Mendes hits for the cycle as Jesuit tops North Fort Myers
Jesuit senior Wes Mendes hit for the cycle, driving in six as the Tigers defeated North Fort Myers in the Class 5A Region Quarterfinal (813Preps file photo).
By Lily Belcher, Correspondent
TAMPA – Wes Mendes was just a home run shy of the cycle when he came up to face the North Fort Myers closer in the sixth inning. On the second pitch, Mendes sent the ball over the left centerfield wall and rounded the bases as the dugout emptied to meet him at the plate.
Led by Mendes, the Jesuit Tigers secured their regional quarterfinal victory in a 12-2 rally over North Fort Myers on Tuesday night.
“He’s a special player. I’ve been coaching a long time now…He’s probably the best player I’ve ever coached,” said Jesuit coach Miguel Menendez. “He can do anything there is. Anytime he’s at the plate or on the mound, we feel really good about our chances to be successful and tonight just showed that.”
The commanding offensive performance wasn’t just limited to Mendes, as all nine Tigers safely reached base at least twice, putting 15 hits on the board and giving Jesuit its fourth-straight double digit score. The cycle was the second in three games for the Tigers, as senior Grant Jordan accomplished the feat in the district semifinal game against Freedom last week.
“We’re getting hot at the right time. I think we’ve been swinging well all year,” said Jacob Lozano. “…Right now, it’s great that we’re all swinging. Not just one of us or two of us, the whole lineup has been swinging it well.”
After leaving the bases loaded in the bottom of the first and giving up a run to the Red Knights, Jesuit answered with a three-run second inning.
Back-to-back base hits put two on for Mendes, who hit a two RBI triple to get Jesuit on the board. Mendes scored off an RBI double by Jake Kulikowski, before the Tigers finished batting around for the first time of the night.
Jesuit (24-4) topped it’s three-run second with a four-run third inning as Mendes picked up his third of six RBI in the quarterfinals match. A two-out home run by Grant Jordan extended the Tigers’ lead to 7-1.
After giving up a home run in the top of the fourth, the Tigers answered with an RBI base hit by Mendes to score Lozano from third. Lozano went 3-for-4 and scored three times off hits by Mendes.
“Staying with the approach that we do in [batting practice]…putting balls in play, good things are going to happen. Coach always preaches that,” said Lozano. “That’s something that stuck with me the whole time.”
A dropped fly ball in left field allowed Noah Sheffield to score the Tigers’ ninth run in the fifth, setting Jesuit up for a mercy-rule win by the sixth inning.
With a quarterfinals victory within reach, Clay Thompson singled and Mendes stepped up to the plate to complete the cycle.
Jesuit loaded the bases for the third time of the night before Red Knights’ closer Matthew Blasena hit the fourth Jesuit batter of the night to walk in the game-winning run.
“[We’ve worked on] staying focused, going one game at a time, not looking too far ahead and just focusing on the team we play that day,” said Mendes. “So, that’s kind of what has gotten us through it.”
Jesuit plans to focus on this approach as they are set to host Naples (winners, 4-0 against Seminole) on Friday at 7pm.
⚾ 5A-Region 3 Quarterfinal ⚾
Jesuit 12, North Fort Myers 2 (6)
N 010|100|x – |2|2|4
J 034|113|x – |12|15|1
W – Knowles (7-0); L – Staruk
2B – Wagner (N); Mendes, Kulikowski, Thompson, Lozano (J); 3B – Mendes (J); HR – Blasena (N); Mendes, Jordan (J). Records – N (13-15); J (24-4).
