Mulberry jumps on Jesuit error, takes 3-2 state semi win

Mulberry jumps on Jesuit error, takes 3-2 state semi win

Mulberry’s Hayden Wyatt lined a two-run double to leftfield in the first inning, making an early Jesuit error sting and propelling the Panthers to the state title game for the first time since 1960.

By Jarrett Guthrie, Editor

FORT MYERS – Mulberry senior Dominick Gotauco sent a hard ground ball to the right side in the opening frame of Monday’s FHSAA Class 4A state semifinal game that rolled up the arm of Jesuit’s first baseman.

A miscue that sparked a two-run inning for the Panthers and led to a 3-2 victory over defending (5A) state champions Jesuit – and booked Mulberry into the state championship game for the first time since winning a title in 1960.

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“What a game, those guys (Jesuit) are incredible – hats off to them,” Mulberry head coach David Gotauco said. “Just one mistake and we ended up capitalizing. That’s the way the game went, it just rolled our way.”

Jesuit junior RHP Wilson Andersen

A battle of right-handed aces saw Jesuit junior Wilson Andersen start the game with a strikeout before the error set up a Nic Partridge (2-for-3) single to right, and a lined, two-run double by Hayden Wyatt driven to left.

“I was looking for a fastball, but it was the curveball and it just kind of worked out,” Wyatt said. “If I’m going to be honest, I have not (hit the curveball well this year), but I ran into that one.”

Tigers junior Kaden Waechter connects on the first of his two hits in the loss. Waechter would score his team’s first run on a Wilson Andersen bases-loaded walk.

Jesuit (25-10) answered right back in the home-first with one-out singles from Kaden Waechter and Vincent DeCarlo (both with two hits in the game), then a single from Bryce Besece loaded them with two outs, and Andersen took a five-pitch walk to cut the lead in half.

Mulberry starting pitcher Gavin Stedman.

But Mulberry (27-9) senior Gavin Stedman nipped the rally right there with a lineout to leave the bases loaded.

The Panthers added a run in the third, Dominick Gotauco reaching on a fielder’s choice bunt, moving up on a Partridge double and scoring on a wild pitch – much needed insurance as Andersen would again plate a run in the home-half with a productive fielder’s choice.

Mulberry senior SS and University of Florida signee Nic Partridge lets his dugout know he’s safe after his double in the third inning.

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Panthers senior Dominick Gotauco cruises into third base before scoring one of his two runs in the win.

From there, Stedman was tough on the Tigers, retiring Jesuit in order in the fourth and fifth and working around an Andersen double in the sixth.

“That was a really good baseball game,” Jesuit head coach Miguel Menendez said. “They came out, we kick a ball in the first inning and they take advantage of it. They put a couple of good swings on Wilson and scored a couple of runs.

“I think we did a good job answering back and getting a run in the bottom of the first. Wilson settled in and threw really well and is the tough-luck loser. But neither pitcher deserved to lose that game.”

Jesuit RF Brody Smith makes an acrobatic foul ball catch at the wall of Hammond Stadium.

Andersen (9-4) pitched six innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits and three walks, and finished with six strikeouts.

“Wilson is one of the most competitive people I know and obviously the stuff is really good,” Menendez said. “But his competitive spirit and drive, you saw it on offense today with that double in the sixth, he just finds a way. He just wants to win and that’s all he cares about.”

Jesuit sophomore Bryce Besece had two hits in the game, including this base-hit bunt in the third.

Junior left Ben Burke gave up singles to AJ Medina and Stedman in the seventh inning, but kept the Panthers from extending the lead and had one strikeout.

Tigers’ lefty reliever Ben Burke.

Stedman (6-2) worked into the seventh, walking the leadoff batter before picking up his fifth and final strikeout.

“He was incredible,” Gotauco said. “Gavin Stedman has been incredible all year long, especially down the stretch. He started Game 1 for us in every region series and dialed it in. He pitched his butt off. He was a little rocky at the start, but settled in.”

Senior closer Coby Anker worked out of a bases loaded jam to earn his seventh save.

He would give up a single to Besece and then depart in favor of senior Coby Anker, who would load the bases by hitting DeCarlo, before striking out the next and earning his seventh save on a lineout to centerfield.

Mulberry’s skipper credited his players and the community for sparking a turnaround for a program, which prior to last season’s 19-10 state semifinal run, had only made four region appearances in the subsequent 65 seasons since it’s 1960 title team.

“Incredible, the turnaround that we’ve done in the last couple of years for this program,” Gotauco said. “I don’t know that we had won more than 10 games some seasons, so it has been an incredible turnaround with the community behind us 100 percent. At the end of the day, we’re playing for them.”

Mulberry will contend with last season’s 5A state runner-up and 2023 champion Plantation American Heritage in Tuesday’s 7 pm state title game, after the Patriots defeated Panama City Beach Arnold also by a score of 3-2.

Jesuit C Vincent DeCarlo comes up firing, throwing out a stealing runner at second base. The Tigers senior also had a pair of hits and was hit by a pitch in the game.

The loss was a tough ending for one of Jesuit’s most accomplished players, the senior backstop DeCarlo, who was a varsity player for four-straight state final four teams. But the NC State signee summed up things with composure, stating that the loss will not define his final season in a Jesuit uniform.

“I was lucky enough to be here four years in a row, but I’m not here without my teammates,” DeCarlo said. “I don’t really have much to say about the game. At the end of the day, we lost and it’s over, but it was a great year with a bunch of great people and I’m excited to watch them next year.”

Jesuit head coach Miguel Menenez.

Menendez agreed with both the response to the loss and the sentiment from one of his senior captains.

“At the end of the day, I usually give this speech if we lose the last game, that if the worst thing that happens to you is that you lose a high school baseball game, then you probably lived a pretty good life,” the Tigers coach said wrapping up the postgame press conference. “It doesn’t make it any less painful for these guys right now, or the coaches, or the parents … but this has been a really special group that has bonded together.”

⚾ Class 4A State Semifinal ⚾

Mulberry 3
Jesuit 2

M 201|000|0 – |3|5|0
J 101|000|0 – |2|7|1
W – Stedman (6-2); L – Andersen (9-4); S – Anker (7)
2B – Wyatt, Partridge (M); Andersen (J). Records – M (27-9); J (25-10).

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