HIGH SCHOOL REGIONAL BASEBALL

Four state title dreams will stay alive

BY ANDRE C. FERNANDEZ

a1fernandez@MiamiHerald.com

Belen is hoping it won't need any more walk-off magic.

La Salle is trying to make school history, and Gulliver intends to slay another powerhouse.

Brito is trying to earn a chance to defend its state championship.

And in Class 6A, either Palmetto gets its payback against Hialeah or the T-Breds can start packing for state for the fifth time in seven years.

The outcomes will be decided today at four baseball regional finals around Miami-Dade County.

Belen has enjoyed a thrilling four-game winning streak since the playoffs began. The Wolverines (20-10), who won their district, have won their past two playoff games with game-winning home runs in the seventh inning. Belen will try to clinch its second trip to state and first in four seasons when it hosts Class 4A 10th-ranked Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (22-6) at 4 p.m.

''I hope we don't need to pull one out again in the seventh, because these games have been exciting, but draining,'' Belen coach Tony Meilan said. ``It's a great thing to see these guys not give up.''

Right fielder Eric Cos, who hit the game-winner against Jensen Beach on Friday, leads the team in hitting (.467 average), and is one of four senior starters. Junior catcher Byron Soler hit the home run that beat Pembroke Pines Charter and is averaging .427 with four home runs.

Left-handed senior pitcher Mauricio Rodriguez has broken the single-season school record for strikeouts (97) previously held by Florida Marlins minor-leaguer Gaby Hernandez.