Doral’s Ludeiro’s Walks It Off To Send Doral To States

Home runs were coming from everywhere in this regional final match-up, as the Doral Firebirds (24-6) defeated the Dwyer Panthers (18-8-2) by a score of 8-7.

The bats were hot, and it seemed like every one’s game plan was to hit the ball over the fence. Seven homeruns were hit

between the two squads, and a total of 21 hits were produced.

The Firebirds started the game a bit rocky, as Dwyer was able to score quickly. In the top of the first, junior lead-off hitter and University of South Florida commit, Bryce Jackson began the first with a single. After that, it was bombs away for Dwyer, as the next hitter Matt Davis, a Florida State University commit, hit a two-run homerun to make it a 2-0 ballgame. Then, without getting to finish celebrating the homerun that was just hit, senior Corey Goldstick, an Emory College commit, hit a homerun to go back-to-back with Davis, making it a 3-0 ball game.

In the following inning, Bryce Jackson joined his teammates with a two-run shot of his own to make it a 5-0 game. The bottom of the second is when Doral began their attack. Gabriel Milano, a University of Miami commit, hit a solo homerun, to put a run on the board for the Firebirds. Then in the bottom of the third, sophomore Rene Rodriguez hit a one run homerun, making it a 5-2 game.

It was the fourth inning when the game got very interesting.

The Firebirds managed to lead off the inning with a walk and two singles to load the bases, which brought hero of the day, Alejandro Ludeiro to the plate. With two strikes on him, Ludeiro clutched up and hit a grand slam over the left field fence to blow the game wide open and put the Firebird up for the first time in the contest as the score was brought to 6-5.

The Panthers had no quit in them however, as in the top of the fifth, Dwyer was able to strike back and score two runs, giving them the lead heading into the final stretch of the game. Lots of teams lose faith or maybe the spirit to continue going when they’re losing late in the game, but the Firebirds were relentless in their pursuit of a win.

Going into the last inning, Wilfred Gonzalez, a Seminole State College commit, had on of the most crucial at bats in the game, as he hit a homerun over the left field wall to tie the game at seven a piece. Senior and Middle Georgia State commit Daniel Restrepo was a huge at-bat in the Firebirds previous game, so all eyes were on him to see if he could get the job done for Doral. He didn’t get the homerun, but he did something just as important, he got on base by hitting a single into the outfield. The batter after Restrepo was hit by a pitch, which advanced Restrepo and put him in scoring position with Alejandro Ludeiro at the plate again.

Just like his last at-bat, as if he never had a shred of nerves, Ludeiro clutches up and hits a base hit into right field, which was just enough to get Restrepo to score from second and win the ball game.

“I feel great! It’s about time! I was struggling to make adjustments throughout the season, so thank God I was able to make them today,” said Ludeiro. “It felt like last year, I was feeling comfortable, this was me last year, I hit three walk-offs last year, and so I just felt like me.”

 

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