C.S. Charter Makes Broward Proud Despite Championship Loss

This past week, dozens of Broward high school baseball teams took the field in various spring break tournament. At a time when the county had a chance to showcase its talent in comparison to other programs in the state and nation, many teams came up short. Coral Springs Charter, was one of the few teams that made the county proud.

Flanagan, the defending 6A champions, won a spring break tournament in Georgia last weekend, and American Heritage has a chance to do the same in Miami today. No other team from the county, however, played with as much passion and desire over the past week than Coral Springs Charter.

After coming off a week in which the Panthers lost two big district games, not many predicted they would advance far in the Sunshine State Classic in Orlando. After opening the tournament with a 5-3 win over Deltona, the Panthers moved on to the second game where they defeated Miami Brito 8-7. At this point, Charter started to believe they could win the tournament.

The semi-final game against Southwest Sanford was a wild affair, but Charter scored four runs in the sixth inning and then held on in the seventh to advance to the title game. In the championship game, the Panthers again showed their heart. After falling behind 12-6 to what many consider to be the best 2A team in the state, Orangewood, C.S. Charter showed why they can never be counted out.

The Panthers scored five runs in the seventh, keyed by a Cody Woodburn three-run homer, to cut the lead to 12-11. Stephen Kerr then singled (his fourth hit of the game), to put the tying run on base. The last Charter batter of the evening struck out, and the team feel short of its goal, but the lessons learned during the trip to Orlando were more important to Head Coach Jerry Albert than the final score.

“This was a terrific experience,” said Albert, of his team’s trip to Orlando. “The players all worked hard, and showed tremendous character. We were down several times, but as they have done all year, they fought back. I couldn’t be more proud of the way these guys stuck together and battled this week.”

Albert also spoke of the value of trips such as these for high school athletes. To the Panthers head coach, spring break is about more than just winning and losing baseball games. Instead, it’s about camaraderie.

“These trips are about life lessons. Everything we did this week, we did together. Whether it was going out to eat, or going to the movies. The game of baseball is one thing, but the other part of growing up is life experiences, and that is why these tournaments where we get to travel are so great.”

The Panthers had no shortage of heroes on the field in Orlando. Derek Vetere practically begged his coach to give him the ball in the championship game. Vetere went 4.2 innings against Deltona early in the tournament, but he convinced Albert to give it a go in the title game.

Shortstop Kerr had a big week at the plate, but an even better performance in the field, winning the Gold Glove award for the tournament.

Colton Rogers, who has been one of the best pitcher’s in Broward County so far this season, won the Cy Young award for the Sunshine State Classic. Rogers had two wins and a save during the tournament.

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