Sheffield’s dinger sparks seven-run Jesuit rally
As their Jesuit teammates approach in celebration, Noah Sheffield (left) and D.J. Pirela (9) bump chests after Sheffield’s solo home run.
By Chuck Frye, Senior Staff Writer
TAMPA – It’s comforting for a team to know that it can turn a game completely around simply with one swing of the bat.
In Class 5A-Region 3 quarterfinal play on Tuesday, eighth seed Cape Coral Island Coast was looking to extend its Cinderella season beyond an upset run to its district title. After Jesuit lefty McCall Biemiller struck out five of the first six batters he faced, the Gators started to roll in the top of the third inning, getting a single from Jayven Torres and a one-out walk from No. 9 batter Hunter Fretwell. When leadoff batter and Florida commit Jordi Guerrero sent a 3-1 fastball over the left-centerfield fence for his third homer of the season, the shocking lead would have rattled a lesser team.
Island Coast senior Jordi Guerrero (right) joins his jubilant Gators teammates after hitting a third-inning, three-run homer.
But the top seeded Tigers have been here before – boasting a state title and runner-up finish in the past two seasons – and not only survived, but thrived.
And when senior Noah Sheffield led off the fourth with a solo blast halfway up the centerfield batter’s eye, it was the blow that started a massive surge toward an eventual 7-3 victory.
“We knew they weren’t going to beat us because that’s the mentality we have,” the Florida State commit said of the early deficit. “We kept the same calm demeanor. Even if we’re down, we’re going to keep on going.”
Tiger senior Noah Sheffield follows through on what would be a tide-changing fourth-inning solo home run that would kick-start a winning seven-run rally in the frame.
That calm demeanor got a jolt of adrenaline via Sheffield’s round tripper, his team-best fourth of the year, that permeated the entire Jesuit lineup.
“Noah’s home run kind of broke the seal a little bit and we were able to put up a lot of really good swings after that,” Tigers head coach Miguel Menendez said.
“After any home run, it definitely changes the atmosphere in the dugout,” Sheffield said. “We needed it at that moment and we started passing that torch. One by one, everybody doing their job, and we broke it open.”
After delivering an RBI triple, Jesuit DH Zane Pestalozzi trots home on Will Burke’s fourth-inning run-scoring double.
Jesuit (22-6) ended up posting a team cycle in the defining inning. DH and Campbell commit Zane Pestalozzi blasted a triple that scored courtesy runner Jackson Thomas (after catcher Vincent DeCarlo’s first of two singles) and senior Jacob Lozano (base hit). Florida Southern commit Will Burke and sophomore Kaden Waechter followed with back-to-back RBI doubles at the bottom of the order. Finally, a string of three straight singles started by a run-scoring safety from sophomore Cannon Murtagh capped the onslaught. Twelve batters, nine hits, seven runs … and one berth in the regional semifinals.
“It hasn’t been just the top or the middle of the lineup, we’ve been able to get production up and down our lineup,” Menendez said. “It’s an older group, they know it’s that time of year and they’ve picked up their intensity.”
Island Coast second baseman Hunter Fretwell stretches for a high throw as Jesuit’s Jackson Thomas slides in safely for a fourth-inning stolen base.
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Jesuit starter McCall Biemiller survived a stretch of focus issues to take home his seventh victory of the season, allowing two hits over five innings while striking out 11.
And after suffering through what Biemiller admits was “lost focus on 10 pitches” that led to the Guerrero blast, the Florida commit buckled down on Island Coast (19-10).
“When I get my focus back together, I’m in the zone and throwing competitive pitches every single time,” he said. “I got back into my mindset and kept dominating and attacking.”
Before Jesuit’s offense came alive, Island Coast starter Ryan Mueller kept the Tigers off balance as he set down the first seven batters he faced with a pair of strikeouts.
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Tigers shortstop Kaden Waechter puts the tag on Island Coast’s Jayven Torres but doesn’t have the ball on a third-inning stolen base.
Before turning the ball over to Waechter to start the sixth inning, Biemiller retired the last five batters he faced, finishing with a two-hitter while racking up 11 strikeouts. Waechter worked two hitless innings, walking one and fanning a pair.
“Kaden is one of our better pitchers and he hadn’t pitched since (a 2-1 victory over Clearwater Calvary Christian on) April 19 so we wanted to get him out there,” Menendez explained. “He stayed at 25 pitches, so he’ll be available on Friday (for the regional semifinals).”
Jesuit’s Kaden Waechter moved from shortstop to the mound, throwing two no-hit innings with a walk and two strikeouts.
Which is a good thing considering the Tigers will be hosting No. 4 Osceola, a 3-2 winner over Seminole on Tuesday.
“We played (Osceola) in the region final last year (beating the Warriors 12-2) and I’m sure they’ll have a little bit of motivation,” Menendez said. “They’re a year older and a scrappy team. Playing a team that believes in themselves is tough.”
Just like playing Jesuit, who will send either Aden Knowles or Wilson Andersen to the bump on Friday.
Jesuit outfielders Cannor Murtagh (left) and D.J. Pirela literally jump for joy after the Tigers’ playoff-opening victory.
⚾ Class 5A-Region 3 ⚾
Jesuit 7, Cape Coral Island Coast 3
I 003|000|0 – |3|2|2
J 000|700|x – |7|10|0
W – Biemiller (7-1); L – Mueller (4-5)
2B – Burke, Waecther (J); 3B – Pestalozzi (J); HR – Guerrero (I); Sheffield (J). Records – I (19-10); J (22-6).
An energized Noah Sheffield (10) taps helmets with teammates Jack Clark (left) and Vincent DeCarlo (24) after crossing home plate for his fourth-inning solo homer.
