Holiday's stellar return to mound propels American Heritage back to state final four

High School Sports Holiday's stellar return to mound propels American Heritage back to state final four
afernandez@miamiherald.com
Talan Holiday just needed one inning to regain his confidence.
Holiday, American Heritage's talented senior ace and University of North Carolina commit, has dealt with multiple injuries this season and hadn't pitched in over three weeks.
But you could have fooled anyone watching Holiday pitch on Wednesday night as he tossed an abbreviated five-inning two-hitter to lead the Patriots to a 10-0 mercy rule win over Miami Belen Jesuit in the second game of the Region 4-4A final series.
Heritage (27-6) secured a 2-0 series sweep over the Wolverines (16-18) and its third consecutive trip to the state final four.
'The whole year I've been dealing with injuries, a hamstring pull in the preseason and then the groin midseason,' Holiday said. 'I'm just grateful to be out here. I just busted my (butt) rehabbing to get back. Things can change in a day so I'm just happy I was out here and we got the win.'
The Patriots, who are trying to win their second state title in three seasons and fourth overall, will next take on Panama City Arnold in a Class 4A state semifinal at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers at either 10 a.m. or 1 on Thursday, May 15. Should Heritage make it to the final, it would play either the winner of Orlando Bishop Moore and Mulberry or Tampa Jesuit, the top seed in Class 4A and the team that beat the Patriots in last year's state final.
'We're playing great baseball this season. We've had some good success. Our pitchers are pitching great and our bats are hitting the ball right now,' American Heritage coach Bruce Aven said. 'You have a veteran team and it's showing up the way we've been playing.'
Heritage pitchers did not allow a run in two games against Belen, outscoring the Wolverines by a combined 15-0 in two games.
Holiday struck out eight and allowed two singles and a walk over five innings and did it on only 56 pitches.
'We weren't sure how much we were going to get out of him tonight, but he pitched great tonight and it's great to have him back,' Aven said. 'He's a difference maker and you're going to have to earn your way to get past him. He came out and pitched tonight and wasn't thinking about his injury at all.'
After a quick first inning, Holiday was tested in the second inning when Belen's Orlando Montiel and David Garrido recorded back-to-back singles with one out. Holiday recovered and retired David Del Pino and Peter Lopez to end the threat.
Holiday isn't the only Heritage player who has made a remarkable comeback from injury, and he so happened to be the catalyst behind all the run support the Patriots provided their ace.
Senior Jordan Rich, who missed nearly all of last season with a shoulder injury he suffered in the fall of 2023 playing for Heritage's football team, went 2-for-3 with a double, triple and three RBI.
'Jordan Rich is the MVP of our season,' Aven said. 'He gets on base, quality at-bats and plays defense. He's our catalyst. His triple took the wind out of them and the guys behind him got big hits.'
Rich set the tone for the Patriots' rout with a leadoff triple and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Joseph Castro.
Heritage then broke the game open with seven runs in the second inning - all coming with two outs.
Rich was once again the spark as he delivered a bases-clearing double. Castro followed with an RBI double. Two batters later, Dylan Dubovik and Blayden Caballero hit back-to-back run- scoring doubles.
Dubovik also had an RBI triple in the fifth and catcher Sebastian Garavito hit an RBI single to score Heritage's 10th run. Holiday then shut the door with a perfect fifth to prompt the mercy rule finish.
'That's my game and my ability. Every time I come out here I trust my ability and let my work speak for itself,' Rich said. 'I feel like the game slowed down for me when I came back. I'm just excited and my decision to play baseball is paying off. I'm with a great group of guys and I just wanna go out and win one with them one last time.'
▪ Region 4-6A final - Game 1 - St. Thomas Aquinas 8, Doral 4: Nico Sabatino's grand slam in the bottom of the sixth propelled the Raiders to a 1-0 lead in the series. He and Jonathan Lopez each had two hits.
▪ Region 4-7A final - Game 1 - Douglas 6, West Broward 0: Gio Rojas tossed 6 2/3 one-hit innings, struck out 10 and walked one to help the Eagles take the first game at Douglas. Rojas also went 2 for 3 at the plate and Bennett Gary went 2-for-4 with two RBI.
▪ Region 4-5A final - Game 1 - Mater Academy 5, Varela 2: Jonathan Esponda went 3 for 3 with two runs scored to lead the Lions while Bryan Arrieta drove in two runs. Alfrin Rosario gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits over 5 1/3 innings, struck out five and walked three.
Andre C. Fernandez
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Andre Fernandez is the Deputy Sports Editor of the Miami Herald and has covered a wide variety of sports during his career including the Miami Marlins, Miami Heat, Miami Dolphins, University of Miami athletics, and high school sports.

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