Mater Academy Beats Belen Jesuit To Win 5A-16 Title

The lights were bright and the energy was unpalpable as the Mater Academy Lions (12-15) took on the Belen Jesuit Wolverines (16-8) in a back-and-forth battle that saw Mater Academy win their second district title in a row.

While the Lions were hosting the game, higher rank Belen was the home team for the match-up. On the bump for Belen was senior right-handed pitcher Andres Salvade, and for Mater was left-handed pitcher Magdiel Estevez. Salvade went three innings, giving up four runs, and only three hits, with one strikeout, and Estevez went 3.1 innings, striking out six and giving up only one earned run.

The game began with early action, as the Lions scored in the first inning. Salvade walked a pair, then a base hit by senior Lion Eduardo Morales loaded up the bases with two outs. In the following at-bat, freshman Yodelkis Quevedo hit a sacrifice fly ball to right field to score the game’s first run.

Salvade got through the rest of the inning and got through a scoreless second inning to hold the game to 1-0, but when the third came around, the Lions began to attack.

Patience paid off for the Lions, as they we’re able to draw two walks to begin the inning. A fly ball to the outfield led to the runner on second advancing to third. With one out and runners on first and third, Belen decided to try and go for the double play, so they intentionally walked the following batter to load the bases.

That’s when junior Erick Lopez clutched up and hit a blast to center field for a bases clearing double. Erick was crucial in the win the versus Belen, as he went 2-for-4 and led the game the entire game in RBI’s.

“I felt ready,” said Lopez about his huge at-bat. “I feel like in big moments, I’m clutch. I felt comfortable and so I just knew I was going to hit it.”

 

The score to that point was 4-0 in favor of the Lions. In the bottom half of the same inning, Belen was able to score one of their own as sophomore David Del Pino hit an RBI double that scored teammate Brandon DeGoti.

When the fourth inning came around, and that’s when Belen made their move. The Wolverines began to play small ball and force the Lions to make plays, as they began the inning with a walk and two bunts to load the bases quickly.

Lions pitch Magdiel Estevez was able to strike one out, however the next Belen hitter junior Gaby Gonzalez- Quevedo continued with the small ball strategy by attempting to bunt for the third time in the inning.

It was hit right back to the pitcher, however Estevez threw the ball away causing two to score, with a runner on third.

The Lions decided to go with a new arm, so they brought in sophomore right- handed reliver Kevin Roque to try and get them out of the jam. Senior Stefan Borrero then hit into a fielder’s choice ground ball that wound up scoring one, to bring the score even at four a piece.

Brandon DeGoti was due up to bat, and he executed the game plan well as he singled to right field to give his team the 5-4 lead. The ball game for the next couple of innings were taken over by both teams relief pitchers.

The Lions Kevin Roque was doing his best to keep Belen from scoring again, but so was Andres Hernandez for Belen, who came in for Saldave.  Hernandez pitched very well as he threw four innings, striking out six and only giving up two runs.

Belen manager Jesse Fernandez was incredibly pleased with Hernandez’ performance.

“I’ve never seen a kid have composure like that, at least in my 10 years of coaching.”

Things were tight and Belen was up one going to the final inning of the game. A quick two outs meant Belen was just one out away from the victory, however the phrase “give-up” didn’t seem to be one that popped into one on the Mater Academy team.

A big single by Yodelkis Quevedo, a walk, and then another base hit by Erick Lopez, loaded the bases. That’s when Lions freshman Bryan Fernandez put his team on his back and gave them the most important at bat of the night. Bryan hit a double to left field to bring in two runs, giving the Lions the 6-5 lead.

When asked about the feeling of being able to plate those runs, Bryan said,” It felt amazing to be honest. I’ve never been in a spot like this in high school baseball, it was a great feeling.”

The Lions were able to hold off the Wolverines, as Mater Academy put in closer Jonathan Leyva and he got the job done, throwing 15 pitches to get through the inning, and officially crown the Lions 5A District 16 Champions.

This was a special win for the Lions, as they recently suffered the loss of beloved assistant coach and family man Isaul Olivera. The Lions honored him this season by dawning the number six on their hats, which is the number he wore on his jersey.

Coincidentally, the Lions put up six runs to win the district championship. If you ask on of the Lions though, they wouldn’t say it was a coincidence, they’d say it was coach Olivera himself, and his spirit being with them there on the field and in the dugout. Lions manager Humberto Bencomo had this to say about coach Olivera and what the win meant.

“He is with us every day. This has been a tough year…he left us in January. We feel he is with us everywhere we go. I can hear him talk to me…he was more than a friend to me, as I’ve known him and his beautiful family for a long, long time.”

Coach Olivera actually had a huge part to play in convincing Bencomo to become the manager at Mater Academy. “I miss him so much. I love his family and will always be there for them.”

Belen was highly ranked coming into district play, so their season isn’t quite done yet. Manager Jesse Fernandez knows that with the loss, they may have loss their chance to host a regional game rather than play away, but he remains focused.

He was adamant about one thing when asked about the game and heading to regionals. He said “we’ll be back.”

Both teams will be heading for the regional playoffs.

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