University Uses Five-Run Sixth To Defeat Somerset

The University School offense was stagnant for much of the night in their tournament opener against Somerset. In the sixth inning, however, the Suns used four straight singles to turn a 3-2 deficit into a 7-3 lead, which they would not relinquish.

University won their HSBN/Perfect Recruits Fall Classic opener 7-3, and set up a showdown with Coral Springs on Wednesday night.

Early in the game it appeared that Somerset had put their loss on Monday to Pembroke Pines Charter behind them. The Panthers got on the board first with two runs in the second. John Ham led off the inning with a walk. which was followed by a Chris Medina double. Both runners later came around to score.

University chopped into the lead by scoring one run in the third. Somerset answered that run with one of their own in the bottom half of the inning.

The score stayed the same until the fifth, as Shawn Wise (University) and Casey Gracia matched pitch for pitch. In the fifth, Garcia got the first two outs, but then showed some fatigue by walking two batters in a row. Somerset head coach Onel Garcia then went to his bullpen.

With runners on first and second, the Suns’ Charlie Gomez, Sebastian Diaz, JJ Cormier, and Andrew Denis changed the game when they hit consecutive singles, giving University their first lead of the game. By the end of the inning, the Suns had built a 7-3 lead.

Coach Rich Hofman knew that this tournament would be a test for his players this fall, and the Suns head coach was pleased with what he saw.

“This is the first time we really had to play a game that really meant something, and I was anxious to see what we could do,” said Hofman, “And we hung in there…overall, the kids did a pretty good job. For this kind of tournament and this type of situation, I was glad to see us come through in the clutch at the end.”

University now must turn their attention to Coral Springs on Wednesday night. The winner of that game will have the inside track on finishing first in the bracket and moving on to the second round. Pembroke Pines Charter currently shares the bracket lead with University after the Jaguars beat the Panthers on Monday night.

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