St. Thomas Aquinas Wins Regional Title, Moves On To States

Box Score

The St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders are going back to the state tournament.

Behind a massive display of power and several big scoring innings, the Raiders earned a 12-6 win over the host Doral Academy Firebirds on Saturday. After suffering their first loss of the playoffs in Game Two, the Raiders bounced back to win the decisive third game to claim the series victory and win the 6A-4 regional title.

The Raiders (27-6-1) advance to the state Final Four, at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers beginning on Friday, May 16th. They will be playing for their fourth state championship, most recently winning it all back in 2018.

Four runs in the top of the second put St. Thomas in control, and, after Doral answered right back with three runs in the bottom of the frame, a five-run fourth inning paved the way to victory. Nico Sabatino was 3-for-5 with a double, two runs and an RBI to set the tone from the lead-off spot, while Jaden Doverspike, Andrew Alvarez and Brady Buxbaum all hit home runs.

Buxbaum was hit by a pitch and Alvarez walked to get things started in the second, and an error allowed both runners to score and put St. Thomas out in front. Doverspike then doubled that lead when he deposited a 1-0 offering over the fence for a two-run home run.

George Pardo Jr. stole some of that momentum back by smacking a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the second, which helped ignited the Firebirds (26-8-1) in stringing some hits together. Gavin Ruvalcaba and Gabriel Milano then had RBI singles to get Doral right back into things.

But with two runners on in the top of the fourth, Sabatino came through with an RBI single and Zachary Malvasio supplied a sac-fly RBI. Buxbaum then connected for a three-run blast that had the Raiders up 9-3 and tasting the victory.

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