Charles W. Flanagan High School Baseball

The Flanagan Falcons have once again advanced to the State Championship Game after defeating Hialeah 1-0 in the State Semifinal yesterday morning at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota. The Falcons(28-3) were locked in a pitchers duel through 5 1/2 innings as D.J. Swatscheno(9-2) and Nick Hernandez(10-2) traded goose eggs until the bottom of the 6th inning. 1st baseman Mitch Massard would reach base on an error and advance to 2nd on the throwing error. Glenn Witkowski would come up with the clutch hit the Falcons were looking for all morning. With Luis Suarez at 2nd base(pinch runner for Massard) G-Dubb laced a single over the 2nd baseman's head into right field scoring Suarez and lifting the Falcons into the State Championship game. Swatscheno was spectacular throughout the game. The junior lefthander allowed just 2 hits and struck out 9 in the complete game shutout. Hialeah had 1 chance to score the entire game in the 5th inning when he gave up a leadoff double but he quickly thwarted the threat by striking out 2 of the next 3 batters. D.J. would end the game by striking out the side in the top of the 7th inning. The Falcons played great defensively led by centerfielder Chris Connelly and catcher Nick Navarro. Both players made key plays during the game which allowed the Falcons to advance with the shutout. Flanagan will play Sarasota(27-4) for the Title today at 4:00pm at Ed Smith Stadium. The Sailors advanced by beating Deland 7-0 in their Semifinal last night.