Andersen goes the distance, Tigers edge TC 1-0
Jesuit sophomore Bryce Besece is fired up sending a RBI triple to the wall in right-center, plating Christian Sheffield for the deciding run in a pulse-pounding, 1-0 victory against Tampa Catholic.
By Chuck Frye, Senior Staff Writer
TAMPA – At this stage of the season, Jesuit’s motto could very well be “just enough,” playing just enough quality defense, providing just enough offense to reward a talented pitching staff battling to keep the opposition from doing too much.
For the 2025 Tigers, just enough has been good enough to follow in their tradition of state title programs in the recent past. And with a pulse-pounding 1-0 victory over formerly undefeated rival Tampa Catholic on Friday night, Jesuit finds itself with a 9-1 record leading into one of the most daunting schedules that any high school team in the country could endure.
For more photos from this game, click here.
Jesuit extended its head-to-head win streak over TC to 13 with three of the last four being one-run affairs.
“Our guys, they’re excited for the challenge every time out,” explained Tigers head coach Miguel Menendez. “They embrace the schedule, they embrace these teams we’re playing and they know it’s not going to be easy.”
After splitting contests with nationally ranked Venice (win) and Clearwater Calvary Christian (their lone loss), the Tigers – ranked ninth by MaxPreps – are slated to face top-ranked IMG Academy, No. 3 Trinity Christian, and No. 20 Stoneman Douglas within the space of a week starting Mar. 18.
Jesuit leftfielder Chris Hemmings hovers momentarily after catching a pop fly in the first while falling backwards.
And games like Friday against the Crusaders – with large, partisan crowds and talent at every position on the field – are the best preparation for that stretch and, more importantly, another deep playoff run.
“At the end of the day, it’s about giving us the best chance to go win a state championship,” Menendez said. “Being in these kind of battles are going to test us and prepare us for playoff times when you’re going to be in tight games and big-time atmospheres.”
Tampa Catholic junior Cole Bitman opened the game with a single lined into centerfield.
A standing-room-only throng at Hyer Family Park brought that atmosphere and both squads were more than ready for the fight.
Early opportunities to score were available but left wanting by superb pitching and defensive plays.
Jesuit junior Wilson Andersen finished his complete-game shutout with his 10th strikeout on his 105th pitch.
Jesuit starter Wilson Andersen’s first of 10 strikeouts stopped a second-and-third Tampa Catholic threat right in the first inning and a pickoff of Chris Smith did the same in the second.
Crusaders C Cole Bitman applies the tag on Joey DeLucia after a dart from rightfielder Jose Carrero.
With two runners on in the bottom of the second, Tigers sophomore Bryce Besece rapped a single but came up empty as rightfielder Jose Carrero’s perfect throw to the plate nabbed courtesy runner Joey DeLucia. However, catcher Vincent DeCarlo made up for it with a savvy fourth-inning caught stealing.
“We didn’t play the cleanest game by any stretch,” Menendez said of a Jesuit effort with errors, a passed ball, and a balk. “Somehow, we find ways to win and that’s all that matters.”
Tigers junior Christian Sheffield singled to right in the third inning, reached on an error in the fifth and scored the game’s lone run.
The Tigers finally broke the ice in the fifth when Christian Sheffield (1-for-2, BB) reached on an error before Besece launched a rocket off the rightfield fence for an RBI triple.
Bryce Besece elevates a fastball sending it to the wall for an RBI triple.
“I always sit fastball and react to the curve ball,” Besece said. “In the first at-bat, I got a hit off a curve ball and in the second, I saw a fastball and I just crushed it.”
Cal Johnson beat out this ground ball to shortstop in the third inning …
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… despite a solid sliding stop by Tigers SS Tyler Alverio.
Now with the lead, Andersen did all he could to secure the advantage.
After a 1-2-3 fifth inning, the junior caught pinch runner Luke Skora trying to steal third and picked him off. With one out in the seventh and Jack Smythe (walk and balk) at second, Andersen hustled off the mound to catch a popped-up bunt in foul territory then used pitch No. 105 to strike out pinch hitter John Oliver and win the battle.
Wilsen Andersen runs down a popup in foul territory for the penultimate out of the game.
“One run, 10 runs, it doesn’t really matter,” said Andersen when asked if run support affected his approach. “I’m going to do the same thing every time. I trust these guy back there (on defense), I’m going to compete and I know they’re going to compete. We’re going to do all we can do.”
Bryce Besece makes a throw to first after scooping up a weak ground ball.
Tampa Catholic head coach Paul Russo Jr. offered his praise of Andersen, saying: “You’ve got a guy that’s a junior in high school that composes himself. He’s going to be a high draft pick in the next couple of years, and he was outstanding on the mound.”
Senior Dominic Woodward pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing three hits, an unearned run and striking out nine.
The Crusaders (now 11-1) weren’t slacking on the hill, either. Senior Dominic Woodward was his usual wiley self, coming one batter shy of a complete game. Woodward tossed a three-hitter, fanning nine, walking four, and hitting a batter with the lone, unearned run.
“Dom throws a couple of different off-speed pitches, variations on them,” Russo said. “I just think he’s grown as a pitcher and when you bust your butt like he does, he seems to be sharper. He was definitely on tonight.”
Crusaders senior Jose Carrero settles under a pop fly.
Along with his superb outfield assist, Carrero led the TC offense with a pair of singles, but the visitors were undone by stranding seven runners, four in scoring position.
“I told the kids in our (post-game) meeting, if we’re going to lose a game, that’s how you lose a game,” Russo concluded. “I can go to bed losing that game knowing that our guys stuck to their approach at the plate. (Jesuit) played great defense and we definitely didn’t beat ourselves.”
Crusaders 2B Christian Serrales makes an accurate throw for an out.
“Our guys, they believe they’re going to win every time because they’ve had so much success against (Tampa Catholic),” Menendez said. “I’ll use the University of Miami line when they used to beat Bobby Bowden all the time in the ’80s at Florida State: Florida State thinks they’re going to win, Miami believes they’re going to win. I think it’s kind of that same thing.”
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#2 Jesuit 1
#1 Tampa Catholic 0
T 000|000|0 – |0|3|1
J 000|010|0 – |1|3|3
W – Andersen (3-1); L – Woodward (1-1)
3B – Besece (J). Records – T (11-1); J (9-1).
Christian Sheffield slides in under the tag for a stolen base, moving himself into scoring position prior to Bryce Besece’s RBI triple.
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Tampa Catholic’s bench greets starting pitcher Dominic Woodward after he was relieved in the sixth inning.
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Talan Miranda struck out the only Jesuit batter he faced to end the sixth.
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Jose Carrero can only stare at a skied pop fly …
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… that Tigers senior catcher Vincent DeCarlo holds onto, despite a collision with pitcher Wilson Andersen.
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TC senior Carson Arnold makes a throw from third base for an out.
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Jack Smythe just beats out a dropped third strike as Jesuit 1B Samir Mohammed waits on the throw.
