PALM BEACH GARDENS – In just a few hours, the Game of the Year will be upon us.
For anyone who has been following the Palm Beach Gardens and Stoneman Douglas baseball teams, it has been a titanic season for both programs up to this point.
Palm Beach Gardens (22-5) is on a four-game winning streak right now, which is highlighted by two wins over Palm Beach Central, including Wednesday night’s (May 12) 3-1 triumph at home.
The Class 7A-Region 3 semifinal game between the two area teams was decided in the bottom of the third inning, when Florida State signee and Gators senior Cade Bush drove in a run scored by Oklahoma State signee and fellow senior Aidan Meola. This gave the home team a 1-0 lead that would hold until the end.
“Aidan Meola and Josh Hogue found ways to get on and then I got myself into a 2-0 count,” Bush said. “I was in a 2-0 count my first at-bat and I pretty much knew a fastball was coming. I turned on the fastball and it found a hole to get us on the board early.”
The other two runs for Palm Beach Gardens came in the bottom of the fourth, when juniors AJ Hunerberg and Billy Reid reached home plate for a 3-0 lead.
“AJ Hunerberg hit a shot to left field to lead off the inning and then Billy Reid hit the ball hard with infield in that scored AJ,” Bush said. “Aidan Meola had a triple that also scored a run that inning. Innings that we score multiple runs are big, and we will need to have some to win Saturday.”
The winning pitcher for Wednesday night’s game was senior and Sante Fe College signee Tobin Moran, as he led the way with keep Palm Beach Central (16-11 final record) at bay.
Meanwhile, fellow senior pitcher and Stetson signee Dominic Stagliano got the save as the Gators sent the Broncos home for good.
“They are a tough district opponent and we have played them four times this year, always a close game,” Presto said.
“We took a lead towards the middle of the game and didn’t look back with the help of our pitcher,” Presto continued. “It was some more momentum and another step towards our end goal.”
Speaking of Saturday, the 7A-Region 3 final will be an away game for Palm Beach Gardens and a home game for Stoneman Douglas (25-2). The first pitch is set for 7 p.m. tonight (May 15) in Parkland, Fla.
The 7A playoff run for Stoneman Douglas includes two recent wins over Santaluces (9-0 in 7A-Region 3 quarterfinal round on Friday, May 7) and Park Vista (5-3 in 7A-Region 3 semifinal round on Thursday, May 13). The Eagles will be playing their third straight Palm Beach County opponent in this postseason, as they try to fend off the Gators for a shot at 7A glory next weekend (May 21-22) in Fort Myers.
Both teams have been highly ranked throughout the season.
Stoneman Douglas is currently the No. 1-ranked team in 7A and No. 2 overall in the state. Meanwhile, Palm Beach Gardens is close behind at No. 4 in 7A and No. 13 overall in the state.
This is game we have all been waiting for, and it’s a rematch of what took place earlier this season, when Palm Beach Gardens scored a 7-4 win over Stoneman Douglas on Feb. 26.
“We have to play our game,” Gators senior and FAU signee Dom Presto said. “We need to play with an edge and everyone needs to have energy.”
Gators fellow senior and Stetson signee Zane Coppersmith feels the same way.
“We just need to keep rolling and play our game that we have played all year,” Coppersmith said.
PHOTO CREDITS: Jeffrey Wimbrow
