Playoff baseball: Florida commit Sam Lovitz and Crusader defense send Newman to semifinals

WEST PALM BEACH — For fans wanting all the thrills and chills that come with win-or-go-home baseball, Cardinal Newman's Jack Kokinda Field has been the place to be.

Six days after hoisting up a district championship decided in extra innings, the Crusaders got back to it on Wednesday to open up 3A state playoffs against Umatilla. Fortunately for the visiting Bulldogs, Newman (22-5-1) dealt their 1-0 defeat in regulation, leaving no need to delay the haul back to Orlando.

"It's playoff baseball. It's exciting when it's do or die ... the drama, the tension," Newman coach Joe Russo said after the win. "We've gone through games like that this year. Maybe too many, but we're kind of weathered so they expect it, they've been through that."

"And, obviously, Sammy was lights out."

This week, Newman pitcher Sam Lovitz wasn't leaving anything to chance.

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Lovitz leaves nothing to chance

Eight innings and 11 strikeouts to reclaim district bragging rights last Thursday left the Florida commit well-conditioned for Umatilla (19-9). Against the Bulldogs, he struck out 10 and didn't give up a hit until the fifth inning. It seemed that only the drive to survive on the road to state allowed Umatilla to notch its second and final hit in the sixth.

"He's the story tonight," Russo said. "He's just unbelievable and we're really proud of him. He's getting his chance this year and he's making the most of it. He's smooth, he's calm, and he just has ice in his veins, you know?"

Newman assistant coach and former MLB pitcher Zach Miner called Wednesday "a microcosm" of what Lovitz has brought to the table all year.

"He's been a horse and he's pitched most of the tough opponents the last few months," Miner said. "He's sitting 92 or 93 with his fastball. Great curveball, great change-up. But really, it's his poise. It's his command. There's a reason why he's having the success he has and he's going to pitch for a long time."

With Crusader bats producing just five hits — two from junior Alex Thompson — and the lone run of the game, scored by senior Grant Hugus, coming on a passed ball in the third inning, Newman knew that winning would be up to its defense.

"I started off really good. I felt really good. All my pitches were there," Lovitz said. "Then, halfway through, I didn't feel I had my best stuff, but I give credit to my shortstop Finn Duran, third baseman Alex Thompson, and first baseman Blake Anderson for making a lot of plays to keep the game in our hands."

Duran's double play helps keep it a one-run nail-biter

On the topic of offensive off-days, Duran said he and the Crusaders just try to keep their heads up.

"You know, hopefully, when we go back in the field, this man right here, Sam Lovitz, throws the ball down their throat. Then we can come in and they have no runs and it keeps us up," Duran continued, giving his teammate a pat on the shoulder.

In the fourth inning, Umatilla saw its chance to tie things up after senior Trey Craft drew one of Lovitz's four walks on the day, only to be stopped by a critical double play courtesy of a diving catch by Duran.

"He's a dog for us. Your shortstop is your guy," Russo said. "It was a bullet right at him. He saw it one hop and got his glove up, falling backwards, flips it over to second, and James [Elliott] was able to turn it. That's what you need."

Duran's efforts marked just one of many highlight-worthy moments from Newman's fielders.

"Gabe [Acevedo] made a great play early in the game in left field with a sliding catch. Alex made some nice plays at second. We ran a bunt defense, got the lead runner at second late in the game, and of course, Blake had the pick in the dirt at first, so lots of good defense," Russo said.

Denying dark horse St. John Paul II

Now, it's onto region semifinals, and judging by chatter in Wednesday's crowd, not the opponent that many expected.

Instead of a third faceoff with rival Benjamin, St. John Paul II will travel to Crusader territory on Saturday after pitchers Connor Cavo and Jack Wilhoit held the Bucs to just one hit in a 14-0 quarterfinal shutout.

"We knew that Benjamin wasn't a highly ranked team, either, but they fought super hard, and we have to be ready for that every single game," Duran said. "We knew that this team [Umatilla] was going to be good — they've got football players on this team. Football players play hard so we had to fight really hard to get the win."

Newman isn't looking at SJPII's 12-14-1 record. Just getting to the region championship, and if all goes as planned, back to the state championship.

While Lovitz rests up, the Crusaders are ready to rely on fellow righty junior Max Gonzalez this weekend. Meanwhile, the Eagles still have the arms of senior Alberto Medina, junior Florida State commit Emmanuel Lantigua, and freshman standout Scotty Crowe available.

"Max, he loves the moments. He's a hard thrower, has a lot of adrenaline and he has the stuff," Lovitz said.

"He's our No. 2, I guess you could say, but he pitches like a No. 1, so it's his turn," Russo said. "We've got Blake and Alex available, so we're in a good spot. I think if he [Gonzalez] throws strikes, it gives us a chance to win."

Emilee Smarr is a sports reporter for The Palm Beach Post. She can be reached via esmarr@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida pitcher commit Sam Lovitz and Crusader defense send Newman to semifinals