Coral Springs Christian Rallies To Beat St. Thomas

Coral Springs Christian and St. Thomas Aquinas both had solid pitching in their preseason opener at Taravella on Wednesday, but one big inning in the fourth for the Crusaders was enough to carry them to a 7-3 win.

Billy Atkins started for Coral Springs Christian, recorded eight strikeouts and gave up only two hits in three innings. Ryan Milner pitched two innings, striking out three, and also scored the winning run. Ryan Cabrera finished the game for the Crusaders, pitching two scoreless innings.

Touki Toussaint’s fourth-inning home run tied the game for the Crusaders, who had fallen behind early. The blast set the tone for a six-run inning.

Jimmy Wright, the starting pitcher for St. Thomas Aquinas, went three innings, striking out four. Tyler Robinson and Will Halbert finished for the Raiders, striking out two each, and held Coral Springs Christian scoreless for the rest of the game to give their team a chance to come back.

St. Thomas scored their three runs in the third inning. Enrique Finol and Ben Seigal both had doubles to give the Raiders a two-run lead. That would end up being all the runs the Raiders could muster in this one.

Coral Springs Christian coach Matt Cleveland was happy with his pitching.

“Even though Billy was on, they were making him work, which was good for him,” Cleveland said. “I’m glad we got this in. St. Thomas is good ball club. They are solid, and they have a lot of guys that can play.”

Bobby Lawson, head coach of St. Thomas, was encouraged by his pitching.

” I think it was a good start tonight,” Lawson said. “I like the way our hitting came on later in the game, and hats off to these guys for hanging in there. I think we are on the right track.”

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