St. Andrew’s Continues Historic Run By Reaching State Final Four

The St. Andrew’s Scots celebrate after winning the regional championship and advancing to the state Final Four for the first time in school history.

One of the most historic high school baseball games in the city of Boca Raton happened on Wednesday afternoon. Neighbors St. John Paul II Academy and St. Andrew’s faced off in the second game of the best-of-three series of the 2A-4 Regional Championship, with a first-ever trip to the state tournament the reward to the winner.

It was the St. Andrew’s Scots who earned the series victory, after rallying for a 6-4 victory in Wednesday’s decisive game two showdown. The Scots also won the first game, a 4-1 decision on Tuesday.

“To say that I’m proud is an understatement,” Scots Manager Joey Housey said. “To go 6-0 in an unbelievably tough regional bracket is special. It took big-time performances, timely execution, and mental fortitude. Our team has come a long ways. Watching them celebrate at the end of the game, that’s what it’s all about. They deserve it, and I was beyond happy to just observe it and take it all in.”

St. Andrew’s (22-6) has thrived throughout these playoffs, relying on the offense to win the shootouts, while the pitching and defense shut down several high-powered offenses in allowing just eight total runs in the past five games.

Those units complimented one another again on Wednesday, providing that extra boost of support to rally the Scots. Starter Chase Lambalot was touched up early for three runs, but he dug in and gave his team six strong innings. By the time he left the mound, the offense had answered back with enough run support that he left with the lead.

“For Chase Lambalot, he’s a guy that has been a bit overshadowed by Tight, Derks and Coleman all year. For him to go out there today and give us six strong innings. Wow. Just an incredibly special moment for Chase, and one that he’ll remember the rest of his life,” Housey said.

Vinny Blair had a two-RBI single, and Lincoln Dorland also scored to give the host Eagles the lead in the first. Blair added another run in the bottom of the fourth to make it a 4-3 lead, after St. Andrew’s tied it up with a pair of runs in the top of the frame.

But the Scots responded right back in the fifth, taking the lead and never looking back. Aaron Orozco walked and Michael Tight singled to put the tying run into scoring position, and Matt Spina delivered in the clutch with a line-drive single up the middle that drove in both runners to give his team the lead.

“Matt Spina came up big for us today,” Housey said.

Connor Berman scored his second run of the day to provide a valuable insurance run in the top of the seventh, after Spina reached on an error. Berman was 2-for-3 with a walk on the afternoon.

Senior Carter Derks took care of the rest, tossing a scoreless seventh inning to record his fifth save of the season.

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