Killian Edges Southwest To Advance To Semifinals

For the second straight season, a big hit from senior Erik Molina propelled the Killian Cougars over the Southwest Miami Eagles in the 8A regional quarterfinals.

Molina delivered the winning RBI in the sixth inning to lead the Cougars over the Eagles 1-0 in an 8A regional quarterfinal in Kendall.

Killian advances to play the winner of South Dade and Miami Sunset on Tuesday in the regional semifinals.

“I always say right nine — and he’s a part of my right nine,” Killian Manager Angel Herrera said. “He did the same thing last year in this round. He got the game-winning hit and he did the same thing this year.”

Facing an 0-2 count in the bottom of the sixth inning, Molina belted a line drive to center field bringing home Mike Perez for the eventual winning run.

“I struck out in my last at-bat, and I just wanted to hit the ball hard,” said Molina, who finished 1-for-3.

In a game delayed an hour because of heavy rain, the run was the only misstep for Eagles pitcher Chris Mourelle. The Southwest ace pitched a complete game, allowing five hits and recording five strikeouts.

“We knew it was going to be a low-scoring game,” Southwest Manager Josy Torres said. “We just had to do a little bit of a better job of making better contact and taking advantage of our opportunities.”

Killian’s Keith Stevens went toe-to-toe with Mourelle. The sophomore pitched five and one-third innings, allowing only two hits and striking out six.

Herrera decided to switch to Mike Perez in the top of the sixth after Southwest’s Danny Casals laced a hit down the left-field line for a double.

The strategy paid off when Perez retired the next two batters with a strikeout and pop-out to right field to end the inning. Perez, who started the game at shortstop, earned the win, while finishing 1-for-3.

“We stuck together and had the next-guy-up mentality,” Herrera said.

In bottom of the sixth, Perez helped his own cause. With one out, he crushed a double to the gap in right field. After the Eagles intentionally walked the next batter, designated hitter William Ortiz hit a ground out to third that advanced both runners before Molina delivered the winning RBI in the next at-bat.

Despite the dominant pitching, the Eagles missed out on chances to score runs. In the top of the fourth with a runner on second, Hernan Sardenas connected on a chopper that skipped over the first baseman’s head into right field. On the relay throw home, the runner got caught rounding third too far and again Mira came up big as the catcher fired a throw to third to erase the threat.

After another base hit, Stevens recorded a fly out and a strikeout to end the inning unscathed.

“When you’re in a regional playoff game, you can’t giveaway any opportunities,” Torres said.

Herrera said his team faces a tall task in the next round, but the Cougars are going to give it their all.

“Sunset has a phenomenal team. South Dade has a phenomenal team. We’ve seen them plenty. We’re going to have our hands full, but we’re going to give it our best shot,” Herrera said.

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