Nothing to lose: Robinson earns its way to district final

Cason Cooper (14) jumps for joy after Robinson’s upset victory over Jefferson and a berth in the Class 3A-9 district final.

By Chuck Frye, Senior Staff Writer

TAMPA – Sometimes, mindset can play a greater role in victory than talent, especially when the season is on the line. Just ask Robinson third baseman Cason Cooper.

“We had nothing to lose, man,” the junior said about Tuesday’s Class 3A-9 district semifinal matchup against a Jefferson team that had won the last six head-to-head battles. “If we lost this game, our season was over. We had some seniors that we wanted to fight for more than anything and we came out guns blazing.”

Robinson junior Sam Hyman signals to his bench after driving a first-inning double.

Meanwhile, for the host Dragons, the commitment to the concept of team was in question.

“I think sometimes things happen in a clubhouse as a team that sets you up for either failure or success,” said Jefferson head coach Spencer Nunez. “Leading up to (this game), we haven’t come through as a team in the locker room, out of the locker room, on the field, off the field … It’s hard to get up when you have guys that aren’t all going in the same direction.”

After ranging over to his left, Jefferson shortstop Isiah Fernandez fires across the diamond for a first-inning out.

Even with that, the Dragons were the top seed in the district and made a strong closing push, but the emotion and energy the Knights hit the field with was a little too much to overcome. Fourth-seed Robinson built a big early lead and held on for a 5-4 victory, earning a finals date Thursday against Lakeland McKeel Academy with a berth in regions as a goal.

“We just decided as a team that we’ve got to play more freely, play more comfortably because that’s what’s been holding us back,” Knights junior Sam Hyman said of his now 12-13 squad. “We’re just deciding to play loose because we feel like we’ve got nothing to lose. Nobody expected us to win, we came out and played free and we got the job done.”

Knights courtesy runner Carsyn Clack slides past Jefferson catcher Kaiden Johnson and across the plate to score a first-inning run.

Hyman did his job early and late, jumping on Jefferson starter Ja’Marques Benton for a first-inning double that jump-started a two-run frame that set the stage for a positive finish.

“I was looking for a curveball and missed a first-strike fastball, and it was like, if I got that pitch again, I’m not going to miss it,” Hyman said. “I got it again and put a good swing on it.”

Robinson starter Nathan Porath battled through 4 2/3 innings to pick up the victory, giving up three unearned runs on five hits while striking out five.

And at the end, when Jefferson (15-8) climbed back into the fray in the fifth behind a pinch-hit double from Damian Hatter that fed Benton (run-scoring sacrifice fly), Logan Galban and Kaleb Cherry (back-to-back singles), Hyman got the call to close out the victory.

“Sam’s been one of our starters, and with all due respect to all the other guys that we have on our team, he and (starting pitcher) Nate (Porath, who went 4 2/3 innings without allowing an earned run) are our best,” Knights head coach Alex Barron said. “We started with our best and when (the Dragons) started rallying, I definitely wasn’t going to lose without one of our best out there.”

Knights catcher Brady Capps elevates to pull down a high first-inning pitch to Ja’Marques Benton, who drew a free pass on this at-bat.

Entering a one-run game with two outs in the sixth and walking Benton to load the bases, Barron came out to settle Hyman down and the talk worked. Hyman struck out the next batter looking then swept through the seventh to lock down the win.

“I was just looking to locate my pitches and give them my best stuff and trust in my defense,” Hyman said of converting his normal starting role into a closer mentality. “If I was giving my best stuff, (the other team) can’t touch it.”

Knights junior Cason Cooper drove the offense, producing three singles and a pair of RBI in a district semifinal victory.

Robinson built its cushion behind a season-best three-hit, two-RBI effort from Cooper.

Off of back-to-back two-baggers from Hyman and Brady Capps to open the game, Cooper slashed a run-scoring base hit down the rightfield line. In the third, he drilled a line drive single to right-centerfield, and brought home Hyman (reached on an error) with a fourth-inning base hit to leftfield.

