Southwest Wins Epic HSBN March Madness Finale

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The reason teams sign up to play in the HSBN March Madness Shootout each year is for the hope of playing in games like the one played Tuesday night between Miami Christian and Southwest.

The two teams, who both entered the championship game o the tournament undefeated in pool play, put on an epic performance for the crowd in attendance.

It was a back-and-forth affair that went into the eighth inning, before the Eagles Alejandro Porta delivered a walk-off single, to give Southwest a thrilling 10-9 win, and the Spring Break title.

“That was just a great baseball game,” said Southwest Manager Mandy Pelaez. “They (Miami Christian) are a very good team, and they fought back all night, as we did. Both teams showed a lot of resilience, and we were able to get the big hit at the end.”

Southwest, in what has become a trend in this tourney, put up our runs in the second inning, to take a 4-0 lead. The Eagles had done the same the previous night against Killian.

As with the game the night before, Southwest was unable to hold the lead. The Victors scored three in the top of the fourth, to cut the lead to 4-3.

The Eagles responded with three of their own in their half of the fourth, regaining a comfortable lead at 7-3.

The Victors, however, would quickly respond. In the fifth, they put up another three runs to make it a one-run game, and when Allen Nunez connected on a two-run home run in the sixth, Miami Christian had their first lead of the night, at 8-7.

“We battled all night, and had a couple big home runs that brought us back in the game,” said Victors Manager Chris Cuadra. “The game just kept swinging back and forth all night. Neither team wanted to lose. That is what makes games like this special.”

Facing a deficit for the first time all night, the Eagles responded in their half of the sixth. Dylan Duarte had an RBI double to tie the game, followed by a Max Rico RBI single to give Southwest the lead.

That lead would again be short-lived, as Luis Mijares sent the Victors crowd into a frenzy in the top of the seventh, with a solo blast to tie the game at nine.

After Southwest failed to score in the bottom of the seventh, and Miami Christian did the same in the top of the eighth, the stage was set for one final emotional twist.

Rico led off the Southwest ninth with a walk. Anthony Reyes then singled. Brandon Piedra then executed a perfect sacrifice bunt, putting runners on second and third with one out. That set up Alejandro Porta’s dramatic walk-off single to clinch the title for the Eagles.

“We have finished runner-up a few times in this tournament,” said Pelaez, “So it was nice to finally come out on top in one of them. One of our goals each year is to win our Spring Break tournament, so we were able to accomplish one of those goals tonight.”

The Eagles improved to 10-6 on the season, and they now will rest, and prepare for the final two weeks of the regular season, starting Monday.

“We still have a lot to clean up before playoff time,” said Pelaez, “But we are starting to find ways to win. And one thing this team has, that you can’t teach, is chemistry. They all pull for each other, and it is always special when you get to coach one of those-type teams.”

As or Miami Christian, they will take an alternate approach to the end of the season.

“We have been playing better of late,” said Cuadra. “We are heading out to Las Vegas next week to ace some top competition that will challenge us. Then, we are taking the last week off, to practice, and clean up some o the mistakes we have made, to prepare for the district playoffs.”

Miami Christian is 11-8 on the year.

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