Baseball regionals: TFA sweeps Montverde behind Ty Arafet, Kinon Bastian

TL;DR

The First Academy defeated Montverde 4-1, completing a two-game sweep in the Class 2A, Region 2 semifinals. Ty Arafet excelled on the mound, supported by Kinon Bastian's home run.

Key points

The First Academy won 4-1 against Montverde
Ty Arafet pitched effectively for TFA
Kinon Bastian hit a home run
TFA completed a two-game sweep
Next, TFA will face Lakeland Christian

The First AcademyMontverdeTy ArafetKinon Bastian

(Chris Hays/Orlando Sentinel/TNS)

Something triggered Ty Arafet in the fourth inning Saturday night during The First Academy’s Class 2A, Region 2 semifinal game against Montverde.

He found some hidden energy and suddenly, the big 6-foot-7 right-hander reared back and let loose with his cannon of an arm and he started mowing down Montverde hitters.

Aided by the cushion of a 3-0 lead, after a home run by Kinon Bastian, a wild pitch and an RBI double by Xavier Johnson in the third inning, Arafet settled into a groove and relied on his arm, and the Royals went on to win 4-1 to earn a two-game sweep in the best-of-three series. TFA will next face Lakeland Christian in the region final.

“It felt amazing, man, and I’m just grateful for being able to pitch the last four years at TFA,” Arafet said.

It could not have been a more fitting setting for Arafet. In last year’s region semifinals, he blew out his arm and required Tommy John surgery, so he had to sit and watch his teammates win the Class 2A state title a year ago.

“So it was a full-circle moment for me to come out here and pitch tonight,” said Arafet, and now he’s right back in the mix as he looks to help his team repeat last year’s state championship. “No pressure. That’s just the expectations. There’s no doubt we’re gonna go do it.”

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Arafat, who sat down three straight Montverde hitters in the fourth, struck out 7 before wearing down and giving way to Josh Garcia in the sixth. Garcia struck out four hitters in two innings to get the save. Jaxon Wells added an RBI double in the fifth inning.

“Ty is such a competitor, man,” TFA coach Alan Kunkel said. “He threw against Montverde in the district championship game and just struggled with his command. He’s coming off surgery but his arm strength is great and the command has been getting better each time out.

“Tonight he had that splitter as a weapon and he was able to use it. He just kind of rears back and says, ‘I’m gonna throw my pitch and if you can hit it, hit it.’ ”

Not many Montverde hitters did. Arafet allowed just two hits in the victory.