By Dave Brousseau BCAA Writer

FORT LAUDERDALE – The St. Thomas Aquinas baseball team needed to remain patient to earn the opportunity to potentially play for a state championship.

The Raiders were a victory shy of sweeping Doral Academy in the second game of the Class 6A region final. A win would advance Aquinas to the state semifinal in Fort Myers.

Despite a three-run homer by Andrew Alvarez in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Raiders would fall short losing to the Firebirds 5-3 on Thursday.

With the best 2 of 3 series tied at one, the eventual outcome was decided on Saturday at Doral as the Raiders rolled to a 12-6 victory to earn a berth in the state tournament.

Jaden Doverspike, Brady Buxbaum and Alvarez combined for three home runs and seven RBI.

Alvarez’s homer on Thursday came on the heels of his grandfather passing earlier that day.

“I was hoping it would go over the fence for him,” said Alvarez. “I was just happy that we could get our guys back in the game. We came up short but that’s alright. We’ve gotten this far so there’s no need to change anything.”

The Firebirds scored five runs in the top of the second inning, before Alvarez’s shot over the fence.

“We’re alright,” said Aquinas coach Joey Wardlow. “It’s time to bounce back and get back to work, do what we do and get it done. What we told the guys when we down it we don’t quit.”

The Raiders (27-6-1) will play Valrico Bloomingdale in a state semifinal game at Hammond Stadium at the Lee Health Sports Complex on Friday at 1 p.m. The Raiders’ last state title came in 2018 and has three championships to date.

DOUGLAS EAGLES HEADED BACK TO STATE

Parkland Douglas advanced to the Class 7A state semifinals following an 8-7 victory over West Broward last Thursday, scoring four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.

The Eagles (29-2), winners of a state record 26 consecutive playoff games and four straight state championships will play Tampa Alonso in a Class 7A state semifinal at 4 p.m. on Friday.