HSBN Game Of The Week: Pine Crest vs. Pompano Beach

When Pine Crest and Pompano Beach take the field this Saturday for the HSBN Broward Game of the Week, you’ll have a pair of former district foes reuniting — and it will feel so good.

The teams shared one of Broward’s most competitive districts before realignments put them in different classes. Given that history, both teams are ready to rekindle the fire in a competitive atmosphere again.

The Game of the Week concept was created by HSBN with the intention of raising money for the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation, while also giving fans something to get jazzed about each week

“We’re excited about it,” Pine Crest Manager Glen Pierson said. “It’s on our schedule as ‘Game of the Week,’ so I know the players are excited about it.”

But Pierson was quick to temper the enthusiasm for the Game of the Week by pointing out his team has some other business to handle first this week before it can think too much about Pompano (3-2). The Panthers (4-2) face Somerset Academy on Wednesday in what Pierson called “a very big district game” and will be looking to have another good outing against them like they did two weeks ago when the Panthers beat them 12-2.

But come Thursday, the focus will shift to Saturday’s game. Pierson said the teams have had “some great battles over the years” and he’s expecting the same Saturday. He admitted to knowing little about the Tornadoes this year but assumes they’re a good team.

Pompano coach Ryan Combs has a lot of respect for Pine Crest.

“I know they’re one of the better teams in the county, and playing good teams is always a positive,” Combs said. “I always try to play the best in Broward. It’s a good situation to play quality teams.”

Combs, who intends to create a college-style atmosphere for Saturday’s game, said he was happy with the chance to participate in an HSBN Game of the Week.

“I told them I really want to be a part because anytime you can get a little extra publicity for your team, it’s a good thing,” Combs said.

The Panthers will be looking to continue the torrid offensive pace they’re on. They have scored 60 runs in their first six games. Steven Goldberg’s three home runs leads the county. Matt Rothenberg and Zack Kone are tied for the lead in RBIs with 12.

“Offensively, we’ve been very productive,” Pierson said. “That did not happen over night. Several of the guys in the lineup have been reliable with getting on base and driving runs. That’s part of our success.”

Pompano isn’t putting up numbers quite as big as Pine Crest, so the Tornadoes can only hope that offensive slump is diminished by Saturday.

“Defensively, they do a good job, but offensively, we’re just not where we want to be yet,” Combs said. “We’re still a work in progress. it’s just a matter of making some adjust as we go forward.

So far Vince Costello and Shaw Pinnell have led the way offensively. Pinnell is batting .667 and Costello is hitting .583.

Neither team has yet to select the person who will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.

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