Belen Advances To Regionals With 4-3 Win Over TERRA
Pablo Arevalo picked up the win for the Wolverines.
If Belen Jesuit wants to go deep into the 6A playoffs this season, one thing they know for sure is they will not have to face Archbishop McCarthy, who knocked the Wolverines out the past two years. Then again, with this year’s Belen squad, facing the four-time defending champs may not have been as tall a task.
The Wolverines continued one of their best seasons in school history on Monday afternoon with a thrilling 4-3 victory over TERRA Institute. The Wolverines used a formula that has now worked 10 times this year, throw staff ace Pablo Arevalo, let the defense do their job, and scratch out a few runs.
“My high school coach used to always say the first one is the toughest one once you get into the playoffs,” said Wolverines Manager Jerry Albert. “It’s so true, especially in a district like ours. With all four teams, you just throw the records out once the playoffs start. TERRA is an excellent team, and all three of our games went right down to the wire.”
Early on, it looked as though Belen would have little problems with the Wolves. Alex Cabrera was hit by a pitch to start the bottom of the first, and an error allowed Christian Del Castillo to reach as well. After an out, Javier Herrera singled, loading the bases. A second out was followed by a Ryan Rodriguez-Mena two-run double.
In the fourth, the Wolverines extended the lead to 4-0. Michael Gomez singled and Cabrera drew a walk. David Guevara hit a double down the left-field line, and suddenly Belen had opened up a 4-0 lead.
“The last couple of times at-bat against them, they started me off with curve balls,” said Guevara. “So I was basically looking curve ball, and I just tried to put it in play.”
Guevara has also been behind the dish all year when Arevalo has been on the mound, and much like in the previous games, Arevalo was strong again Monday. Through the first four innings, the Wolves could only muster two hits off the Wolverines ace, who is now a perfect 10-0 on the season.
“He’s amazing,” said Guevara. “He’s one of the best sophomores I’ve ever seen play the game at this level. He has great control, and he is always pounding the strike zone.”
TERRA fell one run short Monday afternoon.
In the fifth inning, that control wavered a bit, as Arevalo walked both Nick Wydler and Angel Mestre to start the inning. A Yasser Santana fielder’s choice plated the first run of the game for the Wolves, as they began doing something they have done all season long, battle back.
“This team fights so hard,” said TERRA Manager Hernan Adames. “All year we have come back from deficits, and it shows the true character of these guys.”
An Alex Saavedra single cut the lead to 4-2, and suddenly the Wolves were thinking upset.
In the sixth, TERRA rallied again. Chris Wydler started the frame off with an infield single. After two outs and a walk to Mestre, Nick Lopez made it a one-run game with a single to left, driving in Wydler. That would signal the end of the day for Arevalo, as he gave way to Eric Antigues.
The senior walked Santana to load the bases, and Ozzie Millet had a strong at-bat, working the count full. Antigues then came up with the pitch of the game, a low fastball that caught the corner for strike three. The controversial pitch had Millet and some of the TERRA fans thinking the umpire may have missed one, but Adames showed no reaction and gave no argument over the call.
“It was a close call, but its balls and strikes,” said Adames. “For me, we had our chance, I tip my cap to that kid, he made a great pitch. There is no reason to argue. These are just kids, and they follow your lead. If they see me get all excited and crazy, they are going to think its OK. We just had to pick up our heads and come back and try to get them next inning.”
In the next inning, the Wolves again put the tying run on base. A run and slash, however, was popped up into a double play, and Antigues then struck out the final Wolves batter to earn the save.
“That’s a play we had been practicing all week, and we have been executing it in practice. It just didn’t happen today,” said Adames.
The win moves Belen one game closer to their goal of reaching states. Although Arevalo was again the story on the mound, he deferred credit to his teammates.
Belen’s defense was strong all day.
“I just throw strikes and let my defense make plays,” said Arevalo. “They are so good. They have picked me up all season, and they really are the reason that I am where I am. Without them, I’m just another ordinary pitcher.”
Foe TERRA, the loss marked the end of another successful season under Adames. The Wolves finished 15-9 in a year that also included their first trip to the GMAC tournament to end the regular season. For Adames and his four seniors, the loss was an emotional one.
“These guys, they’re my children,” said Adames. “They gave me everything they had all year. I’m going to miss the seniors. It hurts. We played a great game against a very good opponent, and we threw everything we had at them. We just came up one hit short today.”
Belen moves on to the district title game, where the Wolverines will await the winner of the Doral and Mater Academy game on Tuesday afternoon.
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