Archbishop McCarthy survives scare from Mater Academy, 1-0

Connor McShane fans 10 and McCarthy advances in Class 5A

SOUTHWEST RANCHES, FLORIDA – Pitching, defense and timely hitting are typically keys to winning baseball playoff games.

Sometimes, you can toss in catching a few breaks.

Archbishop McCarthy on Tuesday night received stellar pitching from Connor McShane. The Mavericks manufactured a first-inning run on Antonio Jimenez’s sacrifice fly. Defensively, center fielder Andrew Ildefonso saved a run with a diving catch.

Still, the Mavericks needed some good fortune in the seventh inning to edge Mater Academy Charter, 1-0, at home in the Class 5A quarterfinals.

One of the favorites to win the Class 5A state championship, McCarthy (23-5) will next play Suncoast (Riviera Beach) on Friday.

Connor McShane strikes out 10 in six innings and Archbishop McCarthy edgesMater Academy Charter / Photo by Joe Frisaro

“There’s magic here,” McCarthy coach Aaron Vorachek said. “When we play here, there’s magic. I can’t tell you how many times things have gone our way here. Not every time. But things have gone our way more often than not.”

The play of the game came in the seventh inning. With one out and the tying run at second base, Magdiel Estevez lined the ball off the wall in right field off reliever Nico Gutierrez-Villa. But on the play, the runner slipped rounding third, and Estevez was thrown out trying to stretch the hit to a double.

Instead of the score being tied at one, Mater Academy had a runner on third with two outs. Gutierrez-Villa ended it with a strikeout, and the Mavericks are advancing.

“Pitching and defense,” Vorachek said. “We preach the little things. You know, every pitch, every play is what we talk about.”

The lone run came in the first inning. Justin Lebron singled, and he scored on Jimenez’s sacrifice fly to left.

“I tip my cap to Mater,” Vorachek said. “They gave us everything we could handle today. I told my boys coming in, do not overlook these guys.”

Mater Academy finished 12-16, which is not indicative of how talented coach Humberto Bencomo’s young roster is.

“Definitely not a [12-16] club,” Vorachek said. “They were every bit of what a playoff team should be. You could see that in the state championship game. They pitched well. They defended well. Swung the bats well.”

Mater Academy was limited to just three hits. Eiker Neguera and Leandro Hernandez each had singles. But they also had four walks, and two hit batters, giving them chances. But the Lions were unable to come up with big hits. And when they finally got it from Estevez in the seventh inning, they had the misfortune of the runner slipping.

They also had a runner picked off second base while attempting a bunt in the second inning.

“All I wanted from them was to come out and give 100 percent,” Bencomo said. “I think I got that. They did come out and play hard. We’re a young ball club, but that’s not an excuse. We did come out and play hard. Now, we didn’t help ourselves. It’s just disappointing. We had a chance to tie the game in various innings, and we had the chance to even win the game.

“Two or three times we failed to do what we usually do, and what we’d been doing all year, perfectly fine, with no problems.”

McCarthy, while a state power, also has endured plenty of nail-biter games.

“We’re used to it by now,” McShane said.

McShane’s pitching also is a big reason the Lions were unable to score. The right-hander struck out 10, and he allowed just two hits.

“I can’t tell you how proud I am of him,” Vorachek said of his starter. “I mean, wow. He was our horse today. Outstanding. Pitched out off some big-time jams. Outstanding.”

In the fourth inning, Ildefonso’s diving catch in center robbed Yodelkis Quevedo of a hit that would have tied the game.

McShane was able to do the rest before he was lifted after giving up a leadoff walk in the seventh.

“In the I try to put my best before every game,” McShane said. “I don’t think I tried to play this any different than I did another other game this season. This is how I try to pitch every time I come out and take the mound. Like it’s the last game I’m ever going to play.”

In other action:

Class 5A: American Heritage Plantation 8, Rockledge 0

Talan Holiday struck out 10 and threw a complete game for the Patriots. Jordan Rich had three hits and scored twice, and Zack Wilson drove in two runs.

Class 5A: Pembroke Pines Charter 4, Eau Gallie 0

Pines Charter went on the road and upset Eau Gallie. Paul Abolafia struck out nine and threw the shutout. Justin Probst had two hits and two RBIs.

Class 3A: Calvary Christian Academy 9, Pine Crest 2

Kingsley Guthrie hit a home run for the Eagles.

Class 3A: Gulliver Prep 4, NS University 3

Luca Tosca homered and drove in two runs for Gulliver Prep, and George Lombard had a hit and scored twice, and Jacob Lombard drove in a run. Griffin Pomper had two RBIs for University School.

Class 3A: North Broward Prep 5, Cocoa Beach 0

Jensen Seculer threw a one-hitter, striking out 10. Mauricio Bejarano had three hits and an RBI.

Class 2A: Miami Christian 3, Brito 1

Jeter Polledo and Jendy Gonzalez each homered and Matthew Someillan struck out seven in five innings for Christian.

Class 2A: Westminster Academy 6, Sagemont 4

Jesus Garcia drove in three runs for Westminster. Austin Bertsch of Sagemont homered.

Class 2A: True North Classical Academy 5, Trinity Christian Academy 2