First Inning Explosion Carries Belen To 4A-16 Title

Coming into their district championship game Thursday night, Belen Jesuit knew that they had their hands full with opponent Key West. The Conchs have been one of the best teams in Miami for the entire season, and they had their ace, one of the top pitchers in the country, Donovan Thiery, on the mound.

Most were expecting a pitchers duel, as Belen also had their ace, Victor Escobar, on the hill.

What happened once the game started, is one of the reasons high school baseball is so unpredictable.

The Wolverines blasted two first inning home runs off the bats of Hayden Pelegrin and Alejandro Cordero, then received a an RBI double from Peter Lopez, to take a 4-0 lead.

The game was a back and forth affair from there, with Belen holding on and winning the 4A-16 title, 9-4.

“We have played so many close games, one run games, where the breaks didn’t go our way,” said Belen Manager Jesse Fernandez. “Today, some of those breaks went our way. When you are facing one of the top pitchers in the nation, you expect a low scoring game. For Hayden to hit a two-run home run, and then Alejandro to follow that with a back-to-back, is just a testament to how hard these guys have worked every day.”

Even with the our run lead, Key West fought back. They scored one run in the second, and then cut the lead to 4-3, with two runs in the third.

Miguel Garrido then answered the comeback, by launching a solo shot of his own, upping the lead to 5-3.

To Thiery’s credit, he settled down and showed why he is one of the best pitchers in Miami. He allowed only one run after the four run first.

Key West did close the gap to 5-4 with a run in the fifth.

The Wolverines, however, would not be denied on this night, adding a run in the sixth, and three more in the seventh to secure the district title.

“We have been building this since we got here four years ago,” said Fernandez. “And it was exciting to finally break through and get that district title. We had been close a couple years, but doing it tonight, with the way the kids responded to the moment, was special.”

Belen and Key West will now both move on to regional play, where there is a chance they will see each other again. The Conchs will still be considered one of the favorites in a loaded region.

In addition to Key West and Belen, the region has defending 4A state champion American Heritage, Somerset Academy, and further north, perennial power Merritt Island.

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