GOLDEN — What is it like for a father to watch a son hit two home runs in a playoff game? Wonderful, especially when the father is also the coach of the team.
“I’m pretty proud. It’s hard not to be a proud dad,” said Faith Christian coach Gino Carbajal, whose son Mariano powered the Eagles to a 13-6 Class 3A playoff win Saturday over Olathe at Colorado School of Mines.
The junior Carbajal, whose brother, Emilio, also plays for the Eagles, hit two two-run homers to center field in a game the Eagles trailed 3-0 after the first inning.
Mariano Carbajal’s first blast, in the top of the second off Pirates starter Cody Harrison, got Faith Christian back into the game at 3-2. Carbajal’s second, also off Harrison in the top of the fourth, gave the Eagles a comfortable 9-3 lead.
Not even a month ago, Carbajal wasn’t sure he would be able to finish the season because of a broken jaw suffered when a line drive hit him in the face. It required delicate surgery, but he was given the go-ahead to resume play last week — albeit with a protective shield.
“It felt weird at first, but I knew I’d get used to it,” Mariano said. “We started off slow in the first inning and needed someone to pick us up. We’re a solid team. We’re pretty mentally tough, and we just forgot about the first inning. We knew they weren’t going to beat us in the first inning.”
Eagles infielder Isaac Henry was another hero, a day after a crucial throwing error in Faith Christian’s preliminary round loss to Holy Family. Henry rapped out three hits and made a diving catch and throw to second for a double play to squelch a burgeoning Pirates rally in the bottom of the sixth.
Carbajal, a senior, has graduated, but his high school experience lives on for another week because of the victory.
“Our goal is to win the state championship,” he said. “That’s the best way to go out as a senior.”
Adrian Dater: 303-954-1360 or adater@denverpost.com
