First Academy Takes 2-1 Win Over St. Andrew’s At State Semi

Michael Tight earned the start at Hammond Stadium and he allowed three runs on five hits with no walks and three strikeouts for the Scots.

It was the most historic baseball game ever played for the St. Andrew’s Scots. The end result was not what anyone wanted, but this is far from the end of the story, and merely the beginning.

Tuesday afternoon’s Class 2A state semifinal ended in a 3-2 defeat at the hands of The First Academy Royals at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, in the first-ever state Final Four appearance for the St. Andrew’s Scots. After running wild through the regional playoffs against some of South Florida’s toughest 2A opponents, the Scots announced themselves to playoff baseball with a thunderous roar.

“I thought we played a very well-rounded game, and we just came out on the wrong side of it. I’m incredibly proud of them,” first-year Manager Joey Housey said. “It’s been special; this is a special group. There are a lot of seniors in this group that haven’t been able to have success, especially in the postseason. To buy in and to really turn St. Andrew’s into a program and not just a baseball team, we’ve done a great job of that. I’m incredibly proud of this group for being able to accomplish the things that they have. They were able to stick with it when we were 1-3 and continued to build and raise the standard for what we expect us to be when we go out there.”

The Scots overcame that early-season struggle to end the year at 22-7, which included a six-game winning streak that was snapped on Tuesday. They swept the best-of-three regional playoffs against University School, Westminster Christian and St. John Paul II Academy.

“To be able to run through regionals in six straight games was special,” Housey said. “The team bonded and were together, and they really put together something special.”

Carter Derks was 2-for-3 with a double and a run.

Senior catcher Coy Allman helped them continue that momentum against the Royals, as he jumped on the very first pitch of the game and drilled a single through the left side. Courtesy-runner Harrison Hansen came in for Allman, and Carter Derks moved him into scoring position with a single to right field. An infield error then allowed both runners to score and give the Scots an early 2-0 lead.

But First Academy answered back with all of its runs in the bottom of the first. Blake Fields led off with a double, Austin Pierzynski was hit by a pitch and then Roy Rodriguez sent his first offering into center field for an RBI single. Kinon Bastian then connected for the biggest hit of the day to account for the winning runs, as he stroked a shot deep to center field for a two-RBI double.

At most any high school field, Bastian’s blast would have left the yard. The shot traveled 382 feet on a 26-degree launch angle and a 91.5 mph exit velocity, soaring over the outfielder to reach the wall.

Making the start on the biggest stage, senior Michael Tight settled in quickly after those first-inning troubles. He gave his team a solid outing to keep them in the game and allow the offense chances to rally, pitching into the fifth inning while allowing five hits and all three earned runs. He did not walk any batters and struck out three.

“It was awesome being out there,” Tight said. “I thought the other guy on their team really battled, as well. It was super hot out, but we both battled. We had a bump in the road, but we both overcame that and pitched a great game besides that. So it really means a lot, and I appreciate Coach for trusting me and giving me the opportunity to start in arguably the biggest game in the history of our school. I really appreciate that. It’s tough coming up just short, but I’m glad that we fought really hard today and all year. I’m proud of everyone.”

For the players, and especially the senior veterans such as Tight and Derks, they could not be more grateful for the season they had playing for their new coach that helped kickstart this program into where it is today and where it is still going.

“In years past, it started with coaching, for sure. From the first day on, he showed us what this program can be, and we just followed him all year,” Derks said. “I think the group that is coming in has the same opportunity to do the things that we did, too. They are young guys with tons of talent.”

Those young guys have some excellent role models to rake after in the departing veteran seniors. Both Derks and Aaron Orozco played six seasons on the varsity team, and Tight was a four-year starter.

“We’ve always had talent on the team, and since freshman year we’ve had the same core set of guys. But we never put it together,” Tight said. “I give all the credit to Coach Housey coming in this year and really setting a standard of what it means to be a program, and giving us the tools in order to do that. I’m so grateful that this senior year has been such a historic year, and it really means a lot to all of us, and not just the seniors, but everybody.”

Coming from a background playing and learning in successful high school and college programs himself, Coach Housey understands that the success they achieved this year will fuel the teams to come. The Scots should return hungrier than ever next year, now that they got a taste for it.

“Winning is fun, and I think in this program, we needed to see that,” Housey said. “Once that little bit of addiction to winning gets into place, they can continue to buy in and trust. They’ve trusted me and they’ve trusted our vision for this program and where we want to go.”

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