Timely Hits Key South Broward’s Win Over Monarch

In a game filled with exciting defensive play and terrific pitching, it was timely hitting that led South Broward to a 7-3 win over Monarch in the Deerfield Beach Preseason Classic.

“Every time we put the bat on the ball, we did something positive,” Bulldogs Manager Joe Giummule said.  “We’re not a power-hitting team. We need to put the bat on the ball and make things happen.”

And make things happen they did.

After leaving two runners stranded in the top of the first, and one on third in the second, the Bulldogs finally got the big hit they were looking for in the top of the third. With the bases loaded, first baseman Bryan Mugione hit a hard line drive into the left-center gap for a double to bring in three runs and a lead South Broward would not relinquish.

The next run came in the top of the fourth inning, when right fielder Sony Tusa hit the ball to left-center for a single. He then stole second unchallenged and advanced to third on a fielder’s choice. Short stop Makana Gilliand put the ball in play, forcing a 4-3 out and got the RBI when Tusa crossed the plate.

South Broward scored one run in the fifth and one in the sixth on a mixture of passed balls, errant pickoff throws, stolen bases and heads-up running. Their seventh and final run of the game came at the top half of the seventh inning, courtesy of Johanky Berrido’s double.

As good as South Broward was at key moments on offense, Giummule still wasn’t pleased.

“I’m disappointed in our [offensive] approach tonight,” he said. “We struck out 12 times. I don’t care if it’s Roger Clemens on the mound, you don’t strike out 12 times. We’re a veteran team. These guys have had a lot of varsity at-bats. I expect them to make individual adjustments at the plate. We didn’t do that tonight.”

The pitching for the Bulldogs was consistent, keeping the Knights hitless until the bottom of the fifth inning.

“I was pleased with our pitching. We got ahead of batters,” Giummule said. “We’re built around our pitching and our defense.”

The Knights came into the game with a lot of energy and passion and played hard up until the last out.

“I thought the kids competed well,” Monarch Manager Joe Franco said. “There are things we need to work on as a team and as individuals.”

There were some good individual plays by the Knights. In the bottom of the first, first baseman Nick Alonzo negotiated a walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch, stole third and scored on another wild pitch. In the bottom of the fifth, third baseman Gino Poliandro hit a well-placed ball into the left-center gap for an RBI double, bringing in second baseman Joey Hennesey, who got on base after hitting a single into left field.

“I loved the kids’ effort. They played together as a team,” Franco said. “I look forward to good things in the spring.”

For the Bulldogs, being in a very competitive district brings high expectations. Giummule counts on a roster with plenty of experience, having 10 seniors, 12 juniors, eight returning starters and six returning pitchers out of seven from last year. 

“With our district, we have to play almost flawlessly,” Giummule said. “When you have a veteran team you expect that.”

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