Pierson Pitches Monarch To 1-0 Series Lead Over West Broward

Andrew Pierson knew many of his opponents from playing with them on the South Florida Elite summer team.

But when Pierson’s Monarch team met up with West Broward and those summer teammates on Tuesday at McArthur High School in the first game of a best-of-three, second-round series of the HSBN/Perfect Recruits Fall Classic, friendships were put aside, and it was all business.

“Even though I know them and they’re my friends, you can’t let up,” Pierson said.

And so Pierson went to work in his business-like manner and effectively made his way through the Bobcats’ offense, facing only two batters over the minimum for five innings. Making efficient use of his fastball, the senior allowed just two base hits, struck out five and walked one as he kept West Broward scoreless through those first five innings.

“He’s been a rock for us for four years,” Monarch coach Joe Franco said. “We depend on him to get outs. He’s a bulldog. He throws four pitches for strikes. He spots the ball well. He did a superb job.”

Pierson said “I was just trying to hit my spots and get the ball down. That’s a big part of it for me. I don’t throw super hard, so I have to hit my sports and get breaking balls.”

West Broward coach Sergio Ambros knows Pierson well from coaching him on the South Florida Elite. Ambros admitted his team may have underestimated Pierson on Tuesday night.

“He kept us off balance and got ahead in the counts,” Ambros said. “I tip my hat to him. I’m not surprised. I saw him pitch over the summer. But he threw a little bit harder tonight and caught us a little off guard.”

The Knights grabbed an early lead as James Buckley scored on Josh Mila’s double in the top of the first.

West Broward managed two base hits off Pierson in the first two innings before Monarch extended its lead to 3-0 in the top of the third. After Nick Sposa and Buckley walked, freshman Ralphie Tardi bunted for a base hit. Buckley came in to score on a wild pitch, and Pierson singled in Tardi.

Pierson handcuffed West Broward through the middle innings, and only one batter reached base. Meanwhile, Monarch padded its lead courtesy of a two-run home run to left by Nick Alonso.

Pierson said the cushion was welcome, as always.

“It definitely helps,” he said. “Every run helps. No lead is safe. You can be up 10-0 and the other team can come back. You have to keep tacking on runs.”

West Broward finally caught a break in the sixth and managed a run courtesy of a bases-loaded walk. Danny Pardo walked to lead off the inning before Mike Mordente singled and Mark McGinnity reached on an error. Two batters later, Luigi Perez walked to allow Pardo to come home. A strikeout and a pop-up ended the threat.

Mordente got the Bobcats a little closer in the bottom of the seventh, doubling home Pardo, who reached on an error. But that was all West Broward could muster.

“We had an opportunity to capitalize late, and we didn’t come up with the big hit,” Ambros said.

On the other side of the field, the Knights performed as planned, Franco said.

“We were aggressive in the zone and didn’t let pitches go wasted,” Franco said. “The best part is everyone understood their role tonight.”

Pierson said “we didn’t play out best last week, so we wanted to come here and show how we can play and prove ourselves.”

The teams will meet again at 6:30 tonight for the second game. A third, if-necessary game is scheduled for Friday.

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