Tampa Bay High School Baseball
Gardyn Web

Leto Falls In 7A Semifinal For 2nd Straight Season

The Doral Firebirds have had one focus all season long, to get back to states and avenge what they felt like was a game that got away against Venice in last years 7A state semifinals.

On Friday night, the Firebirds assured themselves they would have that chance. After watching Venice win a fascinating 9-8 extra-inning semifinal over Creekside, Doral had little trouble defeating Leto 10-0, setting up the rematch they have been waiting for all year.

“Ever since we lost that game last year, we have been focused on getting back here and beating them,” said Gabby Gutierrez, who went 3-for-4 with five RBIs. “We didn’t play our best game last year, and we know we are a better team than we showed. That sat with us for the whole year, and now we get our chance to show what we are capable of.”

The game Friday turned on one swing of the bat from Gutierrez. With Doral holding a 1-0 lead, and the bases loaded in the second inning, Gutierrez turned on a fastball and drove it down the left field line, clearing the bases, and giving the Firebirds a 4-0 lead.

“That hit set the tone for the night,” said Doral Manager Ralph Suarez. “We haven’t given up a run since the regional playoffs began. That tells you all you need to know about how we are playing right now.”

Indeed, the run the Firebirds are on is one few teams have experienced in recent years. They began their regional playoffs with a 10-0 win over Northeast, followed by a regional semifinal 6-0 win over district rival Belen Jesuit.

If that was not impressive enough, Doral looks to have gotten stronger since those two games, winning the regional final 10-0 over West Boca, and the state semifinal 10-0 Friday. Each of those games were five inning mercy rule games. In all, the Firebirds have outscored their regional and state semifinal opponents by a combined 36-0, including three mercy-rule wins in four games.

“We are hitting the ball well, and our pitching and defense has been great,” said Suarez. “Name another team that has beaten the quality opponents we have beaten this season?”

Suarez was referring to wins over state finalist Cardinal Gibbons, perennial powers Westminster Christian, Belen, Monsignor Pace, and Calvary Christian.

Still, there is one team the Firebirds must defeat to complete their historic run. The Indians team that handled them 11-1 in last year’s 7A semifinal.

“Tomorrow we are just going to come out and do what we do,” said Suarez. “venice beat us last year, and we have been working to get back into this position. If we do what we have been doing for the past month, I like our chances.”

Leto also was looking for redemption from last season, as the Falcons lost their 2018 state semifinal to Pace, 5-3. With a raucous crowd behind them, the Falcons hit balls hard all night, but fell victim to either the bad luck of hitting balls right at Doral fielders, or the sensational defense played by the Firebirds.

Regardless, this night belonged to the Firebirds, as they used a six run second inning to break the game open. Six of the nine hitters in the Firebirds lineup had hits, including two each from Adrian Figueroa and Luis Espinal.

“We got our timing down early, and we have been motivated all year from last year’s loss to Venice,” said Figueroa. “We have been on a mission all year, and when our offense gets going everything is contagious. That’s what happened tonight. We are locked in and focused on bringing home this state title.”

For Leto, it was a game of missed opportunities after hitting balls had all night.

“We stayed aggressive all the way to the end,” said Leto Manager JJ Pizzio. “We didn’t get some balls through and they made some big plays defensively. They didn’t make any errors and if the other team doesn’t make mistakes on balls you hit hard, then you aren’t going to win.”

Despite the loss, Leto finishes 2019 as regional champs for the second season in a row.

Doral will get their long-awaited rematch with Venice in the 7A championship game Saturday at 7:30.

Leave a comment using your facebook account!

