Walk-Off Home Run Ends State Baseball Hopes for Martinez

Editor's Note: The following is a release from Valley View School District.

Troy Middle School’s one-out, walk-off home run broke a 3-3 tie as well as the hearts of ’s baseball squad, parents and fans who thought this could have been the year the Vikings qualified for state.

Martinez (14-7) had tied the score in Tuesday’s regional final against the defending IESA state champs with a rally in the top of the 7th inning started by a walk to Matt Cappelletti, Daniel Carreno’s perfect sacrifice bunt and Gabe Trevizo’s RBI single to right field.

Lance Robinette was outstanding on the mound for Martinez, striking out six and having only one rough inning, the fourth, when Troy scored three times on two singles a double and a sacrifice fly. He pitched out of a second-and-third with nobody out situation in the sixth.

The Vikings took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Izaac Quinones led off with a single, moved to second on Noah Smith’s sacrifice bunt and came home on Kyle Massaro’s single to right field. They made it 2-0 in the second after Carreno’s walk, a balk, a wild pitch and Treviso’s RBI ground out.

J.T. Polinski and Carreno both made outstanding defensive plays in the second and third innings to keep Troy off the board. Third baseman David Rodriguez also made a great play in the fifth.

Other members of the Martinez varsity include Brian Davis, Carlos Garcia, Jared Hoffman, Kyle Pociask, Nick Schwanert and Alan Hernandez. Head coach is Chris McVey with assistance from Dan Drdak.

Troy moves on to play at 11 a.m. Saturday at Troy.