Martinez helped his cause, going 2 for 4 from the plate, with a three-run blast off of the left field scoreboard in the fourth inning.
''There are few players as valuable to their team as Mike Martinez is to us,'' Cougars coach Angel Herrera said. ``As good a hitter as he is, he has been just as good on the mound for us this year. He's got to be one of the best utility players in this town.''
Martinez (3-1) has already signed to play at Florida International.
The Cougars (13-7) jumped on the T-Breds early, scoring six runs in the second inning. Nick Simmons and Jose Silva hit back-to-back singles and Carlos Labrador walked to load the bases for Julian Santos, who belted a grand slam.
Hialeah's Dayron Gomez opened up the second inning with a shallow fly ball to centerfield.
Santos and Alex Alfonso collided, forcing Santos out of the game. After a walk, Jose Canizares followed with a two-run single to cut the Killian lead to three.
''Our team played great today,'' Herrera said. ``Hopefully the win today will get us on the road we need to be on come playoff time. We beat an outstanding Hialeah baseball team.''
Killian 061 301 0 --11 12 0 Hialeah 031 000 1 --5 7 0 COLUMBUS 7, BRADDOCK 4
Col 000 160 0 --7 5 2 Brad 201 010 0 --4 6 0
WP: Mike Gonzalez (6-1). LP: Danny Gonzalez. Top performers: Lawrence Pardo was 1 for 1 with two RBI. Chris Gutierrez was 1 for 3. Brian Valero had a save. Records: Col 14-6 (8-4).
STATISTICS
Archbishop Curley Michael Yeash 4 home runs .489; John Tillman .472; Hans Ottenot .417, 12 RBI; Michael Yeash 1.94 ERA; Chris Diaz 12 RBI.
Brito: David Vidal .618, 15 RBI; Leo Rojas .600, 18 RBI 4 home runs; Ricardo Espinal .548; Yoemmy Gonzalez .472, 17 RBI; Manny Machado .457; Oche Urbaez .438; Lazaro Martina 0.58; Samuel Diaz 0.85.
Carol City: Edwin Rodriguez .410; Giovanni Palmer 14 RBI.
Ferguson: JC Morales .421; Jonathan Silva .487; Javier Barros 1.57.
Goleman: Adrian Gongora .633, 15 RBI; Danny Fraga .529, 15 RBI; Joe Coto .500, 17 RBI; Frank Solis .418, 28 RBI; Ryan Berdicia 21 RBI; Andy Ruiz 21 RBI; Alex Pacheco 21 RBI; Jason Bonilla 18 RBI; Enier Perez 17.
Hialeah: Ralph Ruiz .438; Thomas Guerrero 12 RBI; Jonothan Regalado 12; Luis Dequesada 11; Dayron Gomez 0.47.
Krop: Remmy Estevez .455, 17 RBI; Emilio Arteta 17 RBI; Garrett Wittels 18 RBI, 4 home runs.
La Salle: Jeremy Lichtman .404, 19 RBI; Anthony Tzamtzis .400, 17 RBI; Steven Gonzalez 18 RBI.
Miami: Francisco Suarez .412; Melvin Cruz .400; Yasmani Mosquera .400; Bryan Dominguez 20 RBI; Jorge Morera 1.57; Rodrgio Pena 0.88.
Miami Beach: Pedro Boissalier .491; Felipe Camilo .422; Tim Jeter 1.54 ERA
Miami Country Day: Lawrence Lamondin .415; Sam Halpern .485 4 home runs.
Pace: David Vazquez .525, 12 RBI; Jay Asencio .488; Rene Mateo .419; Sebastian Gomez .417; Andrew Janusz 1.31.
Palmer Trinity: Greg Steinmann .447, 4 home runs, 16 RBI; Eric Figerado .368; Nick Nevin .357.
Palmetto: Louis Montesinos .463, 14 RBI; Kevin Karpiak .432; Brian Roache 12 RBI; Casey Delgado 0.87.
South Dade: Kevin Bryant 0.23 ERA.
Sunset: Rony Rodriguez .490, 6 home runs, 25 RBI; Joel Capote .417, 15 RBI; Joseph Achon .404.
• Note: Coaches wishing to include their players' statistics in the leaderboard are urged to call 305-376-2387 on Sundays from noon to 5 p.m.
HOFMAN HONORED
He's a seven-time national coach of the year.
He was named Baseball America's high school coach of the decade for the 1990s.
Still, when Rich Hofman was inducted into the Florida High School Athletic Association's Hall of Fame on Sunday in Gainesville, it was quite an honor for the South Florida fixture.
''Forty years ago, I came into this area with nothing, and never, ever expected to be inducted into any hall of fame,'' said Hofman, a native of Racine, Wis., who moved to South Florida in 1967. ``It has been quite a journey, and one that's really satisfying.''
Hofman started at Miami's Westminster Christian, where he coached 31 years and won eight state championships and two national titles.
He then coached at Fort Lauderdale's Westminster Academy, where he won two more state titles, and now is at Piper in Sunrise.
The 63-year-old Hofman owns 963 career wins.
And although he isn't sure how much longer he'll be coaching, he did say Monday that he has an ''arbitrary goal of 1,000 wins'' that he might or might not pursue.
Among his former players: More than 200 college athletes and 40 professional draftees, including longtime major leaguer Doug Mientkiewicz and three-time American League MVP Alex Rodriguez -- and he still keeps in contact with many of them.
''Those [relationships] are the things that make coaching very worthwhile,'' Hofman said. |
