South Dade Edges Killian In Game Of The Week Showdown

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Erik Manoah thrives in big moments.

On the biggest stage that South Dade has seen so far this year, the senior proved this fact. Playing to a packed house at Ray-Boyd Field in Homestead in Saturday’s HSBN Miami-Dade Game of the Week, Manoah put in a masterful performance from both sides of the diamond to lead the host Bucs to a 3-1 victory over district rival Killian.

The South Dade standout tossed a complete-game to earn the win, and also backed himself on the hill by slugging a two-run home run for the deciding runs in the contest. In a big environment, the right-hander passionately led his team with his play and his gusto to deliver a memorable performance.

“I actually like all the attention and the energy that is going through the crowd. I don’t find it intimidating at all,” Manoah admitted. “We have a lot of supportive parents and fans that come out here to watch the game. I was supposed to pitch on Thursday but the game got rained out so I ended up pitching the Game of the Week. Pitching in front of a crowd like that is a college environment, so I guess it motivated me to go out and perform, and my team was also motivated. We’re just rolling, so it’s a great feeling right now.”

Featuring a devastating fastball and pinpoint location, the right-hander went right after the Killian batters without fear. He took a no-hitter into the fifth inning and allowed just six base runners all night. Manoah struck out 13 batters, pounding 65 of his 106 pitches in the strike zone to stay aggressive and work ahead in the count most of the night.

It was exactly the type of example the undefeated Bucs needed against such a dangerous district opponent. Top-ranked South Dade improved to 9-0 and holds sole possession of the top spot in District 8A-16 at 5-0, while the Cougars (7-2) remain right in tow at 4-1 in the very challenging district.

“I think the biggest thing was we got to play in a big game. That was one of the biggest crowds I’ve ever seen. Playing in that atmosphere is great,” said Bucs Manager Fred Burnside. “It toughens them and they realize that it’s a pitch-by-pitch game, and playing in a big game like this in this atmosphere is only going to help you. It just hardens you and makes you better.”

Even in defeat, the Cougars also benefitted from playing in such a big environment so early in the season. It was a tough road challenge for Killian to play in, and they left heads high knowing the Bucs victory was not an easy accomplishment.

“We played in a hostile environment,” agreed Killian Manager Angel Herrera. “South Dade has a tremendous home field advantage, but my boys fought. I thought my boys battled today, and I’m just as confident in my team today as I was when we got here. They’ve got a good club and there’s no way around it, our paths are going to cross again later on down the road.”

In Saturday’s meeting, the fireworks began almost immediately. Killian’s Joey Gonzalez smacked a 1-1 pitch to lead off the top of the first, only to watch in dismay as Bucs second baseman Artie Paula leaped into the air and snared the screamer for the first out. In such a close, low-scoring contest even this one simple play proved to be incredibly important.

Danny Cumba and Spencer Levine both walked to follow, creating the Cougars’ first scoring chance before Manoah recovered to punch out the next batter, and then force a flyout that ended the threat.

South Dade also threatened in the first. Paula reached on an error, but then was caught up on the bases when Manoah hit into a fielder’s choice to third. Although Paula was tagged off the bases, Manoah alertly scrambled to second, and then also bolted safely to third after realizing the bag was uncovered following the tag. Killian starter Keith Stevens snared a comebacker to the mound to record the final out and keep it a scoreless tie.

Things remained that way until the bottom of the third inning. Cougars second baseman Eddy Demurias backed his starter by diving out and getting fully extended to snag a ground ball and rob Joel Rodriguez of a base hit. Just when Killian seemed to take the momentum behind a big play, Paula was there again to answer back by rolling a ground ball into the left infield gap for a single.

Manoah came to the plate with a duck on the pond, and on a 1-0 pitch he pulled the trigger to drive a shot deep to left field over the fence for a two-run home run. The shot electrified the home dugout, charged the home fans and put the road team in a 2-0 hole that seemed much deeper against the tough hurler on the mound.

“That’s all I needed; all I really need is just a little bit of run support and from there I try my best to shut it down,” Manoah said. “My team does a great job of doing that, not only for me but for the rest of my pitching staff. That’s why we’ve been successful lately.”

Manoah illustrated that point when he came back to the mound in the fourth, mowing his way through a 1-2-3 inning on just six pitches. Even though his velocity was fierce all night, Manoah’s first few pitches of that frame were clearly his fastest of all.

“It pumped me up completely going into the next inning, and I knew they were going up there swinging,” said Manoah. “They were down two-zip so I’m just going to pound the strike zone and do what I did all night, which is to go after them. I’m not going to waste any time playing around with my pitches. I just challenge them. If they beat me, they beat me and I tip my hat to them. But I just wanted to challenge all of them today, and I was fortunate to come out on top.”

Gabriel Cruz helped add an insurance run in the fourth, after the Bucs catcher lined his second single of the game into left field, before giving way to courtesy runner Jahzeel Clarit.

Clarit advanced to second on a passed ball, and then took off for home when Austin Allende drilled one past the shortstop for the RBI single and a 3-0 advantage.

The Cougars answered back in the top of the fifth to break up the no-hitter. Sneaky Guzman drew a leadoff walk and then made a great jump on the first pitch to Gonzalez to easily steal second. Gonzalez worked a 2-2 count before he connected to drive one just off the glove of the diving shortstop, bringing Guzman in to break up the shutout.

Like an unsteady pendulum, the momentum swung back and forth in the top of the fifth. Manoah came to the dish for his next at bat and was hit by a pitch, which prompted the umpire to eject Stevens from the contest. This put a runner on base and forced a bullpen move for the Cougars, who brought in Miguel Deguzman.

After the right-handed Deguzman induced a flyout to shortstop Freddy Zamora, Sergio Lopez smacked the first pitch he saw deep to centerfield. The Bucs waved the runner home, but Guzman fired a terrific relay throw to Demurias, who spun and gunned the ball to Spencer Levine in time to make the tag at the plate.

Demurias added to his fine night by pitching a perfect sixth inning in which he struck out the side on 17 pitches.

Although Killian seized momentum late, Manoah refused to let them capitalize on it. He retired the final seven batters he faced, forcing a groundout along the first baseline in which he tagged the runner for the final out that sparked the Bucs victory celebration.

South Dade has reached the halfway point of a nine-game district stretch, and so far they came out on top each time out. Now the key is to maintain the momentum and keep things going.

“Winning nine in a row is nice but you try not to look at that,” said Burnside. “You just try to get better each day and try to sell the kids on getting better. The only thing that matters is that game in late April. Angel does a great job at Killian, and we’ve been in the district championship game four of the last five years, and three of them have been against Killian. He does a great job and I’m sure we’ll see them again. It’s who is playing well in late April that matters more than now.”

While April is still a ways away, Saturday gave the two contenders a chance to lay it all on the line against a worthy opponent. It was a fierce game played in front of a large audience, and one that did not disappoint for its big plays and exciting moments.

The night also included a strange occurrence in the sixth, when a young streaker stormed onto the field wearing only shorts and spraying water at the Killian outfielders. The unknown offender sprinted across the outfield grass and escaped around the fence past right field.

“I didn’t know what to think,” joked Burnside. “I know he was in green shorts, so I thought he was a Cougar.”

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