Chaminade-Madonna Repeats As District Champions

Some district title games are better than others. Some, when they are played, become instant classics, that will be remembered for years and years, decades even, by the coaches, players, and fans that were in attendance.

Friday night was one of those games, when longtime friends, Chaminade-Madonna Manager Jerry Albert, and University School’s Dan Rovetto, and their teams, squared off for the 2A-14 district title.

The game featured Chaminade gaining several leads throughout the game, and USchool battling back each time. In the end, the Lions Josh Andel doubled in Alejandro Fernandez to give the Lions an 8-7 win, and the district title.

“This was one of the more exciting district championship games you will see,” said Albert. “It really was an absolute battle back and forth all night. Four good pitchers for both teams. Some incredible defensive players, and both teams offenses just grinding. I give Danny and his team a ton of credit. This was just one of those games where both teams were playing their hearts out, and one team had to win. We were fortunate tonight that was us.”

The game began with the Sharks drawing first blood. They scored two in the first on a Mark Manuel double, and then added a run on a Nick Trevilla single.

In the bottom of the second, Dylan Goris singled in Chase Potter, and Andel knocked in Goris, cutting the lead to 3-2. An error then tied the game at three.

Potter would be at it again an inning later, giving the Lions a 4-3 lead with a home run.

Chaminade added two more runs in the fourth, taking what seemed like a commanding 6-3 lead at the time.

In the fifth, however, a Manuel two-RIB double cut the lead to 6-5.

AJ Diaz homered in the fifth to again extend the lead to 7-5.

The Sharks scored one run in the sixth, and then tied the game in the seventh on an Aidan Jacobs sacrifice fly.

That set up the Andel heroics in the bottom of the seventh.

“That was a terrific at-bat at the end of the game, with two outs, by Josh,” said Albert. “He just battled and battled throughout the at-bat, and then was able to come through at the end. That is a moment he will never forget.”

Albert was quick to reflect on how well his opponent played on this night.

“To jump out to that lead and then watch them battle back. They have great approaches at the plate and are just coached really well. It was a great game to be a part of. When they tied the game in the seventh, they really had us on the ropes. I am proud of how we responded.”

The two teams will now turn their attention towards preparing for regionals. Chaminade will be one of the 2A favorites to get to the state Final Four, and USchool showed Friday that they also will be a team that has an opportunity to end up in Fort Myers.

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