“I love what we did (Tuesday),” Cooper said. “We came out hacking because that’s the kind of guys we are. We’re going to be aggressive, we’re going to be strong.”

After retiring Robinson’s T.J. Maiello, Dragons’ second baseman K.J. Sampson looks toward first base but decides not to throw, settling for a fourth-inning force out.

The eventual winning tally came in the fifth when leadoff man Collin Rosenberg delivered a sacrifice fly that brought home pinch runner Jack Perkins (DH Tommy Fitzgerald led off with a single). Angelo Rivera (single) was called out on appeal for leaving second base early on the same play for the third out but the run stood.

Good thing for the Knights as Jefferson closed strong to within a run on back-to-back sixth-inning doubles from freshman DH Elijah Benton and Isiah Fernandez (two hits on the night).

“We fought, I don’t want to take anything away from our kids fighting back, but you can’t play a three-inning game and expect to win,” Nunez concluded. “You’ve got to play a complete game which Robinson did. (The Knights) fought, they got out of jams, but we can’t decide to get it going in the bottom of the fifth.”

Robinson head coach and third base coach Alex Barron pumps his fist after successfully sending Tyler Shoemaker (24) home to score a fourth-inning run.

Now Jefferson waits for the ratings numbers to be compiled by the FHSAA to see if a regional berth is in its cards, while the Knights hold their postseason fate in their own hands on Thursday. Staying within pitch count guidelines, Hyman will draw the start against McKeel, either “as a start-and-run or an opener kind of situation,” according to Barron.

“If (the players) want to put more on (Thursday) than a regular game, then I’m all for it,” Barron concluded. “If they want to stay even keeled and trust the process … I want to be their biggest cheerleader. I just want to sit back and watch the boys have some fun and play some ball. If that’s for a little while longer, that’s alright with me.”

Robinson head coach Alex Barron looks to settle down reliever Sam Hyman in the sixth inning. The words of comfort must have worked as Hyman left the bases loaded in the sixth and retired Jefferson in order in the seventh to lock down the Knights’ upset district semifinal victory.

⚾ 3A-District 9 ⚾

Robinson 5
#11 Jefferson 4

R 200|210|0 – |5|8|3
J  000|031|0 – |4|6|4
W – Porath (5-3); L – Benton (4-5); S – Hyman (1)
2B – Hyman, Capps (R); Hatter, E. Benton, Fernandez (J). Records – R (12-13); J (15-8).

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Jefferson starter Ja’Marques Benton comes off the mound after snagging a hard line drive to end the third inning.

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Jefferson head coach Spencer Nunez (in blue jacket) strides toward his dugout after a fourth-inning mound visit.

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As the Robinson defense tries to get a handle on the ball, Jefferson freshman Elijah Benton chugs into third base on pinch hitter Damian Hatter’s fifth-inning double.

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Dragon pinch hitter Damian Hatter beams after blasting a fifth-inning double.

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Jefferson’s K.J. Sampson is welcomed by teammates Elijah Benton (15) and Kaiden Johnson (28) after scoring a fifth-inning run.

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Robinson catcher Brady Capps looks to the infield as Jefferson leadoff hitter Isiah Fernandez slides in safely to cap a three-run fifth inning.

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Jefferson shortstop Isiah Fernandez slaps a tag on Robinson pinch runner C.J. Maglalong to end a successful sixth-inning rundown.

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Knights reliever Brady Hardin allowed a run in his one inning of work.

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Jefferson freshman DH Elijah Benton crosses the plate on Isiah Fernandez’s sixth-inning double to draw the Dragons within a run.

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Knights catcher Brady Capps had an RBI double and threw out a Jefferson runner attempting to steal.

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Robinson second baseman Brady Hardin (21) throws to a waiting Tyler Shoemaker (24) for the final out in the Knights’ playoff victory.

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