PALM BEACH GARDENS – This year’s Palm Beach Gardens baseball team has been one of the most successful, most talented, and deepest collective in its illustrious history.

The Gators (22-6 final record) were literally a three-run walk-off home run away from reaching the Class 7A State Final Four Series in Fort Myers. Had that season-ending play not happen against Stoneman Douglas (26-2) in the bottom of the seventh inning on the night of May 15 for a 6-4 loss, then we would be talking about Palm Beach Gardens being the last team standing in Palm Beach County.

The walk-off homer was hit by Stoneman Douglas junior and Florida State commit Santiago Ordonez.

Gardens soon-to-be alum and FAU signee Dom Presto shared his thoughts on what may be remembered as the Game of the Year.

“I don’t know what to call it to be honest with you,” Presto said. “But I can say the baseball gods were not on our side that Saturday night. “It just wasn’t in the cards, I guess.”

Regardless of the outcome, Palm Beach Gardens proved that it was one of the state’s best overall teams from top to bottom. This group came back from an early 3-0 deficit and took a 4-3 lead all the way to the bottom of the seventh against eventual 7A state champion Stoneman Douglas.

A game like that was possible because of all the experience Gardens has had in coming out on top in close games.

The journey was challenging but worth it in more ways than one.

Coming off an 18-5 regular season, Gardens could have easily lost to a tough Jupiter team in the District 10-7A semifinals. But they found a way to come back from a 4-3 deficit to win by a score of 5-4 via walk-off sacrifice fly by Oklahoma State signee Aidan Meola.

And then in the 10-7A final, Palm Beach Gardens took down another tough foe in Palm Beach Central off a three-run walk-off homer by junior and Stetson commit Jayden Hylton for a 3-0 win in 11 innings. This play gave the Gators the District 10-7A title.

Palm Beach Gardens finished its home stretch on a four-game winning streak to go 12-0 at Joe Russo Field this season. The previous two games before Stoneman Douglas were against Treasure Coast (1-0 win; 7A-Region 3 quarterfinal) and Palm Beach Central (3-1 win; 7A-Region 3 semifinal).

“Winning 22 ball games is not easy at all, especially with our schedule,” Presto said. “Our head coach [Joe Russo] doesn’t schedule any easy games. He’s a great coach because he treats everyone like a professional baseball player. which is everyone’s goal to be one day.”

One of those players is Cade Bush, who will be headed to Florida State sometime
this summer.

“Right now it just feels a little weird without baseball,” Bush said.

The relationship between Bush and Presto was something to behold. It played a huge role in the immense success this spring for Palm Beach Gardens.

“Dom brought the energy everywhere he goes,” Bush said. “Even when he was hurt, he would still come to practice and make sure we were getting our work done. Dom will make you match his energy on the field, and I think that is good for the team.”

Bush had more to say about Presto.

“Dom has changed so much since freshman year,” Bush said. “Me and Dom grew up competing with and against each other. These last four years, I’ve watched Dom evolve into a better ball player and a better teammate. He proved this year that he was a team-first guy after coming back from injury. He could have stayed the rest of the year out, but I watched him work so hard to get back onto the field with us. I’m going to miss playing with Presto. It’s been a wild ride for sure.”

Presto shared the love back.

“Cade is a great friend of mine and an even better teammate,” Presto said. “And on top of that, he was the best hitter on our team this year and one of the best in the state. He’s always been there for me since I was 7 or 8 years old. I love that guy like a brother, and Florida State is getting a stud on and off the field.”

Zane Coppersmith, a Stetson signee and close friend of Presto, spoke on his own experience as a Gator.

“I came in this year from Dwyer and the coaches and my teammates all treated me like I have been there for four years,”Coppersmith said. “It’s a great group of guys that can’t be replaced. I had a good season despite a slump for some games in the middle of the season. I’m happy I could be an important part of this amazing team and they could count on me in close games.”

Translation: The Palm Beach Gardens baseball team felt like a family, which is something no one affiliated with this program will forget.

PHOTO CREDITS: Keith Forde