Bucs help Westminster to lead and win

WESTMINSTER 4, BERKELEY PREP 0: Berkeley yields a hit batsman, a sacrifice grounder and a double on the first three pitches.

By MIKE READLING

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 16, 2000

TAMPA -- Berkeley Prep knew Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy's game plan way before their Class 2A state semifinal game even began.

The Buccaneers talked about it at practice Wednesday. And again Thursday. And again on Friday.

The Lions were going to come out, try to score early and then play their typical tough defense to hold the Bucs at bay.

Berkeley's solution? A hit batsman, a sacrifice grounder and a double to the centerfield wall on the game's first three pitches as Westminster jumped out to that early lead it had planned on.

The Lions added another run in the first and then All-America pitcher Dane Artman cruised through the later innings, securing a 4-0 win and putting the defending champions in the Class 2A final. Westminster will play Jacksonville Trinity Christian at 7 tonight at Legends Field.

Berkeley finished the season at 20-14 after advancing to the state tournament for the first time since 1995.

"We knew they wanted to get on top early," Berkeley coach Fred Pisano said. "The team that scores first probably wins 90 percent of these games. When you get behind early it's tough to scrap runs against that kind of pitcher."

Scrapping runs is one thing, but the Bucs had trouble even getting men around the bases. They managed three hits off Artman, including a Steven Gendron single in the first. Gendron went to second on a passed ball, marking the farthest a Berkeley player advanced all night long.

"We've seen pitchers like that all throughout high school," Gendron said, "but he pitched a hell of a game tonight."

Added catcher Kris Courier: "It wasn't demoralizing because at least we were hitting the ball hard. It was still giving us hope because we were hitting the ball hard. It was just right at them."

The Bucs' final hit came when Pat Biladeau singled in the fifth. Following a liner to second to start a double play, Artman (9-3) struck out six of the final eight batters.

"They had a couple of chances, but every time they got in position our defense came up with a great play or Dane made a great pitch," said Westminster head coach Rich Hofman, who will try to win his 10th state title as a head coach tonight.

The Lions (27-7) were led by shortstop Brandon Jominy, who went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI. It was his RBI single in the first inning that put Westminster ahead 2-0, and his double to the rightfield wall that gave it an insurmountable 3-0 lead.

The game signaled a comeback of sorts for Jominy, who has played at Westminster since his freshman year. Earlier this season he was mired in a slump with an average close to .150. He entered Monday's game hitting .269 with 24 RBI.

"I have a lot more confidence; the last three weeks I've been hitting the ball really well," Jominy said. "I remember the first year I played I was a sophomore and I was just happy to be playing. Then last year I didn't have a ring and I wanted that. Now I have a ring and I'm just out there having fun. It makes a big difference."

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