South Broward Cruises To 11-3 Victory Over Plantation

The Bulldogs of South Broward ran their district record to 7-1, scoring seven runs early en route to a decisive 11-3 victory over district rival Plantation last night on their home field.

Lead-off batter Makana Gilliland started things off on a positive note for South Broward, lining a sharp single to left. He promptly stole second and moved to third on a fielders choice. It was here that Gilliland’s quickness and heads-up play made a difference. Josh James hit a grounder to third and Gilliland got back to the bag safely just under the tag, allowing James to reach first safely.

Colin Tindal followed with a grounder to second, scoring Gilliland from third. Casey Hayes drove in the second run of the inning with an RBI single through the left side, for a quick 2-0 South Broward lead.

Gilliland went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, 3-runs scored, 3 RBIs and a stolen base. Coach Joe Giummule had nothing but praise for his versatile young player.

“He’s a sophomore who didn’t play baseball last year. He showed up after our Fall season and he’s just a kid who gets better and better every day he’s out here,” said Giumulle. “He’s very athletic. The ball jumps off his bat and he has a strong arm, I don’t know where we’d be without him. He sets the table very nicely.”

The Colonels cut the lead to 2-1 in the next frame when Matt Costa lined an RBI double to left scoring Mark Ramcharitar, who was on first after having legged out an infield hit with two down.

The Bulldogs came back in their half of the inning, scoring five runs to increase their lead to 7-1. Ulysses Peguero got things going with a double to the gap in left center field. One out later he rode home on Dylan Weichhan’s RBI single. Weichhan then scored when Gilliland stroked a double to the center-field fence.

After a couple of bases loaded walks, Peguero’s second hit of the inning, an RBI single to right, made the score 7-1.

“Ulysses is one of the nicest, hardest working young men on this team. He actually asked me to work with him yesterday after practice and it paid off,” said Giummule. “It’s nice to see him come through and be rewarded for all the hard work and dedication that he has for the game.”

A fourth inning solo homer by Plantation’s Kody Jones and an additional unearned run in the fifth closed the gap to 7-3.

The Bulldogs bats came alive again in their half of the fifth, after listless third and fourth innings. South Broward added four more runs, to take an 11-3 lead. Keying the rally were Gilliland’s second double of the game, a two-run shot to center, and Tindal’s RBI two base hit down the left field line.

South Broward’s Hayes picked up the win going six strong innings, allowing just two earned runs on five hits while chalking up eleven strikeouts.

Plantation Head Coach Albert Destrade gave credit to the Bulldogs on this night.

“We got off to a rough start,” said Destrade. “South Broward is a well coached and talented team. It’s kind of a let down coming in here and not playing our best ball, but there’s still a lot of baseball left to play this season.”

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