South Broward Takes Home Title From Own Tournament

Powered by a six-run third inning, South Broward captured the title at its own spring tournament Tuesday night with a 9-6 win over Somerset Academy.

The Bulldogs were led by third baseman Matt Cohick, who went 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a pair of runs scored, and Cody Behr, who also picked up a double and two runs knocked in, as well as a save.

“It’s nice to host and win, I think it’s the first time I’ve done it,” manager Joe Giummule said. “Hopefully we can carry this momentum into the rest of the season and get that two seed in the district.”

South Broward opened the scoring with a first-inning run courtesy of an RBI single by Cohick, but their lead didn’t last long as the Panthers (6-13, 1-7) scored three times in the second.

After getting aboard with a single, Mike Van Degna scored on a passed ball, and then nine-hole hitter Jonathan Vega put an impressive swing on a pitch from Bulldogs starter Ken Rasor, driving in two runs with a double to left-center field.

Somerset starter Brandon Acevedo should have been throwing strikes to start the third with a lead to protect, however his leadoff walk to James McDonell would be the beginning of a long half inning.

A John McGinnis RBI single scored McDonell, and before Acevedo could get the first out, the #11 Bulldogs (11-4, 6-3) had retaken the lead. Things would get worse when Behr smacked a two-run two-bagger before scoring one batter later on a throwing error to make it a 7-3 game.

The Panthers, who had lost 10 of 11 games coming into the break and have been decimated by injuries this season, did not give up, however, and made it a game with a three-run fifth inning.

With two on and no outs, both Israel Santana and Van Degna hit deep balls to the track that would have been home runs if not for the stiff, cold wind blowing in.

Next batter John Ham kept the ball down, loading the bases with a single, and then Jesus Espana cleared them with a double down the left-field line.

Heading into the seventh, Somerset fans were hoping to only have to overcome a one-run deficit, but the Bulldogs tacked on two more runs thanks to a fourth Panthers error and a Mike Cohick RBI single.

“When you play a good team, you can’t make that many errors. That was the difference in the game,” said Somerset manager Onel Garcia. “We’ve had a rough year with guys who haven’t performed up to par and the injuries. We had some good at-bats in this tournament and some young guys that are coming through. We’re just trying to do the best we can with what we’ve got.”

As for South Broward, they now turn most of their attention to April 9th’s big rematch with Nova, a game that will have a big impact on who finishes with the second seed and a bye in the 7A-16 tournament.

“We’ve got to think about pitching matchups,” Giummule said. “They’ve seen our best guy (Rasor) once, so that means if I throw him again, they see him again, and would likely see him a third time (in the district tournament). “

And before he left Len Koch Field, Giummule reflected on what he thinks makes tournaments like this a success.

“We’re fortunate enough to have a great administration here that supports us, and great parents. Without that support system, this can’t be done.”

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