Ravens battle for late lead and win at Plant

Alonso senior pitcher B.J. Rivera (second from left) celebrates a Class 7A-7 district title with his teammates.

By Chuck Frye, Staff Writer

TAMPA — By all rights, Alonso shouldn’t have even been close.

In a Thursday rematch of last year’s Class 7A-7 championship game, the visiting Ravens appeared to have left its standout defense on the bus. Four errors allowed top-seed Plant to score five runs – all with two outs and all unearned – and swing a back-and-forth battle its way after five innings.

Click here for a few more photos from this game.

But the faulty play didn’t break Alonso’s resolve. With memories of their 2022 season-ending setback to the Panthers still in the front of their minds, the Ravens set out to atone for their errors. A ferocious final-inning comeback fueled by Ben Drumheller and Samuel Fernandez created the game’s fifth lead change, turned goats into potential heroes, and put Alonso back in front. From there, starting pitcher B.J. Rivera – nearing the ceiling of his pitch count – gutted out an emotional bottom half of the frame to lock up a thrilling 6-5 victory.

“That’s what baseball’s all about,” Rivera said just before receiving a cold water dousing from his overjoyed teammates. “We mess up in one part and the team picks you up in another. That’s what we’ve done all year, and, man, I love this team.”

It was feast or famine early on for Rivera and Alonso (18-8). The senior righthander had 1-2-3 first and third innings versus the top of the Panther order but battled meltdowns in the opening pair of even-numbered frames.

A throwing error and a fielding miscue brought home cleanup man Bryce Pelleriti with the game’s first run in the second. The Panthers (17-7) capitalized on another errant throw when sophomore DH Danny Cerelli launched a Rivera fastball over the rightfield scoreboard for a two-run homer, his first round-tripper of the season.

James Leach (28) and Trey Freeman (27) wait to greet Plant DH Danny Cerelli after the sophomore’s first home run of the season.

Then in the fifth, a dropped fly ball by left fielder Drumheller allowed junior Tanner Swank (single) and Florida commit Robert Satin (intentional walk) to come home.

But where the Raven defense faltered, the offense thrived.

Rivera helped his own cause with some two-out magic of his own in the top of the third, blasting a double up the left-centerfield gap to bring home Austin Kirsch (single) and leadoff man Chris Morgan (walk) to get the visitors the lead.

After being substituted for a courtesy runner, B.J. Rivera (29, right) slaps hands with teammate Austin Kirsch (10) while coming off the field after his game-tying double.

In the fifth, the Ravens took advantage of a gutsy defensive play by leftfielder Jack Meade. With Kirsch (walk) and Juan Munoz (single) aboard, Morgan launched a deep drive that Meade caught in full stride before crashing into the fence. With Meade laying temporarily motionless on the ground, both runners kept the play alive by tagging up and circling the bases to allow Alonso to retake the lead, 4-3.

After several moments of assessment with Panthers head coach Dennis Braun and the Plant trainer, Meade remained in the game.

“(Another outfielder) didn’t pick up the ball and throw it in,” Alonso head coach Landy Faedo said. “It’s a live ball, I know how the game is. I felt bad for (Meade) but he showed some guts.”

After all of that, the Ravens were three outs away from possibly being eliminated from regional play by Plant again. And Rivera wasn’t going to let that fly.

“I told Ben (Drumheller) when he missed that fly ball that he was going to make something happen at the plate,” Rivera said.

And the Ventura College commit came through.

With Munoz (walk and passed ball) on second, Drumheller drove a pitch to deep centerfield for a double that tied the contest. And after Rivera was intentionally walked, Fernandez deposited an opposite-field double up the right-centerfield gap that brought home Drumheller and put Alonso back on top.

“In my mind, I was relaxed,” Fernandez, the sophomore catcher said of the pressure-packed situation. “I was just trusting in my mechanics, in my practice. I know the first couple of at-bats didn’t go well for me (0-for-3 with a strikeout), but I was able to make the adjustment and get good contact.”

Alonso sophomore catcher Samuel Fernandez surveys his defense.

The defense stepped up from there as shortstop Morgan handled a high hop for the first out before dishing to second baseman Kirsch for a force at second. Facing his last batter before the pitch count would force his removal, Rivera induced a lazy fly to Munoz in centerfield to end the game and start the celebration.

“We’re happy (Rivera is) with us,” Faedo said of the Leto transfer who scattered five hits in the win. “He’s a great person, he’s a great individual, and he meshed with these guys. He’s a quiet giant.”

Senior B.J. Rivera went the distance in Alonso’s district title victory, allowing no earned runs while scattering five hits.

And after the hard-fought triumph, Rivera said: “I’m still strong, I could go three more innings. I wanted this game since the beginning of the year, and I told them I’m going to get it done, and that’s what we did.”

With a smile on his face and a regional game in his future, the senior concluded: “This is what they make movies about.”

⚾ 7A-7 Final ⚾

Alonso 6, Plant 5

A 002|020|2 – |6|8|4
P 010|220|0 – |5|5|0
W – Rivera (5-2); L – DeMarinis
2B – Fernandez, Rivera, Drumheller (A); HR – Cerelli (P). Records – A (18-8); P (17-7).

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