Cypress Bay Charges To Game Of The Week Victory
Raul Quintero was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate to help lead Cypress Bay to a much-needed victory.
Playing in the spotlight either brings out the best or the worst in a team. In Broward’s Game Of The Week Saturday under the lights, South Plantation visited Cypress Bay in a clash for a reservation at Western, home of the district tournament.
With contributions from the entire line-up the Lighting beat the Paladins 6-2 to solidify themselves a spot in the district tournament. Able to find its way offensively, Cypress Bay found all the holes in the field and scattered 11 hits.
“It felt great actually, beating one of our rival teams South Plantation. Our coaches used to coach for them for like 20 years or so and it was actually pretty exciting tonight,” said Lighting co-captain Danny Cepeda. “Since we have been losing as of late, we came in with a different approach that we were just going to play as a team. It was just a lot of hype tonight.”
The Lighting fell behind early in the first when Joshua Matos doubled to right center and was later driven in by catcher Aaron Sigal’s single to right. That was the extent of the damage that Luis Sucie allowed through his six innings of work for the home team.
“Luis has been pitching well for us all year, and he always throws strikes,” said Cypress Manager Michael White. “He may give a few hits up but he throws a lot of ground balls. We played good defense for the most part and our miscues didn’t hurt really us. But that’s what he does; he throws strikes and he pitches quickly, which keeps us on our toes. He is getting better every time he goes out there.”
Sucie was lights out Saturday, striking out nine, allowing one run on four hits and one walk. The team leaned on his right arm, as he turned on cruise control once he found his curve-ball in the second inning.
“I came out struggling a little bit throwing strikes, and I couldn’t find my curve ball early. I went on through the game and found it and my teammates backed me up,” said Sucie. “The second inning I came out I threw my curve ball in warm up’s and I was able to find it from there on out.”
In the second Cypress Bay evened the score at one when courtesy runner Justin Moronta stole second and scored on a single from sophomore third baseman Raul Quintero.
“We have been struggling scoring some runs and getting two-out hits, or when runners are in scoring position,” said White. “So we did a much better job of that tonight.”
Freshman Dylan Arnett threw five plus innings for South Plantation
Having only scored two-runs in each of their last two district losses, Cypress looked to break the barrier. In the third, Broward County’s leading hitter Danny Cepeda did what he does best and singled to right to start things off. Jose Natera watched the next pitch connect with his bat and rocketed a shot right up the middle for back-to-back singles and their third scoring opportunity in as many chances.
This time they made it count. Captain Tommy Quintero proved his leadership and non-selfishness, pulling a ball to the right side to advance both runners. After a sac fly drove in the first run, designated hitter Alex Valladares doubled over the right fielders head for the second run that gave the Lighting a 3-1 lead.
Sucie enjoyed pitching with the lead and started to fan batters in pairs, striking out eight of the last 12 outs he recorded. A single here and a single there was all South Plantation could put together, as Sucie put an end to any hope they may have gotten.
In the fourth, Quintero singled, stole a base and later scored to extend the lead by three. Quintero went a perfect 3-for-3 with two stolen bases, two runs and an RBI in the post-season clincher.
Cypress Bay added a couple more runs in the sixth for insurance. The bottom of the line-up delivered all night going a combined 5-for-10 with four runs, three stolen bases, two walks, and a double.
Cepeda and Natera drove in the final two-runs in identical fashion, both singling up-the-middle for RBI singles. Batting one and two in the line-up Cepeda and Natera went 4-for-7 with an RBI and run each.
South Plantation showed glimpse of hope Saturday, but in the end were just not able to produce enough runs. Manager Ryan Manuell cannot figure out where his team’s offense has gone. Despite reputations in practice the Paladins are unable to transfer that to the game field.
“We’re struggling at the plate right now, we are not consistent and I don’t know what the problem is. It’s not reps, we are getting enough of those, but its killing us right now,” said Manuell. “We have to keep working and focus on our approach at the plate. Practice has to be a carry-over to the game. You have to do the same thing in the cages as you do in the box and vice-versa. We are swinging at bad pitches when we have 2-0 and 3-1 counts, swinging at balls out of the zone.”
All was not disappointing for the Paladins Saturday. Sophomore Tyler Hudson went 2-for-4 with a double and run scored. Freshman starter Dylan Arnett battled all night in an attempt to keep them in the game.
Cypress Bay joins cross town rivals Cooper City and Western with their spots locked up in the district tournament. With revenge in the air, the first round match-up looks like Cypress Bay will get Western, whom they have fallen to twice this season.
South Plantation controls their own destiny with a one game lead over chasing Piper. They need to find their offense quickly to make a run in the tournament. The Paladins will face Western and Cooper City this week in the final week of district play, and wins over both would ensure them of the final playoff spot.
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