Hernandez’s Gem Leads Pace Back To State Semifinals

Just under a year after watching their season end the Monsignor Pace Spartans are back where they set out to be: with a chance to add another state title to its rich baseball history.

The Spartans will advance to the state semifinals, the round where their season ended last year, after defeating the host St. Brendan Sabres 5-0 Friday in the 4A Regional Final at Florida International University.

“It feels amazing but we’re not done yet,” said Senior Andrew McCoy who had an RBI. “Last year we got here and lost 1-0 and we all remember that like it was yesterday.”

The Spartans (22-6-1) booked their ticket behind the arm of senior Jonathan Hernandez. The lefty didn’t have his best stuff on the mound but still managed to toss a complete game shutout in the win against the Sabres (16-12). Hernandez allowed three hits, two walks and recorded four strikeouts for Pace.

“That was pure guts, determination, and heart because that wasn’t one of his better performances command-wise. He was fighting to find himself on the mound, and trying to get a feel for it early on,” Spartans Manager Tom Duffin said.

Despite Hernandez’s struggles, the St. Brendan hitters couldn’t take advantage early on.

In the bottom of the first with runners on second and third and one out, junior Danny Sirven hit a pop out to shallow right field, but Jose “Chiqui” Carrera got caught in a rundown tagging up from third base to end the inning.

In the top of the second, Pace got some offense going against St. Brendan’s own lefty stud David Plotkin. After Pace’s Brandon Gomez led off with a double to left, Catcher Anthony De La Cruz singled to right to put runners on first and third. With no outs, the next batter McCoy connected on a deep fly ball out to right field that allowed Gomez to tag up from third and score Pace’s first run.

Still with one out, designated hitter Austin Miro singled to put runners on the corners. A few pitches later, Miro was caught stealing to give the Sabres some momentum. Plotkin looked to end the inning with only one run allowed, but Leroy Garcia’s grounder with two outs was fumbled by the shortstop allowing De La Cruz to score before Plotkin got the next batter out to end the inning with Pace up 2-0.

In the bottom of the second, the Sabres looked to generate some offense of their own. However, a valiant pitching effort from Hernandez and solid mistake-free defense from Pace doused any hopes the Sabres had. Leading off the second, senior Henry Knez blasted a line drive to center for single, the next batter, Fabian Pena hit a fly ball to right when McCoy sprinted in and made the sliding catch to prevent the base hit. Hernandez then forced a fly out to left and a strikeout to end the inning unscathed.

“In the beginning I had a little trouble finding my spots, but as the game went on I got a little bit more comfortable,” Hernandez said.

That was story of the night for St. Brendan, who only managed one extra base hit on a Rivadineira double off the wall in left field. Knez had two of the team’s three hits and finished 2-for-3 on the night.

With game locked in a 2-0 heading into the seventh inning, the wheels fell off for St. Brendan. With two outs after Plotkin forced a fly out and a strikeout, the lefty drilled Leroy Garcia in the back, prompting Sabres Manager Joe Cubas to go to the bullpen. Plotkin walked off the field to a standing ovation by St. Brendan’s fans for his effort on the mound. But three runs, three pitching changes, and seven at-bats later the Sabres finally got the third out on a De La Cruz pop-up to end the top of the seventh.

In the bottom of the frame, leading 5-0, Hernandez had all the run support he needed. He retired the side after forcing a deep fly ball that was tracked down by John Vicente in center sending a jubilant Pace dugout racing to the mound to form pile on top of Hernandez.

Now with their return trip to the state semifinals booked, the Spartans know they have some unfinished business to attend to.

“Last year we had a sour taste getting there and not being able to score a run, so hopefully with 17 seniors we have a job to do, we want to go back and show better. I don’t think we’re going to go there and be starry-eyed and go ‘Oh my God’ looking at the big stadium and all that because we’ve been there. so now its something to prove and every team there is good you just gotta be ready to play like its the last game of your life and lay it all on the field.”

For St. Brendan it means the end of the season and the last go-around for Manager Joe Cubas. Cubas announced he is retiring as the Sabres Manager and shared an emotional embrace with each of his players.

“I made the decision that this would be it for me so it was a little emotional saying the goodbyes and all of those things,” Cubas said.

Cubas coached at St. Brendan for the past three seasons, leading the Sabres to consecutive District 4A-16 titles.

“I’m very, very proud our guys, we started off in a way we never envisioned, but we hung tough, showed the fortitude, and continued to work hard,” Cubas said. “I’m just very proud of them because they never quit. Today things just didn’t go our way, its one of these games where you have to tip your cap to the pitcher on the other side and a great ball club.”

The Spartans will face Ocala Trinity Catholic in the Class 4A state semifinals on Monday, May 20 at Jet Blue Park in Fort Myers.

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