Mater Academy Stuns Belen For 6A-16 Title

Photo Gallery

The Mater Academy Lions have been through a lot over the past couple of years. Despite having changed coaches three times in that span, the players have done one thing consistently no matter who was at the helm, win.

On Thursday afternoon, the Lions avenged two regular season losses to Belen Jesuit, and captured the 6A-15 title in the process behind a two-hit shutout from Kevin Fuentes. The 1-0 win was possible thanks to the moundwork of Mater’s junior pitcher.

“Kevin stepped up huge for us,” said Lions Manager Mike DiRosa. “That’s the best he’s pitched all year. He stayed in the zone all game. he was focused, every pitch, every inning. He was the MVP of this game for us.”

For most of the game, Fuentes was locked in a pitcher’s duel with Belen starter Eric Antigues, who matched Fuentes pitch for pitch. As was the case in the first two meetings of these evenly-matched teams, it was clutch execution and a defensive mishap that led to the victories.

With the game scoreless in the top of the fourth, Lions shortstop Deyvid Silva led off the inning with a double down the left-field line. When the throw to second got away, Silva scampered to third, where he was with nobody out.

Alex Rodriguez wasted no time bringing in the only run of the game with a sacrifice fly to left. Little did they know at the time it would be the only run Fuentes needed on this day.

“My approach going into that at-bat was I knew our pitcher was throwing his heart out out there,’ said Silva. “My job in that situation was to get on base, and do what I could to support Kevin. I was able to get a pitch I could handle, and hit it down the line. Then Alex did a great job of bringing me home.”

At that point, Fuentes had yet to allow a hit. Belen’s first hit came in their half of the fifth, a single off the bat of Michael Gomez. Alex Cabrera was able to work a one-out walk, but Fuentes escaped the jame by getting an opo-out to catcher Joey Jimenez, and a strikeout.

“I knew around the third inning that I had pretty good stuff today,” said Fuentes. “I felt good out there, and pitching in a one-run game definitely helps you keep your focus on each pitch. We lost to these guys twice this year, so it was great that we were able to get that one run and win the district championship.”

Belen never had a runner reach base, and only had two runners on in two innings, the second and the fifth.

“We’ve had three very good games with them this year,” said DiRosa. “Every game was well played, and tight all the way through. In the first two games, they executed a little better than us, and they beat us. Today, we were able to execute a little better, and that helped us get the win.”

For Mater, winning district titles over Belen is nothing new. This is the second straight season the Lions have defeated the Wolverines by one run in the district championship game.

“When we get together it is always going to be a good game,” said Belen Manager Jerry Albert. “I can’t get too down on my guys after this one, because they have been coming through all season in situations like this. Today, it just didn’t happen, but this one game does not change the way I feel about these guys or the season we had. We just need to go back to practice and get ready for next week.”

The Wolverines will be traveling to face 6A-15 champion Miami Springs on Thursday, while Mater will play host to Goleman.

“This gives us some good momentum going into the regionals,” said DiRosa. “Plus, we get to play at home, which it’s always good when you are playing on your home field in front of your home crowd.”

Belen, meanwhile, has no problem going on the road next week.

“We have been a pretty good road team all season,” said Albert. “Some of our biggest wins of the season have been on the road, so that shouldn’t be too much of a factor next week.”

Leave a comment using your facebook account!