Charles W. Flanagan High School Baseball

It took a combined 30 runs, 24 hits, 9 homeruns and 5 lead changes, but when the dust finally settled at Western High School on Wednesday night, the Flanagan Falcons (20-2) walked away with not only a thrilling 16-14 comeback victory, but the 2010 6A - District 12 Championship.

The Bobcats jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but in the bottom of the second, the Falcons sent 12 men to the plate and hit four home runs, two of which came off the bat of Mike Melendez (2-5, 2 R, 2 HR, 3 RBI), to seemingly break the game open at 8-1.

After three complete, Flanagan held a 9-3 lead, but in the fourth inning, the Bobcats exploded for 7 runs of their own to retake a one run lead at 10-9.  That lead was short lived, as Matthew Beauchemin (1-3, R, HR, RBI, SAC) answered with a solo shot in the bottom half of the fourth to knot it at 10-10.  West Broward would come right back with a four run 5th inning, and the Falcons were now staring at a 14-10 deficit.

After a lead off walk to Collin Martindale (2-4, 2 R, 2B, RBI, BB) and consecutive RBI singles by Ricky Santiago (3-4, 2 R, HR, 4 RBI, HBP) and Pichi Torres (2-4, 2 R, 2B, RBI, HBP), a costly Bobcat fielding error and another base on balls preceded a David Gonzalez (2-3, R, HR, 3 RBI, SAC) sacrifice fly, which cut the Bobcat lead to 14-13.  With two outs and two on, Ryan Lozada (2-3, 2 R, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, BB) blasted a 3-run homer, his first of the year, to give the boys in green the 16-14 lead, which Melendez (3 IP, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 6 K) would not relinquish.

With the win, the Falcons take home their fifth district title in 6 years, and seventh title in the last 11 years.  Flanagan will now host a Regional Quarterfinal game next Tuesday, May 4th, against the loser of the South Broward/South Plantation 6A - District 11 final on Thursday night.