The Coral Shores boys baseball team opened the season with a late-inning rally in a tightly-contested game against the St. Brendan Sabres on Feb. 8 at Roger Allen Field at Founders Park.
Despite a slow offensive start, the game ended in dramatic fashion. Trailing 2-1 with two outs and bases empty in the bottom of the seventh inning, junior first baseman Javier Gonzalez drew the walk to put the tying run on base. Senior speedster Lucas Dennis was called upon to pinch run for Gonzalez and stole second base right away.
Senior catcher Mario Menéndez came through with a clutch two-strike single to left field in the bottom of the seventh to score Dennis to tie the game. Menendez put himself in scoring position, taking second base on the throw to home.
Starting shortstop and leadoff hitter in sophomore Dylan Bloom jumped on the first pitch with a line drive to right field, scoring Menéndez for the dramatic walk-off win.
“It’s a great start to the season,” said head coach Joe Molinaro. “ The team understands it’s a process to continue to get better.”
Tyler Rodriguez pitched a complete-game four-hitter to earn his first win. After giving up two runs in the first inning, Rodriguez shut down St. Brendan’s bats with six strikeouts. Bloom had his first multi-hit game of his varsity career with two hits.
The Canes, 1-0, return to the diamond on Friday, Feb. 19 at 5 p.m. for a matchup against LaSalle.
