Mater Academy Rallies To Reach 5A State Final

2025 State Semifinal Photo Gallery: Mater Academy

For the first three innings of Thursday’s 5A state semifinal game between Fort Myers and Mater Academy, the Lions had their worst nightmares playing out in front of their eyes.

The Lions gave up three runs un the first, and then single runs in the second and third innings, falling behind to the Green Wave 5-0.

To compound the issues for Mater, Fort Myers had chased the Lions starting pitcher, Mater had one of their best hitters thrown out of the game arguing a third strike call, and all the momentum was with the Green Wave.

For anyone that has followed this year’s Lions team journey, that just meant Mater had Fort Myers exactly where they wanted them.

As has happened all year long, the Lions rallied around their struggles, rebounded, and exploded for three runs in the fourth, four more in the fifth, and one in the sixth, to shock the Green Wave, and advance to the state title game with an 8-5 win.

“This is what we have done all year long,” said Mater Manager Humberto Bencomo. “I think the past few weeks we have had four or five games where we won a game in our last at-bat. These are the type games we have been in all year.”

Even with the Lions down 5-0, the feel in the dugout was one of confidence, like they knew they were the better team, but needed just one run to get the momentum turned, and Bencomo agreed when asked about that after the game.

“That was 100% what we were feeling in the dugout. We obviously expected a battle from Fort Myers, they aren’t here at states for no reason. Once you get to this point, you have to be a pretty good team, and they were. But we also knew what kind of team we had.”

The fourth inning is where the Lions began their move. After a strikeout, Alfrin Rosario walked, and Dylan Fernandez doubled. A groundout then brought in the Lions first run. They would score two more in the inning to cut the lead to 5-3.

In the fifth, a one-out double by Bryan Arrieta, and a single off the bat of Brandon Lorenzo, made it a 5-4 game. A balk then tied the game at five, and Bryan Fernandez gave the Lions their first lead of the game with a sacrifice fly.

A Jacob Amador RBI single finished the scoring for the inning in which the Lions turned a 5-3 deficit into a 7-5 lead.

After tacking on a run in the sixth on a Yodelkis Quevedo sacrifice fly, all that was left between the Lions and the state title game was three outs.

That did not come easy, as the Green Wave put the first two batters on base in the seventh. Rosario then was summoned to the mound.

It was then that the Lions showed the third phase of their game, their defense. A ground ball deep in the hole between shortstop and third turned into a fielder’s choice.

Shortstop Lorenzo then snagged a short hop line drive, turning it into out number two. Third baseman Quevedo proceeded to snag a hard hit ground ball, and when he fired it across the diamond to first, the Lions were off to the state championship game.

The defense, like the comeback, was nothing new for Bencomo.

“There is a reason those two guys are going to Florida and Florida State. The defense has been incredible across our entire infield.”

With the win, Mater now looks for their first state title in 11 years, when they face Wesley Chapel at 11AM Saturday morning.

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