Splashy grab, Aquinas’ hot bats lead to rout of Nova

FORT LAUDERDALE — St. Thomas Aquinas right fielder Gabe Terry made a spectacular catch in the fourth inning, and the Raiders crushed three home runs to defeat Nova 10-1 in an 8A baseball regional final.

The play of the game was Terry’s marvelous over the shoulder catch with the bases loaded and two out in the fourth, robbing Isiaha Goodman of an extra-base hit and the Titans of momentum, along with three big runs, which would have tied the game at four.

“It felt amazing,” said Terry of his catch. “That was one of the biggest plays I’ve ever made in my life.”

The Raiders took the first lead in the bottom of the first when Cade Fergus homered to right field on an 0-2 count with two out to give Aquinas a 1-0 lead.

After the Raiders added a run in the second inning, Nova (23-4) cut the lead to 2-1 in the third as Jared Campbell’s RBI single drove in pinch runner Giari Romanello.

Caleb Roberts gave Aquinas (25-3) a 4-1 lead in the third as he launched the first pitch he saw over the right field fence, chasing Nova starter Astin Santiago from the game.

After the first two batters were retired in the fifth, four straight Raiders were walked to boost the lead to 5-1, then Terry ripped a bases-loaded single to left center, scoring a pair to increase the Aquinas lead to 7-1.

Aquinas plays George Jenkins in a state semifinal on June 1st.