Colts Season Falls Short Of Expectations With 7-1 Loss To Park Vista
Baserunners were few and far between for the Colts as they lost 7-1 to Park Vista Tuesday evening.
The Coral Springs Colts were within one out last year of going to the state class 6A final four. Although they eventually lost that game to Flanagan, the Colts players, coaches, and fans felt confident they could get back to that point this season. With many returners coming back, the sky was the limit.
Tuesday night, that sky turned into a brewing storm by the name of Park Vista. Coral Springs hitters had no answers for Park Vista starter Ryan Pistey, and the Colts dreams of winning a state title will now have to wait for next year. Park Vista won Tuesday’s regional quarterfinal 7-1.
Springs is a team that has been built over the past couple of years on throwing strikes and playing strong defense. Mix in a timely hit here and there, and it was a recipe for success. Tuesday night, the Colts were unable to accomplish any of the three characteristics that have come to define them.
In the first inning, Cobras lead-off hitter Trea Turner singled. Turner went first to third when Colts catcher Ian Delamadrid attempted a pick-off throw to first that sailed down the right field line. Robbie Coman then singled home Turner with the game’s first run.
The second and third inning held more of the same for Coral Springs. A wild pitch allowed a run to score in the second. An error and three walks aided the Cobras in scoring three more runs. By the end of the third, Park Vista had a 5-1 lead.
CS starter Aaron Maller, who has pitched most of the Colts big wins over the past two years, did not have his best command on Tuesday. The Colts ace lasted only two and two-third innings. Even with a strong performance by Coral Springs relievers, the Colts offense could do nothing against Pistey.
Coming off Tommy John surgery is never easy, but Pistey has come back strong this year after having the surgery in December of 2009. Throwing all of his pitches for strikes, Pistey went the distance, giving up only four Colts hits.
“We prepared hard for their lefty, and that work paid off tonight,” said Pistey. When asked when he felt in control on the mound, Pistey replied. “When we got the big lead.” In addition to the strong pitching performance, Pistey added two hits and an RBI to the Cobras win.
Cobras Head Coach Larry Greenstein was impressed with Pistey on the mound, not only Tuesday, but in his last couple of performances.
“He was in control,” said Greenstein. “He had a great performance last week against Santaluces…..from the get-go tonight he was in command of all his pitches. He could throw any of them and hit his spots. Coming off Tommy John surgery he missed all of last year. In the fall, he worked hard with his rehab program, and he kept getting better. Tonight that work paid off.”
For Coral Springs, the loss is bittersweet. While their season ends, they can head into the off season knowing that almost their entire team will return intact to try and make one more run at a state title. Senior Alex Demicco, a player representing the Colts in the BHSB Senior All-Star game next month, will be the only subtraction from a team that won seventeen games this year.
“That’s baseball,” said Colts Head Coach Frank Bumbales. “Major leaguers have games like this, and they end up losing, but they play 162 games, and they can come back the next day. Unfortunately, we can’t come back the next day, the season is over. We picked the wrong time to have a bad game.”
Contact - About - Advertising - Disclaimer - Copyright © 2018 HSBN Broward - All Rights Reserved
