So how did St. Aloysius turn around its season after a 12-0 blowout loss to Cathedral? It got healthy at the right time, and with that its defense improved dramatically.

The return of senior starters Ryno Martin-Nez and Justin Rushing to the lineup was key for the Flashes to turn the tables on its archrivals from Cathedral.

With Rushing back at second base and Martin-Nez alternating between first base and the mound, the Flashes now resemble the team that won the Class 1A title last year. They get a chance to repeat next week when they face Myrtle in the 1A finals.

“It was big to get both of those guys back,” St. Al coach Clint Wilkerson said. “Ryno has been the face of this program and it was vital for us to get him back on the mound.”

Martin-Nez was a longshot to make it back there after suffering a serious knee injury during a football game in October. He returned to the baseball team in March but tweaked his knee again.