South Dade Advances To 8A Final With 1-0 Victory

State Semifinal Photo Gallery

Faith is the most powerful force in the world.

Through a bumpy and challenging baseball season, the South Dade baseball team has never wavered in its faith. The Bucs handled their share of adversity this season, and through every obstacle the club only grew stronger and more unified in their faith that they would get where they sought to go.

Friday morning that faith was rewarded with the team’s first-ever berth in the state championship, after the Bucs edged DeLand 1-0 in a Class 8A state semifinal played at jetBlue Park in Fort Myers. South Dade (22-6) will face Bloomingdale in the state final Saturday afternoon, looking to earn its first state title in school history.

Erik Manoah capped his incredible season on the mound by tossing a complete-game shutout to earn the victory. The right-hander was impressive beyond comprehension, allowing just three hits and a walk while striking out 12 batters on 116 total pitches. The senior has been the heart and soul of this ball club, but through it all he has never forgotten what drives his spirit to always believe.

“I pray to God every night and I owe God every time I go out there on that mound,” Erik said. “I love the respect and He blesses me every day for giving me another day to live on this earth, and another day to go out there and do what I love. So God is a big part of me and my life and my family. I also want to give a shout out to my father, and I love my father and I hope God blesses him. And to my mom as well; you know she has supported me ever since I started playing the game and she just is the best mom I could ever ask for.”

Gabe Cruz delivered the biggest hit of the day to drive in Artie Paula for the lone score of the contest in the top of the sixth. Paula led off the inning with a single to right field, and Erik dropped down a great sacrifice bunt to move him to second base. Cruz then connected on a 1-2 pitch and lined it for the RBI single that proved to be all the difference.

Bucs Manager Fred Burnside joked afterwards that he was glad Cruz didn’t follow the signs, as Paula had broke for third base on the hit and Cruz was supposed to take the pitch and ensure the ball would not be fouled off and thus negate the steal. But instead Cruz saw the ball coming in well and he knew he could do what he wanted with it.

“I was really looking away, but he left a changeup in,” Cruz said. “My first two at-bats weren’t the greatest, and after every out I thought to myself ‘you know what, there’s going to be a bigger at-bat during the game’ and I got the chance to produce for my team and give us a chance. I just did it for the team.”

Paula has been a big piece of the offensive puzzle all season long. After coming up with a huge home run to help lift South Dade past Flanagan in the regional championship, he again came up big to give his squad the spark it needed. Once Paula reached base in the sixth, his entire dugout brimmed with excitement at the confidence they felt that Paula would cross the plate on his way back to them

“It felt great to touch home. We needed that run,” Paula said. “We had our best pitcher on the mound and he needed some support. I was going to go out there and support him; I’m always going to support him as I have all season. So has this team, the fan’s support him, and just getting that one run could have meant the game. It did actually. So I needed to do it. They are the best teammates I could ask for. I love my team and I wouldn’t want to play for anybody else but them.”

The Bulldogs (20-11) threatened a few times during the day, but each time Erik and his Buc brothers were able to make the plays they needed to keep DeLand off the scoreboard. Bulldogs shortstop Garrett Hall led off the bottom of the second with a double, only to be stranded as Erik struck out the side to quell that threat. Two innings later Cory Crow singled with one out, only to be erased in a 4-6-3, inning-ending double play. Shelton Schimming singled and stole second in the fifth, and this time Sergio Lopez tracked down a fly ball to right field to end the frame.

Cruz delivered the final big defensive play to put some icing on his big day. Crow singled to lead off the bottom of the seventh, but was gunned down by Cruz trying to steal second base. Erik recorded his final punch out to the next batter, and Paula reeled in a line drive for the final out that ended the contest and brought the many Bucs fans in attendance roaring to their feet in celebration.

Burnside has taken his team to the top of the mountain in his sixth year as South Dade’s Manager. The love between the coaches and players is evidenced in many ways. But what they all share is the love for their fans and the community back in Homestead that supports their program. The team left for the state Final Four from an epic send off, and it is hoping to relay that love by bringing the state championship trophy back with them.

“You should have seen the sendoff the school gave us Thursday morning,” Burnside said. “If there were any thieves in Homestead they should have been reeling them in, because I think every police car there escorted us out. They had a huge sendoff with the student body, and the community was lining the streets. I think even an elementary school let the kids out so they could line on the street to watch us go by. As a team we felt like we have to do it for our community. They have been behind us all the way, and that transfers to the field. What they do for us, their energy; that transfers to the field.”

The South Dade faithful have been unwavering in their support of the Bucs. This dynamic perfectly mirrors the support that each member of the club exhibits for their teammates. The road to this historic moment has not been without its fair share of trials, yet through it all the team has only grown stronger and more unified.

“The chemistry is immense,” said Cruz. “In the beginning it was great; we had that eleven-game winning streak. We had our little ups and downs and the chemistry kind of lapsed, but when it was the thought that this might be our last game together everybody just grabbed on together to the rope and nobody could separate us. We’re brothers out there.”

At the center of that rope has been Erik Manoah, an incredible leader who has been the rock of his squad both in action and in words. In his last high school start of his stellar career, the senior gave his team one final performance that illustrated all the heart and grit that resides within him.

“When we came down here on the road we didn’t know anything about this school,” Erik said. “We gathered up charts and my coaches tried to show me what each hitter likes to do. But I didn’t have to worry about any of the charts or anything. I went out there and did what I do best, and if they are going to beat me they are going to beat me doing my best. I gave it my best and we came out on top.”

Saturday will bring the biggest game in South Dade history. It is a chance for the players to reward their community, and also reward themselves for all the hard work they have put in to get to this point. It is all they could ever ask for.

“After all the practices right after school until late at night and all the hard work on the weekends, this is all great, but if we don’t go out and finish it tomorrow this all has less meaning,” said Erik, who joked that technically he can still pitch three innings if his team will let him. “Tomorrow is my turn to contribute with the bat and that is what I will focus on. We’ve got a great number two that has been doing it all year for us, and we have a great pitching staff, so there are no worries there. We should be fine. So we are going to go out there tomorrow and we’re going to compete and play South Dade baseball.”

Jose Gorordo will get the ball in the championship game. The right-hander has been equally impressive on the season, going undefeated this year. Should that trend continue the Bucs will be state champions, and this magical season will have a fitting conclusion.

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