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Miami commit Gio Rojas leads Stoneman Douglas past No. 1 Venice for state title

IMG_8358by: Andy Villamarzo5 hours agoAndy_Villamarzo

FORT MYERS, Fla.- Everything was in front of them for the No. 1 nationally ranked Venice Indians (Fla.) heading into Saturday evening’s Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Class 7A baseball state championship at Hammond Stadium.

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With not only a state title and national one at stake, the Indians entered with their eyes on the prize, but one person stood squarely in their way: Parkland (Fla.) Marjory Stoneman Douglas senior pitcher Gio Rojas.

The Miami Hurricane commitment was dominant in a near-complete game effort as Rojas allowed one hit, walked two and struck out 12 batters in leading the Eagles to a 2-1 victory over the Indians, winning their sixth consecutive state championship. Venice was denied winning their first crown since 2019 and likely a No. 1 finish as the country’s top squad all in one.

“Gio (Rojas) was Gio,” Marjory Stoneman Douglas head coach Todd Fitz-Gerald said. “(Venice) is a well coached team and coach Faulkner does a great job and I got a lot of respect for those guys. These guys wanted this before we ever got here to Fort Myers. I think we cemented our legacy here in stone.”

Though opportunities were rare for Venice (32-2), which finished the season losing two games by a total of two runs, the Indians had their chances to score. Venice had a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings against Rojas, but were unable to get them across home plate.

Rojas and teammates in the press conference after the game told media that they convinced Fitz-Gerald to start the ace in the state championship and to trust them against Hagerty because of artificial intelligence research heading into the contest.

“The guys did stats. They used ChatGPT and did a probable outcome of the game yesterday,” Fitz-Gerald added.

The potential future first round MLB draft pick added that it was something the team had concocted a week ahead of states.

“We kind of had the idea the entire week prior,” Rojas said of the artificial intelligence idea. “Why wouldn’t we throw our best against the best?”

ChatGPT was correct as Rojas held the Indians scoreless for the entire time he was on the mound for the Eagles. The Miami commit exited with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning and was pulled for Ben Bianchi, who yielded the lone run to Venice on a solo home run blast from RJ Shields.

Bianchi would strikeout Carter Cox to end the game, capping arguably one of the more impressive state championship runs for Stoneman Douglas in program history.

More about Venice High School

Venice High School, located in Venice, Florida, is a prominent public school known for its strong academics, competitive athletics, and active extracurricular programs. Offering a variety of AP and honors courses, the school prepares students for higher education and future careers. Venice’s athletic teams are highly successful, frequently achieving state championships and fostering school pride. Emphasizing leadership, community service, and personal growth, the school ensures students are well-rounded and ready for future challenges.