Flanagan Rebounds To Win Falcons Nike/OTS Baseball Challenge

The Flanagan Falcons entered uncharted waters the past few weeks. The program, a national powerhouse since Ray Evans took over, lost its two preseason games in the HSBN Broward/Palm Beach Preseason Challenge, then proceeded to lose its opener in the Falcons Nike/OTS Baseball Challenge to Calvary Christian.

A team accustomed to winning 20 or more games a season could have easily panicked, especially because the Falcons are young this season. Instead, Flanagan players rallied to beat St. Thomas on Wednesday and then beat an undefeated Miami Sunset team 8-1 last night to win the tournament.

“They showed some character,” Evans said. “We still have a long way to go, to prove anything, but this was a good start. We’re really inexperienced, and the more they play in these type games, the more experience they are going to get. If they get a positive experience like this one, and they are successful, then they will be able to feel good about it, and that will allow them to be successful more often.”

Flanagan ace Jose Mesa Jr. took the mound in the championship game for the second time this week. After starting the tournament opener Monday, the Falcons went back to their ace, and he rewarded them by throwing a gem. Mesa Jr. was nearly unhittable, throwing six and two-thirds innings, striking out 13 Knights hitters, and giving up only one earned run. Evans wanted to leave his ace out there to finish the game, but with his pitch count rising, the head coach decided to go to the bullpen for the last out. Mesa Jr. had no problems with getting the ball on short rest or turning the ball over to his bullpen.

“I felt good,” Mesa Jr. said. “It’s all about work ethic for me. I run a lot, so I got that lactic acid out of my arm, and I did my shoulder workouts, so throwing again tonight was no problem. I wanted to finish the game real bad, but I have confidence in the rest of the pitchers on the staff, and I knew that we’d get the job done.”

The Falcons’ offense came under some unusual circumstances. In the third inning of a scoreless game, Flanagan scored five times without a base hit. The inning was keyed by three walks, two hit-by-pitches and Andres Sanchez’s sacrifice fly.

In the fourth, Flanagan tacked on three more runs, this time using its bats to do the damage. AJ Munoz and Sanchez had singles in the inning, and Daniel Oliveri drove in two runs with a single to center. On the day, Sanchez and Oliveri both went 2-for-4.

Miami Sunset finished the tournament with a 2-1 record and gained valuable confidence along the way. After playing two very strong games, including a 1-0 victory over Monsignor Pace to put the Knights into the championship game, Sunset ran out of gas Friday evening.

“This was a great learning experience for our team, especially that Pace game to get us here,” Knights coach Mandy Pelaez said. “Getting to the finals of this tournament was big for us, and then it’s anybody’s ball game, but we have to make those routine plays and throw strikes.”

Flanagan will not have much time to enjoy the tournament win. The Falcons get into their district schedule next week with games against Miramar and Western.

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