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St. John Neumann advances to first Final Four since 1985 with 9-4 win over Canterbury

alex martin, naples daily news
·5 min read

If you wanted perspective on how long its been since the St. John Neumann baseball team went to a Final Four, first-year coach Charlie Maurer wasn’t even born the last time it happened.

The Celtics snapped a 38-year drought Monday night, downing Canterbury 9-4 to win the Class 2A-Region 3 championship.

“It’s been a long year,” Maurer said. “But these kids are amazing. It wasn’t easy, but they bought in since day one. The school, the admin, the existing players took me in on day one, and these guys have worked their tails off. Everybody in school has worked so hard. It’s really hard to put into words. The people here know how hard it was. It’s just a testament to these kids. They’re just an awesome group.

“I promised them all when we were 10-8, we were in a rut. I told them, ‘We’re going to figure it out. I promise.’ We haven’t lost since. They believe they can win now. It’s been a heck of a ride. I can’t even describe it.”

The Celtics (23-8), like they did in the district championship against Canterbury (26-5), responded with an offensive barrage that was just too much for the Cougars. Neumann went 12-for-29 at the plate (.413) with six walks, putting constant pressure on a Canterbury team that didn't have an elite No. 2 arm after Austin Schrowe (9-1, 0.95 ERA).

Florida State commit Alex Kuenzle set the tone for the evening, leading off the game with a single off of Canterbury starter Anthony Meady (8-1, 2.28 ERA). Kuenzle would later double in a pair of runs, finishing 3-for-5 with three RBI on the night.

Members of the St. John Neumann baseball team react after beating Canterbury in the Class 2A-Region 3 championship at Terry Park on Monday, May 15, 2023. St. John Neumann won 9-4 and moves on to the final four at Hammond Stadium.
Members of the St. John Neumann baseball team react after beating Canterbury in the Class 2A-Region 3 championship at Terry Park on Monday, May 15, 2023. St. John Neumann won 9-4 and moves on to the final four at Hammond Stadium.

“I knew I just had to be patient and get my pitches,” Kuenzle said. “I had to take what they gave me… We’ve worked really hard as a team. All the new guys adjusted very well, and the existing guys have been very welcoming, and turned this into a family.”

“The thing is about this team, we want it (a state title) more than anyone. That’s the difference.”

Meady was never able to get in his groove on the mound, after pitching four clean innings in the first matchup between the two teams. He allowed six hits, five earned runs, and walked two with no strikeouts. Canterbury threw Roan Hoefling, Garrett McManus, and Kevin Gonzalez in relief, trying to keep Neumann off balance.

John Fusco of the St. John Neumann baseball team scores as Canterbury catcher Evan Taveras attempts a tag in the Class 2A-Region 3 championship at Terry Park on Monday, May 15, 2023. St. John Neumann won 9-4 and moves on to the final four at Hammond Stadium.
John Fusco of the St. John Neumann baseball team scores as Canterbury catcher Evan Taveras attempts a tag in the Class 2A-Region 3 championship at Terry Park on Monday, May 15, 2023. St. John Neumann won 9-4 and moves on to the final four at Hammond Stadium.

Canterbury would trail the remainder of the game, getting as close as 5-4 in the fourth inning before Neumann put the game away with four runs in the top of the fifth. Canterbury stranded six runners, including J.T Huether at third base, who would’ve been the game-tying run in the bottom of the fourth.

“They just did a good job,” Canterbury coach Frank Turco said. “They bunted a lot, and they executed. We worked on it, and I thought we had something to combat and defend it, but I didn’t. I tip my hat to them; they did what they had to do. I’m so proud of this group. We’ve come such a long way. This is probably the most team-oriented group I’ve had.

Scenes from St. John Neumann baseballÕs 9-4 win over Canterbury in the Class 2A-Region 3 championship at Terry Park in Fort Myers on Monday, May 15, 2023. St. John Neumann moves on to the final four at Hammond Stadium.
Scenes from St. John Neumann baseballÕs 9-4 win over Canterbury in the Class 2A-Region 3 championship at Terry Park in Fort Myers on Monday, May 15, 2023. St. John Neumann moves on to the final four at Hammond Stadium.

“… He’s a ninth grader. He’s still a baby. He’s going to get so much better, and he’s gaining experience. You’re asking a kid to pitch in a regional final. That’s tough to do as a freshman, and he’s not a strikeout pitcher right now, but he’ll become that. Tonight, just wasn’t our night.”

Charley Bergsma did what he needed to do on the hill, going the distance on 85 pitches against the Cougars. He may have allowed eight hits and four earned runs while striking out six, but he ate up innings without Maurer having to go to his bullpen.

Everyone except Bergsma will be available for Thursday’s state semifinal contest, which will be against either St. Johns Country Day or Lakeland Christian.

Charley Bergsma, a pitcher for the St. John Neumann baseball team celebrate third out against Canterbury in the Class 2A-Region 3 championship at Terry Park on Monday, May 15, 2023. St. John Neumann won 9-4 and moves on to the final four at Hammond Stadium.
Charley Bergsma, a pitcher for the St. John Neumann baseball team celebrate third out against Canterbury in the Class 2A-Region 3 championship at Terry Park on Monday, May 15, 2023. St. John Neumann won 9-4 and moves on to the final four at Hammond Stadium.

“This new format is a gauntlet, and I said it last week, if you’re going to win at a high level, your dudes have to be dudes,” Maurer said. “Every game, guys step up, and that’s what makes these guys special. It’s a new day, a new hero. He was special tonight. He doesn’t waver. I’ve put him in so many screwed-up situations throughout the year, that he’s almost numb to it. I think tonight was just another testament to that.”

With the Celtics two games away from a state title, there’s just three players who have experience playing in a Final Four in Kuenzle, Carter White, and Mason Ceccarelli. White went 2-for-3 with a triple and a double in Barron Collier’s 4-1 loss to Archbishop McCarthy two seasons ago.

“We’ve just got to guide them,” White said. “We’ve got to guide them through it. Everyone’s been playing good baseball right now, and if we keep our mind on baseball and nothing around us, it’s just another game. We’ll want it more. We’ll have Kozy (Tyler Kozera) on the mound, so it’ll be a dogfight no matter who we play.”

Follow Southwest Florida Sports Writer Alex Martin on Twitter: @NP_AlexMartin. For the best sports coverage in Southwest Florida, follow @newspresssports and @ndnprepzone on Instagram.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: St. John Neumann downs Canterbury, advances to first Final Four since 1985