Advertisement

State baseball: Gaither wins first championship, 2-1 over Venice

 
Gaither catcher Andrew Martin embraces pitcher Josh Bobrowski after winning the 8-inning Class 7A state championship game against Venice at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers, Florida. KELLI KREBS | Special to the Times
Gaither catcher Andrew Martin embraces pitcher Josh Bobrowski after winning the 8-inning Class 7A state championship game against Venice at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers, Florida. KELLI KREBS | Special to the Times
Published May 22, 2016

FORT MYERS — With runners in scoring position in a tied game, Jose Cadenas single-handedly kept Gaither's championship dream alive.

So it was only fitting, then, that he later made it come true.

In the sixth inning, the junior centerfielder made a tumbling grab so flashy it was replayed on the JetBlue Park Jumbotron several times, saving two Venice runs from scoring.

"It gave the team momentum, but it was a do-or-die play. If I catch it, we've still got one more inning, three more outs to go," Cadenas said. "If I don't, there it is. That's the game. I gave it all I had."

A short time later, though, Cadenas proved he still had a little bit left to give.

The Cowboys' leadoff hitter singled in the eighth and was bunted over to second base. Moments later, he took off on contact, scoring the winning run on a Venice throwing error to cement the 2-1 victory and the Class 7A state baseball championship, the first in Gaither history.

After watching Cadenas lead the fight for a team that was just barely over .500 midway through the season, second-year Gaither coach Nelson North couldn't imagine a more poignant finale.

"Jose is very special to me and to this team," North said. "He is a born winner, and he is no doubt the spark plug, the igniter of this team."

Gavin Gillespie, the ace who led the Cowboys (20-9) down their unlikely path to the state final, pitched a complete game in Thursday's semifinal victory, so senior David Masuck took the mound against Venice. And all afternoon, his off-speed pitches got the best of the Indians.

Venice scored its only run on a one-out RBI single in the third. With two runners on, the Indians continued to threaten, but Cadenas grabbed two flyouts in center to end the frame.

And after that, Masuck said he only felt stronger.

"Not everything was there at the first couple innings, then finally I just started hitting that outside corner over and over again," Masuck said. "It just seemed effortless after that, just focusing on the glove and that's it."

Against a perennial powerhouse like Venice (26-6) — which has won three state championships and two in the last five years — Gaither knew it had to get up early in the game. And on an RBI double from Camryn Williams, that was what the Cowboys did.

It took Gaither a while longer to push another run across.

Cadenas came close in the sixth, singling before stealing second and third. But the Cowboys struck out twice to strand him.

Gaither closer Josh Bobrowski pitched two solid innings, giving up just one hit in the eighth before Cadenas grabbed a fly to center for the last out of the game.

"I think that was the most nervous I've ever been in my life," Bobrowski said of the final pitch.

Stay updated on Tampa Bay’s sports scene

Subscribe to our free Sports Today newsletter

We’ll send you news and analysis on the Bucs, Lightning, Rays and Florida’s college football teams every day.

You’re all signed up!

Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.

Explore all your options

As the Cowboys lined up along the first-base line to receive their gold medals after the game, North grabbed Cadenas, the Cowboy who made it all happen, and wrapped him in a hug.

"We talked towards the end of the year about the magic of believing," North said. "They really believed, and I think that's what it gets."