Mikey Marroquin deals Jefferson to Saladino semis win
Jefferson ace Mikey Marroquin celebrates his complete-game effort, punctuated by his seventh strikeout to end it.
By Mike Camunas, Creative Director
WEST TAMPA – Mikey Marroquin has wanted this for a long time.
Ever since he first heard of the legendary and prestigious Saladino Tournament, played annually during Hillsborough County Schools Spring Break, he’s wanted to get the call to the mound and put his team in the final.
And it’s a good thing Jefferson coach Spencer Nunez called Marroquin’s name because the senior right-handed pitcher — the Dragons ace — empathically punched their ticket to the Saladino final.
Marroquin was nearly untouchable on the mound, delivering a 91-pitch, 2-hit complete game that kept Tampa Catholic at bay in a 7-1 Dragons’ win.
Jefferson (9-1) will now face defending Saladino champs, Jesuit, at the University of Tampa on Thursday evening.
“Oh, for sure, I’ve wanted this since … well, since I heard of Saladino,” Marroquin said, with a bag of ice strapped to his elbow. “I’ve wanted to get to the final, to get the call, so I was waiting for the call and ready for it when I got it.
“This is (this Jefferson team’s) first final, so I’m very excited to be in it.”
Jefferson senior Cameron Copple went 2-for-3, with two runs and two RBI in the win.
Jefferson, a two-time Saladino tournament winner, last won the annual event in 2012, under longtime coach Pop Cuesta, who also led the Dragons to the crown in 1991.
Click here for a few more photos from this one.
On Wednesday evening on their home field, Jefferson saw Marroquin (5-0) have a rocky first inning, with the Crusaders (6-4) loading the bases with one out after a leadoff double by Cal Johnson, a walk issued by Marroquin and an intentional walk to Dominic Woodward.
Tampa Catholic’s Cal Johnson connects on his first-inning, leadoff double and would score the Crusaders only run of the game.
Tampa Catholic took a 1-0 lead when Carson Arnold grounded into a fielder’s choice, scoring Johnson.
“I gave it my all in the first inning, but just didn’t work out,” Marroquin said, “but I had to settle in and then just put up zerozerozerozerozerozero.”
Marroquin did just that.
He didn’t give up another hit until one out in the seventh, when Arnold picked up a single. In the previous five innings, saying Marroquin was lights out is an understatement.
Senior Cameron Mallo (1-for-1, three walks) speeds around the bases scoring one of his three runs.
In all those five innings Tampa Catholic went three up, three down, with Marroquin striking out seven in total.
“It’s pretty normal for him to labor a little early,” Nunez said. “He seems to find it later on in the game, but he found it pretty quick tonight. I’m really proud of what he did (tonight) and he’s been that horse for us for the last two years.
“We were fortunate enough to have our ace on the mound, to get us into the final, so, oh, yeah, you want (to put) the ball in his hand.”
Dragons junior Ja’Marques Benton had a pair of hits and an RBI in the win.
At the plate, Jefferson stuck with their plan of “small ball” and also got some timely hits, including from Cameron Copple, K.J. Sampson and Moises Gudino, all of whom drove in two runs apiece. Ja’Marques Benton broke out of a slump and drove in Jefferson’s fifth run in the bottom of the fifth inning.
“Yeah, I’ve been in a slump the past few games,” said Benton, who was 2-for-9 in the tournament entering Wednesday’s semifinal. “I was dropping my hands and I just had to keep them up and still, and then let my hands fly.”
Jefferson’s Moises Gudino and first base coach Jose Figueredo are both fired up after the freshman gave his team the lead with a two-run single up the middle.
The Dragons’ bats knocked Crusaders’ starter, Woodward, out of the game after four innings, in which he gave up four runs on seven hits, walked four and struck out five.
Lucas Cinnante and Rueben Ledo would finish out the game in relief.
“We’re a small ball team,” Marroquin said. “We get them on, we get them over, we get them in. That’s how we play at Jefferson and it is working really well for us this season so far.
“Those guys got my back, 100 percent, with the bats and the gloves. They’re always going to have my back, 100 percent.”
Tampa Catholic starting pitcher Dominic Woodward had five strikeouts, but was tagged with four runs in four innings.
Now, the Dragons are in the Saladino championship for the first time in a minute, but face a familiar rival, Jesuit (7-2), which will be looking to win its third Saladino title in four years.
“Obviously the goal is to get there,” Nunez said. “It’s one of the small goals we hope to accomplish, but we’re going after the main goal, so we’re going to go out there and try to accomplish it.”
“No, I’ve never played there (at UT) before,” Benton added. “I’m excited — we all are and looking forward to playing there.”
Jefferson second baseman Isiah Fernandez throws for an out. The junior had a hit and a run scored in the win.
Jefferson 7, Tampa Catholic 1
T 100|000|0 – |1|2|1
J 300|112|X – |7|9|0
W – Marroquin (5-0); L – Woodward
2B – Johnson (T). Records – T (6-4); J (9-1).
