S. Plantation’s Burgess Throws 1-Hitter in 4-0 Win Over S. Broward

The South Plantation baseball team may be peaking at just the right time of year.

Junior Brandon Burgess threw a complete-game one-hitter and the bats supplied plenty of offense in support as South Plantation blanked host South Broward 4-0 in the District 11-6A game played at Len Koch Field in Hollywood Thursday evening.

The Paladins (7-10, 6-4) recorded their second straight district shutout. They are now in contention for the third seed in 11-6A, heading into Friday’s final district contest against Hollywood Hills.

“This is becoming a bigger rivalry after the way they handled us in districts last year, so I’m glad the team was up for it tonight,” said Paladins coach Dustin Major.

Burgess recorded his second-consecutive complete-game shutout, allowing only a bunt single to sophomore Dylan Weichhan in the bottom of the sixth inning that spoiled the no-hit bid. 62 of his 89 pitches went for strikes and he faced only two batters above the minimum while recording six strikeouts to improve to 5-4 on the year.

The right-hander was perfect his first time through the order, not allowing a baserunner until sophomore Makana Gilliland reached on an error to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning.

“Burgess is our leader, our bulldog,” said Major.

Meanwhile the Paladins’ bats were aggressive and effective, connecting on the first pitch during several key at-bats.

Leading off the top of the third, South Plantation managed all the runs it would need. Senior Mike Giordano singled to left field on the first pitch, and then advanced to second base on a passed ball during a pickoff attempt. Senior Ben Osborne followed with a single to put runners on the corners, and both came around to score during the inning on wild pitches that put the Paladins up 2-0.

 “We saw that the pitcher’s curve wasn’t on, so I told the entire starting nine to watch for the fastball tonight,” said Osborne, who finished 2 for 4. “We figured his best pitch would be the first one.”

James surrendered nine total hits on the night, tossing 105 pitches over six full innings and striking out five to fall to 4-2.

The Bulldogs (12-6, 8-4) got their best chance to cut into the deficit in the bottom of the fourth inning. Gilliland reached on an error to break up the perfect game, then stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Junior Yohann Kurzwell followed with a walk to put runners on first and third.

During the next at-bat, Kurzwell broke for second base to draw a throw and Gilliland then headed for home plate, but the Paladins were able to relay the throw to home in time to catch Gilliland at the plate. On the following pitch Burgess recorded his fourth swinging-strikeout to end the inning.

The Paladins tacked on a run each in the fourth and sixth innings. Sophomore Sal Rodriguez scored on an RBI single from junior Matt Miller after he led off the top of the fourth with a first-pitch double to centerfield. In the sixth senior Matt Fuller reached on an error, stole second and then came around to score when Osborne reached on an infield error with two outs.

Miller finished 2 for 4 and Rodriguez was 2 for 3.

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