Mater Academy Wins Thriller Over Columbus

The first HSBN Miami Power Rankings of the season come out on Monday, and Thursday fans received a treat of a game between the two teams likely vying for the top spot in those rankings.

Mater Academy is coming off a season where they won their first state title since 2014, while Columbus, a traditional Miami powerhouse, started the season 6-0, and looked the part of the best team in the county.

Something had to give.

Both teams showed at various times during the game why they are the top team in the county, and in the end, Mater Academy came away with a thrilling, walk-off, 5-4 win in front of their home crowd.

“This was a very hard-fought game, between two very good teams,” said Lions Manager Humberto Bencomo. “Pitching was good, there were some big hits from both sides. It was the type game you would expect, and it lived up to the hype.”

Early on, Mater starter Steven Gonzalez and Columbus’ Ricky Hernandez went head to head, with each giving up a run in the first three innings.

In the second, Hernandez helped his own cause by starting the scoring with a home run to left-field.

The Lions answered in the third when Bryan Mesa singled in Andre Suarez.

In the top of the fifth, the Explorers took the lead when Dayan Viciedo scored on a passed ball.

Jonathan Esponda tied the game in the sixth when he scored on an infield error.

That is when the fireworks began. After two quick outs in the seventh, Alex Cruz singled, and Juan Jacome walked. The pair then executed a double steal, followed by a Matthew Fernandez two-RBI single, giving the Explorers a 4-2 lead.

In their half of the seventh, and facing their last three outs, Yodelkis Quevedo led off with a walk. After a pop out, Esponda singled. Dylan Fernandez then doubled, tying the game at four.

After an intentional walk, Matthew Fernandez delivered the game-winning walk-off single, sending the Lions to their sixth straight win, and handing Columbus their first loss of the season.

“Our guys really battled tonight,” said Bencomo. “We were facing one of the best teams in the county, and we consider ourselves one of those teams also. Both teams showed why tonight, and we were able to get a few big hits late and win the game.”

Mater Academy, riding the momentum of their state title last year, picked up their third one-run win in eight games. They will turn their attention to a week where they travel to Broward to face Archbishop McCarthy and Pembroke Pines Charter, before returning home next Friday to host Calvary Christian.

On the other side, despite experiencing their first loss of the season, Columbus continued their run of facing some of the top teams in South Florida. They have already defeated five-time state champion Douglas, and West Broward, one of the other top teams in Broward this year.

The schedule does not get easier for the Explorers moving forward, as they face off with Westminster Christian at the annual ‘Be The Light’ game at Mark Light Field in Coral Gables on Monday.

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