Coral Gables Gains Another District Win With Shutout

Carson Willis and Ernest Denis combined on a shutout, and Coral Gables scored five runs late in the game to secure a 7-0 win over South Miami in a 9A-14 game Tuesday.

The Cavaliers, who responded well to a challenge from Manager Phillip Wisser, took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second as Kris Soto led off with a single, stole second and third and then scored on an error. Gables added to the lead in the fourth as Elijah Eusebio scored on an error.

But the Cavs weren’t going to rest on the laurels of a 2-0 lead. With two outs and the bases loaded, Soto drove in David Webel to make it 3-0, and Jordan Morina, who walked, scored on an error. Gables padded its lead with three runs in the top of the seventh. Soto drove in Brian Garcia with a single, Morina came in on David Atkins’ sacrifice, and Gerardo Rodriguez singled in Eusebio for the final runs.

“It was definitely a nice win after giving up a lot of runs lately,” Wisser said. “We have just not seemed to click yet and still have a lot of work to do. We’ve seemed to have one bad inning in these big losses due to errors or walks.”

Wisser said his pitchers did a good job throwing strikes Tuesday, a difference from his team not being able to make the big plays to get out of jams. Such was the case in third inning when South Miami had the bases loaded with one out.

“We got a ground ball to third to get the runner at home,” Wisser said. “Then a line drive in the left field gap and outfielder Brian Garcia made a great play to get us out of it. That’s the play we haven’t been able to make lately.”

After graduating 14 seniors, the Cavaliers (4-7) find themselves inexperienced, but in an effort to get the team to get more wins, Wisser said he challenged it to not strike out more than five times as it has been working to not give up with two strikes. Gables had just three strikeouts Tuesday.

“We just continue to work,” Wisser said. “We understand it is a long season and no matter how we are playing it is the end that matters. As long as we can make the playoffs, we know we can compete. We just want the kids to stay positive and realize it is the end result that matters.”

Although a 4-7 overall record isn’t that stellar, the Cavaliers are winning the most important games, their district games. They’re 3-1 in 9A-14. Wisser said the lumps now will be worth it later in the season.

“I have never made a soft schedule and know playing a tough schedule will prepare us for the playoffs,” Wisser said. I’ve stressed the importance of the district games. I told them I didn’t care if we only won eight games as long as they were the eight district games. We lost one, so we are focused on getting better every day and putting ourselves in a position to be in the playoffs at the end of the year.”

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