Miami Gardens, Fla. - The 2008 St. Thomas University baseball season began how every team in every sport at every level would want to start the season. There were full stands filled with chatter about the previous season's success and a 9-8 win over Lynn University.
For the rest of the season the bobcats showed the ability to produce the success of the previous year but an inability to do so more than not, resulted in a 20-22 (7-14 Florida Sun Conference) record.
The Bobcats' play over the next two weeks were a perfect illustration of this as they went 4-6 with a five game loosing streak and a three game winning streak over those two weeks.
The five game loosing streak came after the opening day victory. When the Bobcats broke the loosing streak they broke the back supporting the loosing streak and broke through any questions of their ability to produce runs, defeating FSC opponent Savannah College of Art and Design 11-3.
During that game the Bobcats touched up the SCAD starter for two runs in the second and another in the third. Then they broke open the game with a four-run fourth inning, Marlon Pascual had a sacrifice fly while Santana and Paniagua added RBI singles. Nestor Rincon closed out the scoring with a bases-loaded walk. The Bobcats added a run in the fifth on a balk and three more in the sixth to take an 11-1 lead. Lance Larimer, Adrian Gonzalez and Julio Fernandez had run-scoring hits in the sixth.
The Bobcats continued to carry big bats scoring 22 runs over their next two games. The first game was an 8-5 win over Florida Memorial University. This game was won in dramatic fashion by the Bobcats as they spotted the Lions five runs.
The offense made its mark in the fourth with two runs in the fourth. Manny Escalona scored the first run after he singled to get on base, stole second and eventually crossed home plate after an error by the Lions first baseman. St. Thomas scored one more run in the seventh inning before exploding in the eighth with three runs. Two of the runs were brought in by a J.C. Perez double to center field. The most exciting run for the Bobcats was the team's reassuring home run by J.C. Gill in the top of the ninth which flew over the right field fence.
The Bobcats put 14 on the board to defeat Webber International in their next game. It was fitting that the strong performance came on the evening when the 2007 team received their FSC/Region XIV Championship Rings.
The emotions of the ring ceremony carried on into the game as the Bobcats built themselves 6-0 lead in the first inning. Perez, DePhillip Mason, and Marlon Pascual all batted in a run but the inning was capped off by a huge 2 run homer to left field by Martinez.
The Bobcats and Warriors went back and forth with both clubs scoring four runs between the 2nd and 6th inning. The seventh inning was a nightmare for the Bobcats as they allowed 7 runs and gave up a 6 run lead. Despite the change in momentum, the Bobcats scored twice in the bottom of the seventh to regain the lead.
Once Chris Cuadra came in the game during the seventh inning the Warriors would not score another run. From then on Cuadra and Blanco would hold the Warriors to 1 hit. In the eighth inning Nick Martinez dramatically drove the ball over the center field wall.
The Bobcats followed the win with a weekend serious on the road against the Warner Southern Royals they probably wish they never left for. The team dropped all three games to the Royals. It was a rough weekend for the baseball team, despite this, Mauricio Rodriguez was a bright spot for the Bobcats. He had a .600 hitting percentage for the weekend and 1 run.
The Bobcats would rebound for coach Manny Mantrana in their next game against Florida Memorial, winning 16-6. Miguel Hernandez captured the win for the Bobcats by only allowing 4 runs and 6 hits. CF Marlon Pascual had an outstanding game hitting 3-5 with 4 RBI's. Pascual's performance may have been over shadowed by Martinez who hit a 3 run homer. Martinez would finish the game with 4 RBI's.
Martinez would continue his strong play in the Bobcats next 9-8 win over Wilminton College. During the two games he had a .555 batting average, and racked up 6 RBI's. His RBI total was supported by two home runs in both games. By that point in the season he led the team in home runs with five and RBI's with 18. After dropping one to Palm Beach Atlantic the Bobcats would put together their longest winning streak of the season. The post game locker room celebrations took place for five games.
The winning streak began with two come-from-behind victories over Palm Beach Atlantic. The Bobcats and Sailfish scored over 35 runs and racked up 37 hits in game one, with St. Thomas winning 19-16. In game two, J.C. Gil's walk-off home run gave the Bobcats a 7-6 victory.
The St. Thomas University baseball team won back to back games against the Nyack College Warriors Tuesday afternoon by the scores of 9-0 and 8-2. C Nick Martinez was on top of his game all day and hit a combined 6 RBI's with a .625 batting average. Martinez continued the Bobcats' suddenly favorite and consistent past-time activity of sending baseballs out of stadiums with a monster three run homer which locked up the second win of the day.
In the Bobcats final win of the winning streak Bobcat pitcher Miguel Hernandez was a star amongst Bobcat stars. He pitched a complete game shutout to give the Bobcats the 6-0 win over Wisconsin Parkside Rangers. He retired nine batters during the game and forfeited three hits over seven innings. The Bobcats' winning streak would have continued beyond that but a late game rally by the Rangers in game two of their double-header. The Bobcats would relinquish a 8-1 lead secured heading into the bottom of the fifth and lose 9-8.
The unraveling during that second game would be symbolic of the remainder of the season for the Bobcats as they consistently lost some games they had a strong chance to win. The Bobcats finished the last month and a half of the season 8-9.
Despite the inconsistent play as team some individuals were consistent. Juan Santana was named to the FSC All-Conference Team and was named player of the week in the conference twice during the season. He was one of three players in the conference to receive the honor twice in 2008.
He finished the season as the team leader in ten offensive statistical categories. Santana batted a .407 batting average, drove in 36 RBI's and crossed home plate 40 times each of which were good enough to lead the team.
Nick Martinez had one more home run than Santana with seven and led the team in that category. He also produced the second most RBI's with 35 and his slugging percentage of .592 was also good enough for second on the team behind Santana's .593.
On the mound Jesus Blanco led team in wins with five and confused non-swing batters with 14. Johnny Montoya led the team in strike outs with 38 and innings pitched with 46.1.