Neilan throws 3-hitter and Wolves execute in clutch
work on it a lot and they focus on it, because you’re facing everybody’s good pitcher and you’ve got to deliver those hits when you’ve got opportunities to score runs.”
Cristian Aviles drove home Steffan Fish on a hard-hit shot to the second baseman before scoring on a single to left field by Neilan two batters later, giving the Wolves a 2-1 advantage. Fish scored again in the sixth when Gabriel Cruz singled up the middle. Aviles drove in another run on a single to shallow centerfield before scoring again when he stole third and reached home on an errant throw.
“Coming into the game my parents told me ‘Just play like an MVP’ and I just knew I had to be clutch for the team to get [Neilan] runs, because once he has runs we’re usually good enough to keep the game where we want it,” Aviles said.
Neilan retired Dr. Phillips in order in the fifth and sixth before allowing his third and final hit of the day in the seventh.
Neilan went the distance while striking out six batters on 74 pitches to improve his pitching record to 10-1 this season and 25-1 over two years. He walked two in the fourth, which led to the lone run for the Panthers when Brandon Fields scored from third.
“It’s difficult because you feel the momentum swing, and it swung real quick [when Aviles drove in the first run], and once we gave up that run you could see that the tide had turned,” Dr. Phillips coach Mike Bradley said.
DP, ranked No. 4 in the Super Six after advancing out of its district as the No. 5 seed, was playing in the state tournament for the first time since winning a championship in 1996.
“DP is all about tradition, and having a brother and four siblings that graduated from DP, it’s tough losing this game,” shortstop August Haymaker said. “We were close all year. We went to the playoffs and people doubted us, but we didn’t doubt each other.”