Wielding a 23 game-winning streak in the Class 5A state championship game last week, Monsignor Pace baseball team knew it faced an uphill battle against Bolles of Jacksonville, ranked No. 24 in the nation.
The Spartans took Bolles into extra innings but a bunt that drove in a runner in the ninth crushed Pace’s chance for the championship, as the players swallowed a dose of disbelief that their season ended, 1-0, on so many missed opportunities at Jet Blue Park in Fort Myers.
Pace, which is ranked No. 1 in Miami-Dade High School Baseball Final 2016 Power Rankings, was seeking its seventh state title in baseball, the last came in 2006, but four errors and numerous squandered scoring chances cost the Spartans the game, as players had to watch Bolles celebrate its championship win.
Pace pitchers, Chris and Manny Rodriguez, held Bolles’ offense at bay but the Spartans left 12 runners stranded and a miscue on base running should’ve brought in the leading run in the seventh inning.