MONTGOMERY, Ala. – For the ninth time in the night, Jonathan Holt knelt down behind the mound and said his ritualistic prayer.
In only his second start of the year, Holt pitched a complete game against the Columbus State University Cougars to give Tampa its fifth National Championship with a 7-2 victory in Riverwalk Stadium.
In the 2006 National Championship game against Cal State, Chico, the University of Tampa’s closer Aaron Cook got the win, while staff ace Sergio Perez got the save.
For their second consecutive National Championship, Tampa used the closer Holt first and never needed another pitcher.
The Cougars struck first, manufacturing a run in the bottom of the third. Jonnie Geiger singled to left and was hit by Chris Rosenbaum’s throw as he stole second. Geiger advanced to third on the error, and scored on Kurt McKee’s ground out to Roberto Mena.
In the fourth inning, Jose Jimenez walked for the 54th time, setting a UT single-season record. After a Nolan Brannon single, Chris Rosenbaum hit a double to right center that went in and out of right fielder Brad Bowen’s glove. Jimenez scored on the play, tying the game at one.
After Paul Cruz popped out to shallow left-center, Brannon took advantage of Anthony Arrington’s wild pitch, scoring to give UT a 2-1 lead.
In the top of the sixth, Jimenez led off with a single to right field. Brannon hit what appeared to be a tailor-made double play, but McKee bobbled the grounder. Rosenbaum hit a sharp ground ball to third, which Brad Linton converted into a double play. Jimenez expanded the Tampa lead to 3-1, scoring on another wild pitch by Arrington.
In the top of the eighth, Rosenbaum extended the Tampa lead to three with a 2 out, 2 strike double to score Brannon.
The Spartans put the game out of reach in the ninth as Junior Mejia and Troy Ferguson hit back-to-back home runs, making the score 6-1. Ferguson’s homer was his only hit of the game, and his eighth home run of the year. Mejia hit his third of the season.
But the scoring barrage didn’t stop there, as Kennedy reached on an error and advanced to second on Craig Corrado’s single. Mena picked up the RBI on a single to center as Kennedy beat the throw home.
The championship is the fifth in school history and marks the second time the Spartans have captured back-to-back baseball trophies. Tampa won it all in 1992 and 1993.
Notes: The game was broadcast locally in Tampa on Catch 47 and worldwide online at http://www.tampaspartans.com