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MIKE READLINGJustin Menendez, whose mother died in January, leads Jesuit past Hardee.
TAMPA - Every time Jesuit takes the field, Justin Menendez, the smallest player in the lineup and the only one without his name on his jersey, runs to the shortstop position and scratches four letters in the dirt.
To most people, it's just a word waiting to be rubbed out during a quick double play. To Menendez it's a word that's as reaffirming as it is simple.
Mama.
Those four scraggly letters are what keep Menendez going. Through 0-for-2 nights like last week's district final and through games like Tuesday's region quarterfinal when he was 2-for-2 with a pair of singles, a run scored and two RBIs in Jesuit's 5-0 win over Wauchula Hardee.
When Menendez's mother, Cindy, passed away suddenly Jan. 14 the Tigers were readying themselves for the season. For Justin, a sophomore on the junior varsity, it caused him to question whether he should continue playing.
But Mrs. Menendez loved baseball and she never missed one of Justin's or older brother Bryan's games. He certainly wasn't going to let her miss one of the most important of his career.
"I was kind of talking to her all day, telling her to let me have a good game today," said Menendez, who last month was called up to the varsity.
Menendez spent part of Tuesday afternoon at Alexander Elementary, the school where Mrs. Menendez was promoted to principal in July, taking part in a ceremony that dedicated the library in her name. About 150 people and five speakers showed up to honor her memory.
"It's been kind of an up and down day," Menendez said. "'A lot of sadness and a lot of joy. But I write "Mama' every day so that I know she's there with me."
Menendez has been far from alone since joining the varsity.
In his first game he hit a walk-off grand slam and he has been one of the most consistent hitters and slickest fielders for the Tigers.
His two-run single in the fourth was more than enough for Jesuit starter Michael Branham to work with.
Branham won his 10th game by holding Hardee (19-8) to one hit (a single in the sixth) and matched his career high with 16 strikeouts for the third time this season. The Jesuit record for strikeouts in a game is 18.
Branham has struck out 150 batters in 752/3 innings and owns a 0.96 ERA.
"I felt great," Branham said. "I had my good stuff working. My fastball was on, the curve and the slider. Our reports were that they hadn't seen anything over about 80 mph or so so I knew if I had a good fastball I could be effective."
Jesuit will host Boca Raton Pope John Paul II on Friday in the region semifinal.