TAMPA — It wasn't the two-run sixth inning to beat Miami Columbus 4-3 in the 2009 state final. It wasn't Jose Fernandez's dramatic three-run homer in the seventh inning to move past Lake Worth Park Vista 7-5 in the 2011 state semis. Nope, Ryan Mejia's prevailing memory of watching brother Chris win a pair of state titles wearing Alonso purple happened while the massive dog pile behind second base in 2009 was already under way.
"He was running in after they won and completely face-planted and tripped," Ryan Mejia said. "Sniper got him."
But Ryan wasn't the only one to catch Chris' misstep.
"He hit the lip (of the grass) and went down quick," said Alonso coach Landy Faedo with a laugh. "I'll never forget that."
Kidding aside, Alonso has had plenty of reasons to celebrate the past few years. And powered by a pair of current Ravens — Jared DeSantolo and Ryan Mejia — who watched older brothers win titles, Alonso (24-6) has a shot to add to the trophy case when the team again faces Miami Columbus in the Class 9A state semifinals at 1 p.m. Friday at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers.
"I've always been competitive with my brother," DeSantolo said. "I wanted to top how many wins he had in travel ball and high school. I already have one Saladino championship and now I have a shot to tie him with at least one state championship."
As older siblings tend to do, Ryan said Chris revels in every opportunity to remind the younger Mejia who is boss.
"(Chris) always pulls out his rings and puts them on and tells me I needed to match him on that," Ryan Mejia said. "It's something I've always wanted to do."
DeSantolo's older brother, Shane Bishop, played on the 2011 team that beat Deltona 12-7 in the state final.
"Those games were exciting and it definitely set a benchmark and made me want to (win a state title) one day," DeSantolo said.
Ryan Mejia and DeSantolo have given their big brothers plenty of reasons to smile this year. Mejia, a Florida State University signee, leads the team in hits (40) and is second in batting average (.400) and homers (two). DeSantolo is hitting .310, and both have been main cogs in an airtight defense.
And the pair played key roles in Alonso's 2-1 region final win against Kissimmee Gateway.
With Alonso trailing 1-0, DeSantolo singled and came around to score on a Ryan Drumheller RBI to tie the score. Mejia then legged out an infield single with two down, allowing Peyton Woble to cross the plate with the eventual winning run.
"It's cool because I got to see these kids when they were younger out here at the games with their (older) brothers," Faedo said. "They've experienced things with their brothers and understand how special it is to win that last game of the year."
Columbus (20-9), the defending state champ, now awaits. The Explorers are expected to throw Andy Arguelles, a Florida International signee, while Alonso will counter with Jordan Butler. Alonso, winner of nine in a row, hasn't given up more than two runs in a game since an 8-6 win against Gaither on April 5.
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Explore all your options"This team is different than any team I've played on in high school," Mejia said. "This is the best team. Not just talent wise, but there isn't one single kid on this team that doesn't want it bad."