Westminster Uses Two Big Innings To Top Deerfield Bucks

There was sloppy play on both sides, but Westminster Academy took advantage of several errors by Deerfield Beach to take a 7-4 win Tuesday night in the second game of the HSBN/Perfect Recruits Fall Classic at McArthur High School.

The Cannons used a pair of three-run innings en route to the win. With Deerfield up 2-1 through the fourth, Westminster capitalized on four errors and got two key hits to go ahead 4-2. After Will Buschmann walked and Derek Borgenson struck out, Daniel D’Onfrio singled to tie it up. D’Onfrio advanced to third on two errors, one of which allowed Sam Etter to reach base. D’Onfrio came home for the go-ahead run on Gabe Delgado’s base hit. An error on the play allowed Delgado to get to second and Etter to score.

Westminster extended its lead in the sixth with three more runs. Derek Borgeson singled in Jake Dudas, and Buschmann came home on D’Onfrio’s sacrifice fly. Etter plated Borgeson with a base hit.

Deerfield was wild from the start as Buschmann reached base on an error and scored on another. It could have been worse for the Bucks, but Joey Ursetti struck out Nestor Clemente with the bases loaded to end the top half of the inning.

The Bucks got the run back in their half of the first when Andre Campbell scored, and Deerfield took a 2-1 lead in the third as Ramon Zorilla brought home Brian Johnson with a base hit.

Campbell added another run in the fifth and scored on a wild pitch in the seventh.

A trio of Westminster pitchers — Clemente, Dudas and Buschmann — limited the Bucks to two hits, but they also walked eight and hit two batters. Buschmann relieved Dudas in the fifth and got a ground-out to end the inning before striking out the side in the sixth. He induced a few more ground-outs in the seventh.

“Will came in and found the strike zone and kept them on their heels,” Westminster coach Nick James said.

Deerfield coach Scott Bragg said his team has to focus on capitalizing on its opportunities when on base.

“We have to take advantage when we’re getting those walks,” Bragg said. “We were a little sloppy and threw the ball around a little bit.”

Bragg was able to find some positives in his team’s effort. He said the approach at the plate is improving, and starter Ursetti threw well. Bragg said Ursetti will be the team’s ace this spring.

James said the tournament is perfect to get his younger players up to speed for the real action in the spring.

“It’s great to get these kids in a tournament atmosphere,” he said.

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