Park Vista Rallies Past Douglas 4-3 To Reach State

Park Vista ace Austin Smith pitched a complete game to help the Cobras reach the Final Four.

Tyler Barre and Austin Smith are best friends and they are on a memorable journey together, along with their teammates.

Almost 30 minutes after Smith struck out the final batter to clinch Park Vista’s 4-3 victory over Douglas in the Class 8A regional final on Friday night, Barre was still in his catcher’s gear, soaking in the win.

“Me and Austin have known each other forever and we said the one thing we wanted is a ring and now we’re one step closer,” said Barre, who was drenched after getting a cooler filled with water tossed on him by former players.

Park Vista rallied twice to ensure their fourth trip to the Final Four since 2008 and first since 2011.

It was also the 400th career victory for Park Vista Manager Larry Greenstein.

The Cobras will play Bloomingdale (20-9), which defeated Winter Park 2-1, in the state semifinals Friday at 4 p.m. at jetBlue Park in Fort Myers.

“To get where we’re at, it’s a tough road and I’m really proud of our guys,” said Greenstein. “This is one I’ll remember.”

Smith, Park Vista’s ace, improved his record to 12-0 despite struggling early, allowing two unearned runs in the first inning.

“He settled down,” said Greenstein. “This is a big stage. He probably was nervous. Who wouldn’t be? You’re 17 years old, playing for a regional title, going to the Final Four, which none of these kids have ever been to. I think I’d be nervous too.”

Smith walked two and threw two wild pitches in the first inning and allowed one hit while the Cobras committed one error as Douglas jumped out to a 2-0 lead.

“He really gutted it out at the end,” said Greenstein. “I thought he was fantastic at the end.”

But Greenstein was prepared to pull his star pitcher in the final inning.

“I had two guys ready,” said Greenstein. “That’s baseball. You don’t want to get caught in the middle and say ‘I should have’.

Smith admitted he was nervous at the beginning of the game.

“I came out a little nervous because I knew it was do or die, I knew I had to do it for my team,” said the junior right-hander. “After the first inning, I settled in and started dealing and throwing strikes. (In the seventh inning), I just gave it my all.”

Dakota Julylia tripled and scored the winning run in the fifth inning for Park Vista.

Park Vista took its first lead in the third inning on junior first baseman Joey Genord’s three-run home run to left field with one out.

“The whole at-bat I was looking for something to put out, whether it was opposite field or not,” said the right-handed Genord, who hit a 2-2 curveball for his second home run of the season. “My team needed it. I had to make up for the error in the first inning.”

Douglas (18-9) tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the fifth on consecutive one-out singles by Tyler Norris, Dominic DiCaprio and Colton Welker. It was Welker’s third hit and second RBI.

Park Vista (26-3) took the lead again in the bottom of the fifth inning. Dakota Julylia smashed a one-out triple to the right-field corner. With the infield in, Barre grounded out to second and Genord was intentionally walked to set up a force play. Julylia scored when the second baseman mishandled the throw from the third baseman on Austin Smith’s grounder to third.

Smith did not allow another runner the rest of the game, striking out six of the final eight hitters to secure Greenstein’s memorable win. He finished with 10 strikeouts and three walks.

Douglas Manager Todd Fitz-Gerald said the pitch to Genord was a costly mistake but that senior left-hander Jake Miednik maybe should not have been in that position.

“Maybe if we caught that fly ball then it’s a two-run home run,” said Fitz-Gerald, who added that the error in the fifth inning was a heart-breaker.

“It was an easy pitch and catch,” said Fitz-Gerald. “He dropped the ball. We’ve got to catch the baseball. That’s an experienced guy right there. It wasn’t a bad throw.”

Daniel Ruiz, Tyler Norris and DiCaprio were the only other Eagles besides Welker with hits while Blake Bottomley reached base on a walk.

“Our guy did great, our catcher called a great game,” said Fitz-Gerald. “Their guy did great. I think they’re a very good ballclub. I think we’re a very good ballclub. I don’t think the better team won, but the team that made the less mistakes won tonight. My hats go off to them. He had his guys ready. We were prepared. We don’t fear anybody. Austin Smith was good; we’ve seen just as good.”

Leave a comment using your facebook account!