As soon as Bishop McLaughlin's season ended, Coach Jeff Swymer gathered his team along the third base line for one final huddle.
The Hurricanes were defeated by defending state champions, North Florida Christian, 3-1 in the Class 3A state baseball semifinals Monday morning at JetBlue Park. The Eagles will play for the 3A title LIVE on BHSN Channel 47/HD 1147 Tuesday at 4 p.m.
The scoreboard may have shown a team victory for North Florida Christian, but it was mainly one player, pitcher Cole Sands, who did the bulk of the damage. Sands pitched a complete game, giving up only two hits, one walk, an unearned run and five strikeouts.
That unearned run came in the bottom of the first when Jacob Rodriguez scored on a throwing error to tie the game at 1-all. North Florida Christian took an early lead when they quickly loaded the bases in the top of the first and a sacrifice fly drove in the first run.
Bishop McLaughlin's Nate Pearson prevented further scoring by throwing one of his eight strikeouts to end the top of the first.
North Florida Christian regained the lead in the top of the third when they tacked on two more runs. Bishop McLaughlin made a pitching change from Pearson (5.1 innings, six hits, three earned runs, five walks, eight strikeouts) to Franklin German who ended a scoring threat with a strikeout.
The Hurricanes were unable to answer, thanks in part to Sands, who retired fourteen of Bishop McLaughlin's final 17 batters.