Back-to-back: Here's How Mulberry Slipped Past Bishop Moore To Return To State Tournament

MULBERRY — Mulberry is heading back to the state baseball tournament, and this time, the road to state was more difficult.

With the Class 3A, Region 3 tied, Mulberry got clutch pitching from Jaden Sweeney and clutch hits from Gavin Stedman and Dominic Gotauco to defeat Orlando Bishop Moore, 3-1, in the series deciding game.

Mulberry (26-9) will play in the Class 3A state semifinals on May 19.

“I can't even put it into words just because it's a different group, it's hard to get there and the three-game sets made it even harder,” Mulberry coach David Gotauco said. “You had to have way more strategy with the three-game sets, going on the road twice, taking one on the road. Taking the first one was huge, and then bringing it back in the community.”

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This is the first time that a Polk County team has advanced to the baseball state tournament in back-to-back years since Winter Haven finished state runner-up in 2004 and 2005. Mulberry reached the final four in back-to-back years in 1959 and 1960, losing in the semifinals in ’59 and winning the title in ’60.

The Mulberry-Bishop Moore series reached the deciding game after Mulberry won the opener and Bishop Moore won the second game in Orlando. It brought the deciding game back to Mulberry.

“They were a little bit nervous,” David Gotauco said of his team. “They definitely wanted it. They had a good vibe. There was a good vibe all night, and they rose to the challenge. They really did.”

Mulberry and Bishop Moore were locked in a scoreless tie until the bottom of the fifth inning when the Panthers finally broke through.

Griffin Cline led off with a double and scored on Stedman’s two-out single. Sweeney kept the inning alive with a single. After Brock Thielen walked to load the bases, Dominic Gotauco singled to drive in two more runs.

Sweeney got the call on the mound and he shut down through five innings before allowing a run in the sixth. He finished with a five-hitter and struck out three.

“JJ Sweeney was incredible,” David Gotauco said. “He was first-pitch strikes constantly. First pitch strikes and he really did well. I went with an all senior lineup today.”

Coby Anker closed out the game. He struck out two of the four batters he faced.

“He's been dealing all year for us,” David Gotauco said. “In his last like six outings, he hasn't allowed a hit or earned run.”

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Mulberry beats Orlando Bishop Moore in 3A-3 region finals