Pensacola Catholic Advances To 4A State Final

Two-time defending state champion Pensacola Catholic survived in a marathon that totaled nearly six-and-a-half hours in all Wednesday evening, in a Class 4A state semifinal played at jetBlue Park in Fort Myers. After a back-and-forth affair the likes of which may never be seen again, the Crusaders (25-4) landed the final punch by walking off to an 8-7 victory on an RBI single from Cody Henry that scored Troy Stingfellow for the decisive run in the bottom of the eighth inning.

It was a game that saw three lead changes, five weather delays, 280 pitches and a million emotions.

The game had a seesaw of big moments for both sides. Added to the intensity and great play on the field, the day was disrupted numerous times by rain and lightning delays that forced game stoppage a total of five times. When the weather finally cleared for good over five hours after the first pitch was thrown, the Crusaders grabbed their first lead with a big four-run sixth inning to go up by a score of 7-6.

Carl Gindl and Brandon Wiley got things started with consecutive base hits to lead off the inning. Catcher Jimmy Richardson then connected on a deep shot for a triple that plated both runners. Troy Stringfellow came in to run for Richardson, and he tallied the second of his three runs on the day thanks to an RBI single from Donovan Benoit.

The Crusaders were not quite done yet. Following a pitching change, Brandon Lockridge singled to keep it going. Gavin Wehby walked to advance Lockridge into scoring position, before being caught stealing on the back-end of a double-steal. Cody Henry then put Pensacola Catholic ahead with a sac-fly RBI to center.

Lockridge had a big day in the leadoff spot, going 2-for-4. He reached base four times in five trips to the plate, reaching on an error and also drawing a walk.

Yet even down to their final out, the Eagles (20-10) got one last reminder of what they are made of that had brought them so far. Senior Edgar Badaraco jumped on a 1-0 offering and crushed it high and deep over the Green Monster in left field for a solo home run that tied the game back up and forced extra innings.

Due to the weather delays, the Eagles ended up having to go away from their ace starter, Alex Ernestine. The left-hander tossed three hitless frames to start the contest, and then only got four pitches after a half-hour halt to play. He was replaced to start the bottom of the fourth inning after another two-hour delay.

Ernestine also had a strong day with his glove and bat. His final out on the mound came when he made a fantastic backhand stab on a comebacker to the hill and then coolly ran the ball to the first baseman to complete a 1-2-3 third inning. Then, with the bases loaded in the sixth inning, he chopped a two-RBI double over third base to put North Broward up 6-3.

Yet for all the great plays North Broward made, Pensacola Catholic was there to match them.

“I thought it was an outstanding baseball game, probably the longest game I’ve ever been a part of from first pitch to last, for sure,” North Broward manager Brian Campbell said. “It was a grind to have to get hot, and then stop and rest and try to get hot again. But hey, they had to deal with it too. Maybe they dealt with it just a little better then we did.”

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