After a stunning defeat of Broward’s American Heritage in the regional quarterfinal, Barbara Goleman’s baseball team was seeking to pull off another upset, this time over the nation’s No. 13 ranked Archbishop McCarthy.
The Gators smelled victory but tasted defeat, as the Mavericks (26-2) shut out Goleman, 5-0, to advance to the regional final.
The Gators finished the season 19-11 and captured the district championship for the third consecutive season with a victory over division rival Miami Springs.
The two teams were hoping to clash again in the postseason, but McCarthy destroyed the Golden Hawks, 15-0, in the regional quarterfinal, while the Gators knocked off the Patriots.
The Mavericks kept the Gators scoreless for the second time of the season (Coral Park beat Goleman, 1-0, in April).
McCarthy senior Daniel Federman scattered four hits and struck out 10 in nine innings of work.
The Mavericks jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning on four straight hits from the top of the order.