High school baseball: Belen's rally cuts Jensen Beach's run short

By staff reports
May 5, 2007

MIAMI — Two times in the final two innings on Friday evening, it appeared that the Jensen Beach baseball team would be making its first trip to the regional final.

But the Falcons allowed 10 runs and made three errors in that span, losing to Belen Jesuit 13-12 on a walk-off home run in the Region 4-4A semifinals.

The Falcons (19-8) took a 9-3 lead in the sixth inning off a Brad Hopek solo home run and a bases-loaded double by Mike Anthony, only to surrender seven hits and two errors in the bottom half of the inning, which ended with Belen Jesuit (20-10) leading 11-9.

In the top of the seventh, with runners on first and second and Jensen Beach down to its final strike, Nick Sclafani pounded a full-count fastball over the fence to give Jensen Beach a 12-11 lead.

"He's unbelievable under pressure," Belowch said of Sclafani. "He crushed it, just crushed it. It was great to see somebody like Joe do something like that."

With one out in the bottom of the seventh a Belen Jesuit batter reached base on an error and Eric Cos hit a two-run, game-ending home run off Evan Coale. It was the Wolverines' second consecutive win on a walk-off homer.

"We talked after the game and the guys obviously were upset," Belowch said. "The way that both teams battled — it would have been disappointing for either team."

Jensen Beach made its first appearance in the regional tournament this season and won the District 14-4A championship.