Stallions Outlast Saints In 11 Innings To Win District 3A-13

American Heritage celebrates with the trophy after their 11-inning, 2-1 win over Summit Christian.

Canavan can. And he did.

Freshman catcher Chris Canavan sliced a one-out RBI single down the right-field line to lift American Heritage over Summit Christian 2-1 in 11 innings in the District 3A-13 championship game in Delray Beach.

It was Canavan’s first walk-off hit at any level.

“I was just trying to put the ball in play,” said Canavan, who was piled on by his celebrating teammates after crossing first base. “It was exciting. I’ve never been in this type of situation in a high school game being a freshman. I never thought I’d experience it.”

This was the Stallions’ ninth consecutive district title. They will host Calvary Christian on Wednesday, and Summit Christian will travel to Coral Springs Christian.

Corey Cohen led off the bottom of the 11th with a ground-ball single to right field against Tyler DuPont, Summit’s third pitcher. Cohen, who injured his knee during an at-bat in the eighth, was replaced by pinch-runner Dylan Silver.

Connor Power bunted Silver to second, and after getting a big lead, he stole third, being called safe when the throw was dropped.

Canavan then hit a 2-2 pitch to end the 3-hour, 15-minute marathon.

“We know we’re going to battle with them,” said American Heritage manager Carm Mazza, referring to the Saints, the defending Class 1A state champions. “It’s a fistfight. They didn’t step back. It was an incredible game. We tried everything we could. They put pressure on. We put pressure on.”

Mazza knew he had to stay aggressive late in the game, which is why he called for the steal.

“We thought we had our times at the end working in our favor,” said Mazza. “We got a little lucky, (then) the base knock and that was it. We called (the steal). If the pitch is right, his time to the plate is right, we get to the certain amount of steps, we’re going to run. And it was there. The combination was there. We know we have a plus catcher back there and he made a great throw. We just got a little lucky right there. We did. We’ll admit that.”

American Heritage took a 1-0 lead in the third inning. Anfernee Seymour single and scored on Trevor Maloney’s double down the left-field line.

Summit Christian (18-8) tied it in the sixth. Efren Sanchez led off with a double to deep center field against starter Dylan Arnold. Dakota Julylia came in to run for Sanchez. Anthony Delaney and John Silviano were each hit by a pitch to load the bases, one by Arnold and one by reliever Josh Glick.

Sam Murphy singled to left off Glick to score Julylia, but Shane Swanson hit into a 6-2-3 double play and Scott Murphy grounded out to end the threat.

Murphy, a strong left-hander, kept Heritage at bay most of the game, pitching nine innings, striking out nine and walking three while throwing 139 pitches. He also had two singles and a walk.

“The effort is tremendous,” said Mazza. “The kid just battled. He got better once he started getting that breaking ball late in the game. He kept us off balance. A great effort.”

Arnold, a right-hander who threw 79 pitches in five innings, and Glick, a senior sidewinder who pitched five innings in relief, virtually matched Murphy.

Junior Pete Castillo pitched the 11th for Heritage, retired the side in order on 13 pitches, was credited with the victory.

Seymor, Maloney and Cohen had two hits each for Heritage (18-7).

Mazza knows the second season begins Friday.

“It’s nice, it’s nice for the kids,” said Mazza of winning the district title. “This was draining. (But) it’s better to be in our dugout than theirs. We want the next two bigger ones (trophies). We want the regional champ and we’d love to go to states and have a chance for that.”

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