Marin Homers Powers Westminster Christian To Regional Title

Manny Marin hit two of Westminster Christian’s four home runs and drove in three to lead the Warriors to a 9-4 win over Calvary Christian in a regional finals game at home on Tuesday.

Marin belted a solo homer in the third inning and then clubbed a two-run roundtripper in the fifth inning. Westminster Christian (23-4), ranked #2 in Miami-Dade, scored in every inning but didn’t pull away until scoring five runs over the final two innings.

They scored single markers in each of the first four innings to take a 4-1 lead, but Calvary Christian (21-7), ranked #5 in Broward, made it a one-run game with two runs in the fifth.

“Great game from both sides, two great programs battling it out today for the right to go to state, really a great game to be a part of,” said Westminster Christian manager Emil Castellanos.

Eric Eikenberg and Talan Beckford also homered for Westminster. Beckford had two of the Warriors’ 10 hits and scored two runs. Brian Borges also had two hits for Westminster, while Ethan Puig (RBI), James Suarez (run), and Gabriel Mejia (RBI, run) added one each.

Lazaro Collera earned the win on the mound. The senior right-hander went 6.2 innings, striking out six while scattering five hits and walking five. Milan Porras came on to record the final out of the game.

“Lazaro Collera dominated on the mound today.” Castellanos said. “Special day for him to throw a game to take us to states.”

Cole Cleveland homered for Calvary Christian (21-7), ranked #5 in Broward, to tie the game, 1-1, in the top of the second inning. Carlos Lugo collected two of the Eagles’ five hits and drove in a run. Johnathan Gomez had the other RBI for Calvary Christian.

Braden Rosenthal and Thomas Baxter also had a hit each for the Eagles.

A state title in 4A this season will not be easy, as it projects out as one of the toughest state final fours in Fort Myers. In one semifinal, it will be a match up of the Warriors, ranked #2 in HSBN Miami’s Power Rankings, and HSBN Jacksonville’s #2 team, Trinity Christian.

In the other semifinal, the #2 team in HSBN’s Broward Power Rankings, North Broward Prep, will face HSBN’s #2 Southwest Florida team, Bishop Verot.

It will be the first time in history that four teams, all ranked #2 in their county HSBN rankings, will face off in the state semifinals.

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