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Marjory Stoneman Douglas Baseball Storms Back Late to Advance to Regional Final

by Matt Rothman May 13, 2021

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Marjory Stoneman Douglas Baseball team. {MSD Athletics}

By: Matt Rothman

Despite trailing 3-0 late in the Regional Semifinals, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas baseball team stormed back with five runs in the final two innings to beat Park Vista Community High School 5-3 to advance to the Regional Final.

Christian Rodriguez made the start on the mound and was spotless until he gave up a three-run home run in the top of the fifth inning. Still, MSD rallied for one in the bottom of the fifth on a home run from Christian Arroyo. Rodriguez then recorded a 1-2-3 inning in the sixth, setting the Eagles up for a big home half.

Nikko Benestad, who came off the bench, started the sixth with a single after initially being called out at first. After the umpires overturned the call, MSD then had their next two hitters retired before Gavin Conticello kept the inning going by reaching on an error. Santiago Ordonez singled to load the bases up, and Jake Clemente brought in two to tie the game at three.

Arroyo then was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to give the Eagles the lead before Clemente scored the team’s fifth run on a wild pitch to make it 5-3.

Rodriguez ended up pitching a complete game. He ended the game allowing only the one hit and recording a huge double play in the seventh after allowing a leadoff walk. Rodriguez struck ten for the team’s 25th win of the season.

The Eagles will play Palm Beach Gardens Community High School in the Regional Final on Saturday, May 15 at 7 p.m. Palm Beach Gardens comes in following a 3-1 win in their last game, 22-5 on the season. These two teams met earlier this year as Palm Beach Gardens handed MSD their first loss of the season.

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Matt Rothman

Matt Rothman is a 2018 graduate from Florida Gulf Coast University receiving his bachelor’s degree in journalism and then graduated from the University of Florida as a graduate student. He also works for the Mohave Valley Daily News in Bullhead City, Arizona covering high school sports.