American Heritage Walks Off Arnold In 5A State Semifinal

The Marlins made a historic run to the 2025 state Final Four, before losing to the eventual-champion American Heritage Patriots.

When the final score is not in your favor and your team has fallen for the last time to end its season, all that is left is to recollect on the journey and the memories it created. For the 2025 Arnold Marlins, this is a story they should never forget, one they should recall with fondness and reverence every time. No other Marlins squad before them can share the experiences that these players had, as they pioneered the program to a historic finish that leaves the door open to inspire future teams to come and complete the task.

That final action came at the state Final Four played at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, a place the Marlins had never been before. They battled against one of the state’s most-accomplished teams in the American Heritage Patriots, a perennial contender that went on to win its fourth state title. It took extra innings for the game to be decided, and the outcome hung in the balance the entire way.

A single from Blayden Caballero found open space to right field in the bottom of the eighth inning, and the Patriots drove in the winning run to escape with a 3-2 win over the Marlins (27-8). R.J. Machado stroked a double to center field with one out to set himself up to eventually come around for the winning score.

The Patriots (28-6) had not scored since opening with two runs in the bottom of the first inning.

The Patriots scored two runs in the first inning, but the Marlins rallied to tie it and force extra innings.

The Marlins had lost just once throughout this entire playoff run, and were riding a three-game winning streak heading to the state tournament. Arnold swept the Clay Blue Devils to win the regional title, and it won 14 of its final 16 games. Although the state title fell out of reach, this 2025 season should always be remembered as one of the most successful and exciting experiences the baseball program ever enjoyed.

But after Heritage jumped ahead early thanks to RBIs from Joseph Castro and Dylan Dubovik, the Marlins faced their greatest challenge of the playoffs. They answered that adversity by playing the brand of baseball that got them this far, locking down its pitching and defense and giving the offense a chance to find the right time to respond.

Cooper Moss came on in relief and delivered an impressive performance. Called into action after starter Eli Blair was pulled after just 10 pitches, Moss delivered. The right-hander kept putting up zeroes each inning, scattering five total hits and three walks over 106 pitches that took him the rest of the way. He struck out eight to finish his season with 141 total strikeouts.

Cooper Moss amassed 389 strikeouts overall in his four-year varsity career.

Arnold bats against American Heritage in the Class 5A state semifinal at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers.

Arnold rallied to tie the game in the top of the third inning. Josh Lindsey walked with one out, Moss singled and then gave way to courtesy runner Nico Landavazo, and then Austin Hendrix also walked to load the bases. Conor McCann then delivered with an RBI single to left that plated two runners, before the lead runner was caught out advancing to third base.

Since Manager Chris Jones took over the program five years ago, the Marlins had steadily developed a gritty reputation. That grit and determination was on full display on this grand stage, as the two clubs played tug-of-war the rest of the way to force extra innings to determine the victor.

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