The American Way: Patriots Rally To Defeat Thoroughbreds

American Manager Ricky Gutierrez and Hialeah Manager Jonathan Hernandez are in similar situations at their respective schools. The two managers both are alumni of the schools they coached, and both were presented with an opportunity to move within one game of states Tuesday afternoon.

After a quick start by the Thoroughbreds, the Patriots offense proved too much as American defeated Hialeah for the third time this season, 13-7. American will now move on to face Sunset on Friday afternoon.

“They’re such a great club, and there is a lot of friendship between these two teams,” said Gutierrez. “Every time we see them on the schedule we know it is going to be a battle and something we can get up for. Today, we had some big hits in key situations, and that was the difference in the game.”

When these two meet, nobody ever knows which team will come out on top. After winning the district title a couple of weeks ago, American made their statement early, scoring two runs in the first. Edison Cabrera led off with a single, went to third on a Romy Gonzalez double, and scored on a Rodney Williams base hit. Kevin Peraza’s sacrifice fly gave the Patriots a 2-0 lead.

Hialeah then stormed back, scoring four runs of their own in the third. Kevin Betancourt and Jonathan Perez had RBI singles, and Gilbert Maldonado had a bases-loaded walk. In all, the Thoroughbreds sent 10 batters to the plate, and took a 4-2 lead.

When Nestor Cortes and Mouracio Cajuso scored in the fourth, it appeared as though Hialeah was on their way to a victory. As is the case most times when these two teams meet, further fireworks ensued.

In the fifth, the Patriots took all the wind out of Hialeah’s sails when they sent 14 batters to the plate, and scored 10 runs. Suddenly, a 6-2 Thoroughbred lead turned into a 12-6 deficit.

“That one inning, we just couldn’t execute,” said Hernandez.

At the center of the rally was Gonzalez, who had two hits in the inning, a double, and a two-RBI single. Gonzalez came around to score each time, and on the day, he went 3-for-4, with two doubles, and three runs scored. He also was hit by a pitch.

“We’ve been practicing all week, with lefties throwing at us all week to prepare for this game,” said Gonzalez. “We just saw the ball good today. My approach all day was to square the ball up and hit it the other way. I wanted to let my hands do the job, and trust in myself.”

After the Patriots offensive explosion, Andy Figueroa did the rest of the work on the mound. The reliever went the final 3.2 innings, and drew high praise from his manager.

“I like to say that Andy is our Mariano Rivera,” said Gutierrez. “he has done the job all year long for us, and without him, there is no way we would be where we are today. Just another outstanding performance by him today.”

Figueroa came into the game with American behind, and knew he had to hold down the Thoroughbreds offense.

“Once we got the big lead, I just wanted to throw strikes and make them hit the ball, let my defense work,” said Figueroa. “I felt comfortable right after the first out. They weren’t hitting my off-speed stuff, so I knew if I could just keep throwing strikes we would be in good shape.”

And in good shape they were, when Figueroa finished off the seventh with a strikeout, American secured a spot in the regional final Friday against Sunset.

The top five batters in the Patriots order were a big reason they moved on Tuesday, going a combined 11-for-16, with four walks and a hit by pitch.

“Wow,” said Gutierrez, when hearing that his top five batters reached base 16 times in the game. “When we are going like that, and these guys are hitting in clutch situations like they did today, we are a tough team to beat.”

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