Heritage Stays Hot With 9-2 Win Over Pompano Beach

Jim Nesselt worked five innings for the win and added three hits offensively to lead Heritage.

American Heritage won their 7th game in a row Tuesday night as they beat Pompano Beach 9-2.  Heritage is now 3-1 in the district and Pompano drops to 1-3.

Pompano came out of the gates strong as starting pitcher Ryan Richman struck out the side in the top of the first.  They would take a 1-0 lead in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI double by Jared Sundook scoring Charlie Pal, who had reached on a walk.

“I thought we were flat early, I don’t think our approaches were very good” said American Heritage Head Coach Todd Fitz-Gerald, ” But I think when the lights came on we woke up a little bit.”

Heritage would answer with a run in the second after a one out double by Jim Nesselt and a two out RBI infield single by Brandon Vicens. 

A couple of singles by Alan Benzenhafer and Matt Fengler led to another Pompano run and a 2-1 lead after the second inning, but that was all the offense they would be able to manage for the night.

Heritage took the lead in the third pushing two runs across and never looked back from there.  Pompano committed a couple errors as five straight batters would reach base before the last out was made at third base on an outfield assist from leftfielder Kenny Sanchez.

After Heritage went down in order in the fourth, Pompano put together a little rally with a pair of two out singles by DJ Fenstermaker and Benzenhafer before the side was retired.

In the fifth, Heritage would gain some separation with four runs on three hits.  Dallas Perez led the inning off with a hit by pitch and thatwas followed by a two-run home run by catcher Brandon Sedell.  A one out walk to Derrick Fritz and a double by Esteban Puerta scored another run.  Nesselt then drove in Puerta to make it 7-2.

All was quiet for both teams in the sixth and Heritage would add a couple insurance runs in the seventh.  Shortstop Brandon Lopez led the inning off with a home run to right.  Fritz then singled, followed by a Puerta double to put runners at second and third.  David Villar added an RBI groundout to second for the final run of the game.

Nesselt earned the victory working five innings. The Patriots ace struck out seven and walked one.

“He’s coming off five days rest, throwing a shutout in his last game,  and didn’t really get settled down until about the second or third inning and got stronger as the game went on.” said Fitz-Gerald about his starting pitcher.

Richman went four and a third for the Golden Tornadoes and took the loss, striking out six and walking one.

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