Charles W. Flanagan High School Baseball

For the first time since 2006, the Flanagan Falcons (24-2) are back in the 6A State Championship game, after an 8-4 semifinal victory over the Timber Creek Wolves.  With a 14 hit outburst where every starter delivered a hit, another complete game performance from senior righthander Pichi Torres (10-1) and phenomenal defense, the boys in green won their 11th in a row, earning themselves a 7pm showdown with the American Patriots, 10-5 winners over Alonso in the other semifinal, on Saturday night at Digital Domain Park in Port St. Lucie.

Torres threw his 8th complete game of the season, allowing four runs on nine hits, while striking out 3 and walking none.  Junior Ryan Lozada was 3 for 4 and made a highlight reel catch on a deep drive to right field to quiet a Wolves rally.  Corey Janson (2-4, R, HR, 2 RBI) connected on his 3rd home run of the season in the Falcons third inning to extend an early 4-0 lead, while Geoff Jimenez (2-5, 2 R, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 SB) delivered a clutch 2-run double, his 12th of the year, in the Falcons 7th inning to make it 8-4.  Meanwhile, Torres (2-2, RBI, BB, HBP) did it with the bat as well, reaching safely in all four of his trips to the plate.  Ricky Santiago (1-4, R, RBI, SB), Mike Melendez (1-4, R, RBI, 2B), and Matt Beauchemin (1-3, RBI, SAC) each drove in key RBI's to pace Flanagan.

The win was especially rewarding for the Falcons, knowing they had a teammate, junior secondbaseman Matt Figueroa, who was unable to make the trip due to an illness.  It won't be easy, but with another win on Saturday night, they'll bring him back a trophy and get him fitted for a championship ring.  

After a two year absence, the Flanagan Falcons have punched their ticket back to the State Final Four.  It wasn't easy, as the young Coral Springs Colts gave all they could in the 9 inning thriller that ended 2-1.  With yet another strong pitching performance from senior right hander Pichi Torres (9-1), and two incredibly clutch RBI's from senior backstop Corey Janson (2-4, 2 RBI), the "cardiac kid" Falcons moved to 23-2 on the season and earned their 4th Regional Championship in 6 years.  Torres went the distance in efficient fashion, throwing 82 pitches while allowing 1 unearned run on 7 hits and striking out 2. 

Trailing 1-0 going into their final at bat, junior 1st baseman Mike Melendez led off with a single to right centerfield. Gabby Aurrecoechea would pinch run for Melendez and after a ground out by Matt Beauchemin moved him to 2nd base, Janson came up with the season saving hit to left field, knotting things up at 1-1. After a scoreless 8th inning, Torres, who was magnificent on the mound, drove the first pitch he saw hard through the shortstop hole for a lead off base hit in the 9th.  Kyle Schmidt would come on to run for Torres, and he would advance to 2nd base on a single by Matt Beauchemin.  Both runners would advance after a wild pitch and once again, Janson would deliver with a base hit to score Schmidt from 3rd. 

Torres and his defense, again nearly flawless for nine innings, would make the 2-1 lead hold in the bottom of the 9th and the Falcons were on their way to the State Semifinal in Port St. Lucie on Friday May 21st.  Flanagan will play Orlando-Timber Creek at 8:00pm, with the winner taking on the Alonso/American victor on Saturday night for the 6A title.

The Flanagan Falcons (22-2) are back where they belong, in the regional finals for the 8th time in the last 11 seasons, after senior Pichi Torres (2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR) delivered a 7th inning walk off 2-run blast to centerfield to defeat a solid West Broward Bobcats ballclub, 8-7, at a packed Falcons Field on Friday night. 

Torres (7 IP, 7 R, 5 ER, 8 H, 0 BB, 4 K) did it on the mound as well, improving to 8-1 on the year, after containing a potent West Broward offense that took a 7-5 lead into what was potentially the Falcons final at bat of the season, and what was the Flanagan seniors' last home game.  However, as they have seemingly done all year long, the Falcons simply would not die.

After a hit by pitch to Collin Martindale (2-3, 3 R, 2B, RBI, HBP) and an RBI single by Ricky Santiago (2-4, R, 2RBI), Torres would send the Falcons faithful into a frenzy with his 3rd home run of the season on the first pitch he saw from Bobcat ace Hector Cedano. Geoff Jimenez (1-3, 2 R, 2B, HBP, SB) and Mike Melendez (1-3, RBI) each added hits for the Falcons, who played particularly good defense behind Torres all night long.  The win was the third hard fought victory of the year over the tenacious 2nd year Bobcats, who finish the 2010 campaign at 15-9.

Next up for the Falcons in the regional final are the Coral Springs Colts, 11-1 winners over the Douglas Eagles.  That game will be played at Coral Springs High School on Friday, 5/14, at 7pm, with the winner advancing to the 6A State Final Four in Port St. Lucie, FL May 21-22.

Behind a 13 hit attack where five Falcons delivered multi-hit games, and a strong outing from junior righthander Robert Collin (3-0), Flanagan (21-2) defeated South Plantation (10-13), 12-2, in a run-rule shortened six innings to advance to Friday's regional semifinal against the West Broward Bobcats, who were 10-2 winners over South Broward.

Collin scattered six hits over five innings, allowing two earned runs in the first inning, while walking one and striking out nine Paladins.  Matt Beauchemin saw his first action of the year on the hill,  pitching a scoreless sixth inning.  On offense, 7 Flanagan starters had at least one hit, and 6 of 9 had at least one RBI.  Junior firstbaseman Mike Melendez led the way, going 3-4 with 2 doubles and 2 RBI, improving his team leading average to .479.  Falcons shortstop Ricky Santiago added a 2 for 4 night, with 2 runs scored, a double and an RBI, while Pichi Torres (2-3, R, RBI), David Gonzalez (2-3, 2 R, 2B, 2 RBI), and Ryan Lozada (2-3, R, 2B, RBI) each went 2 for 3.

The Falcons, who defeated a talented West Broward ballcub 15-11 and 16-14 in two previous slugfests, will need to complete the three game season sweep over the Bobcats at home on Friday night at 7pm in the regional semifinal to continue their march towards Port St. Lucie.