Belen Jesuit Comes Up Short Against Archbishop McCarthy

As Belen Jesuit Manager Jerry Albert reflected on the team’s 5-1 road loss to Archbishop McCarthy on Saturday night, he came to the stark realization that only one team ultimately goes home happy at the end of the season.

For the second straight season the Wolverines (19-9) had fallen at the hands of the three-time defending state champion Mavericks, this time behind a dominating performance from their junior left-handed ace Brian Gonzalez.

Characteristic of such a great man as Jerry Albert, the coach could not help but feel pride and joy in his team even while overcome with emotion at having to call it a year.

Befittingly, none of the players hung their heads as they packed up their things for the last time.

“We had a good time with our kids this year,” Albert said. “We did a great job with what we had, and the kids play very hard. They do everything we ask them. They’re an easy group to work with, they’re very coachable and they’re just great kids from great families. It’s a pleasure coaching them. We want to win every game we play. We’re competitive and we’re hard-working. The desire to win with my assistant Ivan and I, we both have the same passion, and that will never end.”

Belen Jesuit had hoped for one more chance at district rival Mater Academy, but instead now the Mavericks (22-5) while take that spot in the 6A regional playoff bracket.

But the Wolverines did not go down without a fight, putting in a valiant performance against a team that proved to be every bit as talented as advertised.

“Jerry always has his team ready to go, and he does his homework on us like we do on him,” McCarthy Manager Rich Belski said. “I just have the utmost respect for him and the things he’s done down there. They’re just a good ball club year after year.”

Just like they have all season, the Wolverines rode the strength of their strong pitching staff to take on the Mavericks at their home field in Southwest Ranches Saturday night, after the game was repeatedly rescheduled due to horrendous weather that disrupted playoff baseball across South Florida this week.

Right-hander William Fabra got the start on the hill, and the senior worked his way through a tough and dangerous lineup with confident efficiency.

After the Mavericks leadoff hitter reached base on an error to put Fabra in the stretch, the righty responded to strikeout center fielder Brandon Vicens on a nasty curveball before inducing an infield groundout to escape the threat.

McCarthy threatened again in the second with a pair of baserunners, but again Fabra got out of the jam unscathed.

But in the third inning, Vicens came back around to deliver a dagger that would prove to be a death blow. The right-handed batter held back on an offering and sent it sailing deep to the opposite field and over the right field wall for a solo home run and a lead the Mavericks would never relinquish.

“That first run really sparked us,” Bielski admitted. “Brandon hit that ball so well and that really got us going. Guys were going up there with a little more confidence and a little better attack-plan at the plate. That really got us going, and it was huge for us.”

Once the Mavericks took the lead, Gonzalez took control on the mound. Gonzalez was efficient with his pitches and continued to keep the Wolverines at bay, relying on his off-speed stuff to lead the way to the tune of eight strikeouts.

“He had his changeup working really nicely,” Albert said. “He’s got nice velocity and an excellent changeup. He was throwing three pitches for strikes and that made it tough. We love the changeup, and all of our kids learn to throw the changeup because it is the best pitch in baseball.”

McCarthy padded its lead with a four-run fifth inning that made it 5-0 and chased Fabra off the mound to bring in Danny Parets. Fabra finished the day with just over 80 pitches thrown and eight strikeouts to show for it, while allowing six hits and issuing three walks.

Parets was equally sharp, going the final inning and two-thirds while striking out one and allowing a pair of hits.

“Our pitching has been fantastic all year,” said Albert. “We were hoping for a low-scoring win. That’s the only kind of game we can win. We’re not an offensive juggernaut, but they give it their all and they try very hard. We had an approach at the plate that I thought was good, and our kids pitch well here. We just had one inning that got away.”

Belen battled back to avoid the shutout in the sixth inning, after Alex Cabrera drew a leadoff walk and Ryan Rodriguez-Mena followed by bouncing the first pitch he saw high through the right side of the infield to put runners on the corners.

Fabra also walked to load the bases, and David Guevara popped a blooper into right field on a hit that went just over the top of a leaping Blade Bielski at second base, bringing Cabrera home to put Belen on the board.

But Gonzalez collected his final strikeout of the evening to end the threat, and Aaron Soto came on in the seventh to close out the game and end the season for the Wolverines yet again.

While saying goodbye to both of Saturday’s pitchers will be difficult for the team, Albert cannot help but be excited and optimistic with the future of the program.

“Next year we have a good group coming back, an excellent young group,” Albert said. “We’re very happy with what we have coming up.”

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