Today's Games
Latest Scores
Scores last updated at 5:33 pm
Lakewood Ranch Mustangs (7-6-1)
Braden River Pirates (7-7)
7
5
Final
Sumner Stingrays (8-4)
Palm Harbor University (10-1)
0
0
4:00 PM
Brooks DeBartolo Phoenix (4-9)
Bell Creek Academy (8-2)
0
0
4:00 PM
Seminole Warhawks (11-3)
Boca Ciega Pirates (2-11)
0
0
4:00 PM
Tampa Catholic Crusaders (9-5)
Cardinal Mooney Cougars (6-5-1)
0
0
4:00 PM
Montini Catholic, IL
Northside Christian (10-4)
0
0
4:00 PM
Maret School, D.C.
Manatee Hurricanes (11-3)
0
0
4:00 PM
Oasis Christian Lions (5-4)
Foundation Christian Panthers (7-1)
0
0
4:00 PM
Central Bears (6-7)
Mitchell Mustangs (3-9)
0
0
4:00 PM
Weeki Wachee Hornets (7-7)
Bishop McLaughlin (9-5)
0
0
4:00 PM
Lakeside Christian Lions (1-6)
Keswick Christian Crusaders (5-6)
0
0
4:30 PM
Bay Port, WI
Northside Christian (10-4)
0
0
4:30 PM
Tampa Prep Terrapins (8-5)
Seffner Christian Academy (10-2)
0
0
4:30 PM
Palmetto Tigers (7-6)
Inspiration Academy
0
0
5:00 PM
Lakewood Ranch Prep (0-2)
Sarasota Christian (4-4)
0
0
6:00 PM
St. Francis, NY
Santa Fe Catholic Hawks (9-4)
0
0
6:00 PM
Sickles Gryphons (11-3)
Dunedin Falcons (9-3)
0
0
6:30 PM
Sarasota Sailors (7-10)
Venice Indians (13-1)
0
0
7:00 PM
Spoto Spartans (3-11)
Wharton Wildcats (5-10)
0
0
7:00 PM
Calvary Christian Warriors (11-1)
Countryside Cougars (9-5)
0
0
7:00 PM
Upper Arlington, OH
Lakeland Christian (8-2)
0
0
7:00 PM
Bartow Yellow Jackets (5-7)
Lakeland Dreadnaughts (11-2)
0
0
7:00 PM
Frostproof Bulldogs (4-8)
Kathleen Red Devils (2-10)
0
0
7:00 PM
Sebring Blue Streaks (13-1)
Avon Park Red Devils (8-5)
0
0
7:00 PM
Sunlake Seahawks (4-7)
Carrollwood Day (13-2)
0
0
7:00 PM
Clearwater Tornadoes (5-9)
Pinellas Park Patriots (5-7)
0
0
7:00 PM
Indian Rocks Christian (6-7)
Clearwater Central Catholic (6-6)
0
0
7:00 PM
Plant City Raiders (6-8)
Alonso Ravens (6-8)
0
0
7:00 PM
Brandon Eagles (1-12)
King Lions (5-7)
0
0
7:00 PM
Chamberlain Storm (4-10)
Blake Yellow Jackets (1-8)
0
0
7:00 PM
Jefferson Dragons (11-4)
Bloomingdale Bulls (8-5)
0
0
7:00 PM
Lake Wales Highlanders (5-8)
IMG Academy Royal
0
0
7:00 PM
Discovery Spartans (10-6)
Lake Gibson Braves (1-9)
0
0
7:00 PM
Leto Falcons (5-8)
Hillsborough Terriers (6-7)
0
0
7:00 PM
St. Petersburg Green Devils (4-8)
Largo Packers (7-5)
0
0
7:00 PM
Steinbrenner Warriors (6-8)
Riverview Sharks (2-11)
0
0
7:00 PM
Durant Cougars (11-2)
Gaither Cowboys (9-5)
0
0
7:00 PM
Winter Haven Blue Devils (11-2)
McKeel Wildcats (12-1)
0
0
7:00 PM
Tampa Bay Tech Titans (4-8)
Freedom Patriots (3-10)
0
0
7:00 PM
Lake Region Thunder (6-5)
Fort Meade Miners (8-5)
0
0
7:00 PM
Greenbrier West, WV
Tarpon Springs Spongers (8-6)
0
0
7:00 PM
Plant Panthers (11-3)
Newsome Wolves (11-3)
0
0
7:00 PM
Middleton Tigers (0-8)
Robinson Knights (8-7)
0
0
7:00 PM
DeSoto County Bulldogs (0-10)
Mulberry Panthers (9-6)
0
0
7:00 PM
East Lake Eagles (11-1)
Nature Coast Tech (10-2)
0
0
7:00 PM
Victory Christian Storm (3-8)
Auburndale Bloodhounds (2-11)
0
0
7:30 PM
View Full League Schedule
Tampa Bay
×
Teams» Players
Player Search» College Signees» College Prospects»
Schedule» Stats Leaders
Batting Leaders» Pitching Leaders» Batting Stats Table» Pitching Stats Table» Team Batting Stats» Team Pitching Stats»
Skills Leaders
Top GPA» Top Batting Exit Velocity» Top 60 Times» Top 30 Times»
Power Rankings» Player Honors
All-HSBN Teams» All-District Teams» Senior All-Star Teams»
Team Admin» High School Baseball Network HSBN Websites
HSBN Broward» HSBN Jacksonville» HSBN Miami-Dade» HSBN North Central Florida» HSBN Orlando» HSBN Palm Beach» HSBN Panhandle» HSBN Southwest Florida» HSBN Space Coast» HSBN Tampa Bay» HSBN Leagues» HSBN Tournaments»
HSBN Stats Leaders
Batting Leaders» Pitching Leaders»
HSBN Skills Leaders
Highest GPA» Best Batting Exit Velocity» Fastest 60 Times» Fastest 30 Times»
HSBN Power Rankings» HSBN Team Search» HSBN College Prospects» HSBN College Signees» HSBN Events Schedule»
HSBN Prospects

Home

Standings

Scores

Players