Last year, American High baseball players walked off the field dejected after losing a heartbreaking state semifinal game.
This year, they walked off the same field but with a different outcome – State Champions!
The Patriots’ juggernaut avenged last season’s state tournament loss by beating Tarpon Springs East Lake, 5-2, to claim the Class 7A Florida Championship, the school’s first-ever state title in baseball.
American ace pitcher Alex Blanco (6-0) led his team to the championship victory, pitching five scoreless innings, striking out six batters before giving up a couple of runs in the sixth inning.
Closer Andy Figueroa got the final out, a pop up that was caught by Eric Gonzalez to seal the win.
The Patriots (26-5) scored four runs in the fourth inning to take a 4-0 lead.
Mater Academy also had a championship celebration of its own.
The Lions (22-8) claimed the Class 6A state title by beating Winter Haven, 1-0, behind a dominating pitching performance by Kevin Fuentes, who tossed a complete-game with a one-hitter.
American and Mater Academy joined South Dade and Brito as the first Miami-Dade Public Schools to win state titles in the same season and the first championships for Miami-Dade County since Hialeah won two consecutive titles in 2002.
South Dade defeated Valrico Bloomingdale, 3-1, to win the Class 8A state title, while Brito defeated Naples Seacrest Country Day, 14-2, to claim the Class 2A championship, giving Miami-Dade a clean sweep in the state tournament.