Boca Christian Takes Regional Semifinal Over Zion

Zion Lutheran senior Marco Pinto closes out his high school career.

Last Monday, the Boca Christian Blazers defeated the Zion Lutheran Lions 5-0 to win the 2A-13 championship. On Tuesday the teams were at it again, playing in a 2A regional semifinal at Boca Christian. The Blazers rode the pitching of right-hander Logan Retaiczak and an offense which scored multiple runs in four different innings to a 10-2 victory.

“Logan really controlled the zone well. Dug out of a few situations where he got back in the count, even three balls, and worked the count back in his favor,” Blazers Manager Clint Erickson said of his junior ace. “With nine strikeouts in five innings, I think the book showed he pitched a great game.”

The Blazers live to play another day, thanks to a wild third inning. Singles by Jack Havelka and Zach Hoffman and a double steal put two Lions in scoring position. Three infield errors brought them home, and Zach Gray also scored to give Boca Christian a three-run lead. Numerous errors throughout helped Boca Christian continually add to that lead to put the contest away.

The Lions fought back in the fourth when Paul Rolle laced a single to right, advancing to third on a two-base outfield error. After Elijah Rodriguez was hit by a pitch, Ben Mathiot lifted an RBI sacrifice fly to score Paul Rolle.

There was still fight left in the Lions to the end. After a lead-off walk to Rodriguez in the seventh, the hardest hit ball of the day came off the bat of Ben Mathiot. He crushed a line-drive single to left, knocking in Rodriguez.

The Lions, with just six players of high school age on an 11-man roster, played tough even as they came up short for the fourth time against the Blazers this season. Their quest for experience wasn’t helped this winter when a shake-up at the school left them with a schedule of ten fewer regular season games than their district competition.

Boca Christian’s Logan Retaiczak struck out nine in five innings.

“We’re a very young team, the first year playing ball for many of our players, but we tried,” Lions’ Manager Rick Martinez said. “I’m proud of my guys. We never stopped playing baseball. We’re looking forward now to next season.”

Starting pitcher and the Lions’ sole senior, Marco Pinto, was philosophical about the end of his high school career.

“It doesn’t hurt that bad,” Pinto said. “I’m going to play baseball next year, so it’s not over. I’ve got some places to play. I’m not sure which school, but probably out of state in Massachusetts.”

When the ball started flying around while the Blazers were at bat, Erickson was pleased with his team’s reaction.

“I’m glad our guys kept their composure, just kept playing solid baseball and kept hittin’ the ball well,” said the Blazers’ Manager.

The other regional semifinal in Region 4 between Miami Christian and Miami Brito was rained out Tuesday in Miami and rescheduled for Wednesday. Because Miami Christian was runner-up in its district, should the Victors win, Boca Christian will host the final. If Miami Brito wins, then Boca Christian will travel to Miami for the final on Friday.

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