5-Run 6th Sends Westminster Christian To 3A Title Game

Westminster Christian Postgame Press Conference

For five innings on Tuesday afternoon, Westminster Christian had a hard time getting their offense going. They fell behind 2-1, and when Trinity Christian scored two runs in the top of the sixth, the prospects of the Warriors advancing to the 3A state final looked bleak.

Then the bottom of the sixth happened. The Warriors scored five times in the inning, and then held on in the top of the seventh, to defeat Trinity 6-4, and advance to the state title game.

“I just kept telling the guys, keep playing, keep doing what you are doing,” said Westminster Manager Emil Castellanos. “I thought we were hitting some balls hard all day that weren’t hits, and in that sixth innings, the hits finally started to drop.”

The Warriors have been in tight games all season long, as Castellanos and his coaching staff traditionally put together one of the toughest schedules in the state.

Even with that tough schedule, Westminster faced perhaps their toughest opponent in Trinity. The Conquerors have one of the most talented rosters in the country, and many of them are sophomores or juniors.

Case in point was their starting pitcher, Ethan Wheeler. The sophomore gave the Warriors everything they could handle, allowing only one run, but he was pulled in the fifth inning after throwing 79 pitches.

“With the heat out there today, and the adrenaline going, it was just time for us to get him out of there,” said Trinity Manager Jonathan Murphy.

With Wheeler out of the game, the Warriors offense went right to work. James Suarez led off the sixth with a base hit, and was followed up with a Gabriel Mejia walk. After a balk and a walk to Eric Eichenberg, one of the most bizarre plays in state final four history occurred.

Wille Alvarez singled to left field, driving in two runs. The throw from Wheeler, who had moved to left field after pitching, hit shortstop Jordan Martinez in the elbow. Martinez was not expecting the throw. The ball shot off to the third base outfield fence, and Eikenberg came all the way around from first on the play to tie the score.

“I’ve never seen that play before,” said Castellanos.

With the score tied, Manny Marin did what he has done his entire career for the Warriors, come up big.

Marin hit a double to left field, giving the Warriors a 5-4 lead. Westminster would add on one more run in the inning.

From there, the Warriors used a game-ending double play to close out the state semifinal win.

“Manny has been the guy all season long, and coming up clutch at the plate, and playing great defense, that is just what he does,” said Castellanos.

As for Marin, that sixth inning was all about perseverance.

“We just wanted to keep putting pressure on them,” said Marin. “We knew we had a team that could score, we just had to string some hits together. We are a team, doesn’t matter if its me, who leads off, the nine-hitter, or the bullpen catcher. We all have a job to do, and we are a family,” said Marin.

With the win, the Warriors will now face a familiar foe in perennial power North Broward Prep.

“We know them well, and they know us well,” said Castellanos. “Both teams are up here to win a state title. They knocked us out a couple years ago in the regional final, so we know what they are capable of. We have confidence in who we are as well, so it should be a great game.”

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