and match of arms, as it lacks a true number one ace. Garabedian has been the team’s most consistent and reliable threat in his limited time on the hill, posting a team-low 2.39 ERA to go with his 3-1 record.

Richard Noa has been the workhorse for the pitching staff, and he leads the team in strikeouts.

First-year Manager Jorge Gutierrez has done a nice job of preparing his team for the postseason, something that does not reflect as clearly in the team’s overall record. In the second half of the season the Bulldogs faced some of Miami-Dade’s top programs, including Westwood Christian, Westminster Christian and Mater Lakes Academy.

Although the team was 0-4 in those contests, the fact that each game was decided by two runs or less should help to give the team the confidence it needs heading into the playoff stretch.

3. Miami Jackson – It has been an exciting year for the Generals under first-year Manager Julio Mendoza.

The squad has come together to play some of their best baseball as it sets goals to be the group that rewrites the history books for the program.

But against their district foes, the Generals have yet to earn a victory in 2013. Should the team change that now with an upset victory over the Bulldogs, they will earn a spot in the 4A-14 title game against the host Spartans.

The last time out the Generals fell just a bit short on a rally attempt in a 7-5 loss to Carroll, a defeat that was eerily similar to their loss in the 4A-14 district semifinal last year.

What this team has shown is that when it catches fire, it is something that is hard to put out.

Senior Ibrahim Silwany has emerged as the team’s go-to arm on the mound, while both Juan Nunez and Bryan Rodriguez have provided solid outings. As a unit the pitching staff has allowed more than four earned runs per game, a total it will have to lower to improve its postseason chances.

At the plate the team has been led by Jomilson Alvarez, who leads the club with ten extra-base hits. Brayan Ruiz, Michealangelo Penas, Silwany and Juan Patricio have all been solid contributors to the offense, and both Penas and Silwany are among the county’s top base-stealing threats.

It is an exciting and fast-paced brand of baseball that the Generals employ under Mendoza, and to take the team to the next level they will have to create pressure and capitalize on their opportunities.

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