Mater Dei Comes Up Short Again
For the second consecutive year, Mater Dei found itself in the championship game of a spring baseball tournament against an out-of-state team with national title aspirations.
And for the second straight year, the Monarchs watched another team celebrate.
Last year it was Germantown (Tenn.). This time Miami Westminster Christian was able to outlast the Monarchs, 5-3, and claim the Dole National Classic tournament title.
The unbeaten Warriors (26-0-1), who have moved into the top spot in the USA Today rankings, broke a 3-3 tie in the seventh on an RBI triple by James Davis off reliever Jeremiah Dietrich (1-1). Davis scored moments later on an grounder to second by pinch hitter Keith Brice.
It was the second time Westminster Christian has won the tournament. The Warriors won in 1990 and lost in the title game in 1992.
“In the school’s 29-year history, this has to rank with the highlights,” Warriors Coach Rich Hofman said. “This is recognized as the best tournament in the country, and when you win it you have to be one of the best in the country. This is just as big as winning the state title.”
Mater Dei Coach Bob Ickes was left to ponder getting close again without winning.
“We get to the dance, but we can’t finish the dance,” Ickes said. “But I don’t expect a hangover going back into league play next week. This club is together. They know how to play and what they have to do.”
Warrior senior right-hander Karl Wiegandt (9-0), who has signed a letter of intent with Miami, was rudely welcomed by the Monarchs in the first inning. Mike Schneider and Mike Kolbach each hit singles, and both scored Mike Hessman’s triple to left-center. Hessman, the tournament’s most valuable player, later scored on Brett Kay’s sacrifice fly.
“I was getting the ball up in the first inning. Every mistake I made they ripped it,” said Wiegandt, who gave up eight hits, walked one and struck out five in seven innings.
But Wiegandt kept Mater Dei scoreless the rest of the way and waited for his team to come back, something Westminster Christian has become expert in. The Warriors trailed in three tournament games, but came back to win each time.
The Warriors got one back in the third, when James Davis doubled, and moved around on two infield grounders. They closed to 3-2 in the fourth when Javier Lopez singled, stole second, and scored on Javier Miranda’s single to left.
And they tied it in the fifth when Andy Gutierrez--pinch running for Ray Marrero, who opened the inning with a double--scored from third on a wild pitch.
In other Dole National Classic games:
Tustin 11, Lakeside El Capitan 4--Rick Gonzalez got the victory in relief, retiring 16 of the 18 he faced for Tustin (9-8). He also had three hits, including a home run, and scored three runs.
Esperanza 13, El Dorado 1--Bo Bryant homered and Jim Pickel earned his eighth victory for host Esperanza (9-8).
In the Spring Break Classic:
San Clemente 11, Van Nuys Birmingham 3--Mike Wanders hit a grand slam to highlight a six-run fifth for San Clemente (7-9-2) in the third-place game. Corey Tolmasoff had two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored for the Tritons.
In a nonleague game:
Liberty Christian 21, Huntington Beach Claremont 0 (5, mercy)--Bryan Davis went three for three at the plate with seven RBIs and the senior right-hander threw a no-hitter, striking out eight for Liberty Christian (7-4).