Merritt Island entered the Class 4A, Region 2 semifinals against American Heritage (Plantation) knowing it was going to be a competitive three-game series.
American Heritage, the reigning Class 4A state champions, sent its star pitcher and Florida commit, Brady Snow, to the mound for Friday’s Game 1.
In only its fourth one-run game of the season, No. 1 seed Merritt Island emerged on the right end of the pitcher’s duel thanks to a stellar outing from junior Jesse Decter and well-executed offense in a 3-2 victory.
“Just gutsy. We haven’t played a ton of close games all year. Super proud of them competing against the best guy we’ve seen in 2 years,” Merritt Island head coach Jason Arnold. “(Snow) was really good again. Made a couple mistakes and we made a couple big swings with runners in scoring position. This is what playoff baseball looks like. It just takes those little things and I think we did them just a little bit better than they did.”
Decter set the tone for the Mustangs. After allowing a first-inning run, the junior settled in and completed his second-longest outing of the season. In 5 2/3 innings, Decter allowed 1 run on 7 hits. He walked one and struck out seven.
“I love everything we did,” Decter said. “We stayed composed during the game. We just really passed the bat and we let our defense and offense work and we did what we needed to do.”
American Heritage scored a run just two batters into the game after a double and an RBI single. From that point on, Decter kept the Patriots off the scoreboard.
“I think I could have done a little bit better maintaining hit by pitches and walks, but besides that I still think I did my job well,” Decter said. “My slider was clicking and my two-seam was helping me a lot.”
His biggest adversity came in the fourth inning with Merritt Island sporting a 2-1 lead. American Heritage hit 3 singles to load the bases, but Decter induced a ground out on a bang-bang play at first base to escape unscathed.
“I just know that my offense can put in that work. I just have to trust them and trust my defense too,” Decter said. “I don’t have to strike out everybody out. Even if I let up a run or two, I just got to stay composed and know they’ll have my back.”
It was a nervy relief outing for sophomore Grant Arnold. After Decter allowed back-to-back 2-out singles in the bottom of the sixth, Grant entered the game and forced a fly out to deep left field to retire the side.
American Heritage threatened in the seventh after a single and a double put runners on second and third base with 1 out. The Patriots trimmed the deficit to 3-2 on an RBI ground out, but Grant struck out the next hitter to secure the 4-out save.
“The guys just stayed calm in the moment, especially at the end there when it got a little dicey,” Jason said. “Charlie (Blalock) makes a really good play on a chopper that’s not as easy as it looks. Grant (Arnold) steps it up at the end.”
Merritt Island boasted one of the most potent offenses in the state. However, Snow held the Mustangs mostly at bay with only 6 hits allowed, all singles, to go with 12 strikeouts in 6 innings.
Friday’s Game 1 marked only the fourth time this season Merritt Island was outhit in a game.
“We were just trying to make sure we were on time for the fastball,” Jason said. “The breaking ball is so good that when he (Snow) locates it where he wants to at the bottom of the zone, it’s probably not hittable. We really did the best we could. He still got his strikeouts. We knew there was no way we were going to win unless it was this kind of game.”
After trailing 1-0, Merritt Island stepped into the batter’s box in the bottom of the first and tied the game on an RBI single by Grant.
Mustangs senior Nick Cunningham led off the third with a single. He advanced to second base on a passed ball and to third on a ground out. Cunningham scampered home on another passed ball with two outs to make it 2-1.
Merritt Island sophomore Ty Brandes singled to lead off the bottom of the sixth. After an errant throw on a pickoff attempt allowed Brandes to run to third base, junior Liam Miller singled him home for what proved to be the winning run.
“We’ve kind of slugged our way through the season. Everyone wants to talk about the offense. I’m proud of them,” Jason said. “That’s true, but to think you’re going to come out and score eight or 10 runs a night in the playoffs is not going to happen. Really showed me something (Friday) that you’re going to have to find a way to win however you need to. It was 3-2 and they stepped up.”
Merritt Island plays Game 2 at noon on Saturday. If American Heritage wins, the teams will play Game 3 immediately afterwards for a spot in the regional final.
American Heritage (17-8) 100 000 1 – 2 8 1
Merritt Island (24-3) 101 001 X – 3 6 0
Class 2A, Region 2: Cocoa Beach holds on
Cocoa Beach knocked off the No. 1 seed Lakeland Christian 6-5 in Game 1 on Friday.
The 4-seeded Minutemen scored four runs in the fourth inning to keep the lead for good. Cocoa Beach turned a game-ending double play after Lakeland Christian homered to lead off the bottom of the seventh.
Gant Ramsey led the Minutemen with 3 hits, 1 double and 1 RBI. Hayden Wilson, Garrett Harper and Kayden Dougherty drove in 1 run each.
Cocoa Beach needs one win on Saturday to advance to the regional final.
Cocoa Beach (17-10) 020 040 0 – 6 10 0
Lakeland Christian (19-4) 301 000 1 – 5 8 4
Class 6A, Region 2: Melbourne struggles
Melbourne suffered a 14-4 defeat to No. 2 Lake Minneola in Game 1 on Friday. The Hawks finished the game with 11 hits, including 2 doubles and a home run.
Chase Maringola led No. 3 Melbourne with two hits and one RBI. Bryce Conner homered and Michael Rogers and Gabriel Gonzalez finished with one RBI.
Melbourne needs to win both games on Saturday to move on.
Melbourne (20-5) 040 00 – 4 6 1
Lake Minneola (22-5) 620 42 – 14 11 0
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Merritt Island, Cocoa Beach baseball win Game 1s; Melbourne falls
Reporting by Sam Ficarro, Florida Today / Florida Today
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
