Westminster Christian Clips Killian In Game Of The Week

Photo Gallery

Saturday night brought an incredibly exciting showdown between two of Miami-Dade’s top baseball program in Westminster Christian and Killian. The spotlight on the rare meeting of these two powerhouses was further enhanced with a big Game of the Week at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field on the University of Miami campus. In front of a huge crowd of baseball fans, the contest lived up to the billing with a thrilling 2-1 decision that went to the visiting Warriors.

Pitching set the tone on the night, as both clubs featured hurlers with great talent and intensity. Base runners were tough to come by, but both sides were equally successful in capitalizing on the few chances they got for themselves. The Warriors (5-0-1) struck for the deciding run in the top of the seventh, after Clinton Gulley drew a leadoff walk, stole second and then came home on an infield error.

“I think whenever you play a great program like Killian you know it is going to be a big showdown,” Warriors Manager Emil Castellanos said. “They run a great program, they are a solid club and we knew we were going to have to have some breaks our way and have some timely hitting. We got it, and the atmosphere was amazing.”

Across the field, Cougars Manager Angel Herrera admitted that even though he was not happy to end up on the losing side of things he was happy and privileged to be a part of it. Killian rest easy tonight despite being upset that they lost, because they lost to a tremendous baseball program.

“It was a fun night, it really was,” Herrera said. “We were able to play in a great environment and play against a tremendous baseball program. Emil Castellanos and the Westminster Christian baseball team is a tremendous team, and from here on out I become a fan of theirs in their pursuit of a state championship. It was a test of two quality teams in a great environment, and a celebration of Miami-Dade County baseball. I think we did that today.”

Killian (3-2) went with the approach of using “Johnny Whole Staff” going into the game, but they also felt very confident with everybody they threw into the game. Senior right-hander Frank Follaco got the start and took the Cougars into the fifth inning, before giving way to left-hander Ryan Granda after Gulley started off the fifth by lining a double into the left field corner. Granda was able to avoid any damage by striking out the side in his only inning of action, before turning things over to Keith Stevens.

Follaco surrendered one earned run on two hits and a walk, while striking out five. Stevens tossed the final two innings, taking the tough loss while allowing one unearned run on two walks and a hit batter. The right-hander picked up three strikeouts.

For Westminster Christian, left-hander Ryan Terry got the starting nod. The fiery southpaw nearly went the distance, and his performance on the mound seemed to keep his teammates inspired throughout. Terry was a ten-game winner last season to emerge as the team’s ace, and on the big stage Saturday he reminded everyone just why he earned such things.

“Ryan Terry is a bulldog for us and he goes after hitters,” Castellanos said. “He’s a tough guy to beat on the mound and you have to give credit that he pitched a great game. This early in the season we really don’t like guys going that long, but it is tough to pull a guy off the mound when he looks that well and his pitch count is down.”

Terry was effective at pounding the strike zone against a tough Cougars lineup. He found the zone on 53 of his 84 pitches, recording five strikeouts while allowing three hits and a pair of walks. Displaying fire and emotion at times, Terry was a big presence on the hill.

“It was an honor, and seeing all those people here was fun,” Terry said. “But at the end you are just playing a game and you have to do what you have to do. I knew they were good and I get pumped up for big games. I really wanted this one and I kind of made it obvious at times. At the end we came out on top.”

With the game scoreless to start the fourth, Westminster third baseman Julian Infante needed just one swing to put his club out in front. The talented slugger jumped on a 1-2 offering and clubbed it high and deep over the left field fence for a solo home run and a 1-0 advantage.

“It’s a great feeling, of course, but it is a team win,” said Infante. “That was early in the game and it pumped us up a little bit, but the momentum shifted back to them. Again, it was a team win and that defense and pitching won the game. This is the biggest team win of my career here, for sure.”

Killian answered back in the bottom of the fifth to even the score. Sophomore Eddy Arteaga drilled a lead-off double to the right field fence, and advanced to third base following a sacrifice bunt from Sebastian Gonzalez. Gonzalez reached base on an error on the play, putting runners on the corners. During the next at bat the Cougars were able to execute a double-steal to perfection to bring Arteaga across the plate after Gonzalez induced a throw to second base.

Down to their final swings, Arteaga nearly evened things up for the Cougars again in the seventh on a deep shot that nearly left the yard before being caught at the right field warning track. Pinch-hitter Alejandro Mosquera followed that with a walk that kept Killian’s hopes alive, while also prompting Westminster Christian to pull Terry and go to the bullpen for right-handed closer Jagr Enriquez. Enriquez induced an infield groundout to close things out and preserve the victory.

Although Terry admitted that he begged to stay in the game to the finish, he never doubted for a second that Enriquez would finish the job.

“That’s my dog, and Jagr is a great pitcher,” Terry said. “I knew he would get the win for us. I had no doubts when he was going in.”

With so much of the season still ahead, both sides relished the chance to face such a monumental challenge so early in. As both programs have legitimate aspirations at a run for a state title this season, both Managers know the experiences on Saturday will only help them down the road when things get tighter.

“You want to play the best so that in the end you are ready for the best,” said Castellanos. “The ultimate goal is to win your last high school game. That’s why we are playing the best teams around, so we can have a legitimate shot to be a champion again.”

As the season unfolds Herrera is always thinking ahead about baseball in April, and what it takes to get the team ready for the brand of baseball that comes in the playoffs. The Cougars are chasing their fourth straight district title in one of the toughest 8A districts in the entire state, and every lesson along the way helps them better prepare for it. While the Killian players think that where they are at in February is where they will be in April, Herrera knows it is completely different, and that games like this are what help teams evolve along the way.

“It helps us tremendously, because it gives us teaching points,” Herrera said. “It gives me a lot of opportunity to teach them things in the name of getting them ready for April. Tonight was a great night in the name of that. We didn’t win and I am not happy, but I can take solace in that.”

Regardless of the outcome, both clubs served notice to the rest of Miami-Dade County that they are forces to be reckoned with. It was a beautiful night for baseball, and a game that offered all the excitement a baseball fan could ask for. It was the closest it could get to a playoff environment in February, and both teams proved just how tough they can be once the real playoffs roll around in a few months.

Leave a comment using your facebook account!