American Heritage Edges Estero 1-0 To Reach 5A State Semifinals

American Heritage rode a dominant pitching performance by Shaun Anderson and managed a run in the fifth to beat Estero 1-0 Friday in a Class 5A regional final.

The Patriots’ win snapped the Wildcats’ 25-game winning streak and advanced Heritage (25-4) into a state semifinal against Tampa Jesuit on Thursday at Digital Domain Park in Port St. Lucie.

Anderson allowed four hits while striking out six and walking one in a complete-game performance.

“He did his job all night as he has done all season,” Heritage coach Bruce Aven said. “Once he settled in, he was pounding the zone.”

Anderson was locked in a pitchers’ duel with Matt Pearce, who allowed six hits as he pitched into the seventh inning for the Wildcats (27-3), who hadn’t lost since Feb. 21 when they fell 6-5 to Riverdale.

The Patriots scored the winning run when Zach Collins hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Dallas Perez with the bases loaded in the top of the fifth. Perez singled to lead off the inning and was followed by back-to-back walks by Gabby Aurrecoechea and Brandon Lopez.

Estero fought back in its half of the fifth and had runners on first and second with one out. After a strikeout, a wild pitch made it first and third with two outs, but Anderson induced a ground ball to get out of the jam.

The Patriots had other opportunities to score with men on base but didn’t get two-out hits when they needed to.

“We didn’t get it done when we wanted to, but we did at the end and that’s what counts in the playoffs,” Aven said.

A 15-minute rain delay didn’t hurt either pitcher.

“Their pitcher was hitting his spots, and so was ours,” Aven said.

Aven classified Estero as a fiesty, solid team and said “you had to play to beat them. I felt we were the better team, so it would have been a disappointment if we lost. They were well-coached and played the game right.”

Lopez, Collins, Perez, Danny Zardon, Esteban Puerta and David Villar had hits for Heritage.

The Patriots set their sights now on Jesuit in Thursday’s state semifinal as they attempt to reach the title game for the first time since 2009. Aven is expecting the team to face Jesuit ace Lance McCullers, whom Aven said throws in the mid-90s.

The Patriots, who won the state title in 2008, will need to use a variety of offense to succeed against McCullers, Aven said.

“We have to capitalize on any walks and have quality at-bats and put the ball in play,” he said.

Leave a comment using your facebook account!