Nova Reaches Tournament Final With 13-0 Win Over South Plantation

The opposing catcher, umpire, and dugout watch along with Ronnie Patella, as his drive clears the left field fence.

The Nova Titans will again be playing for a championship in their Spring Break Tournament after they defeated South Plantation 13-0 in a semi-final game played Monday night at Pat McQuaid Field. The Titans and Paladins played earlier in the year, and in each game, the result was the same.

Nova started the evening fast against South Plantation starter Gerard Deluca. The Titans sent eight men to the plate, knocking Deluca out of the game before the first out of the inning. Shortstop George Gugino drove in the first two runs of the night with a laser shot to the right-center field fence, which went for a double.

Ronnie Patella followed with a two run homer to left, upping the score to 4-0. After a walk, Skylar Fox hit the Titans second home run of the inning to right center. Two singles later, Deluca’s night on the mound was over, replaced by John Herrera. Lead-off hitter Zach Kleinman drove in the final two runs of the inning with a single over the first base bag. Herrera then got the final two outs of the inning, but the damage had been done.

As for the first inning offensive explosion, Head Coach Pat McQuaid was pleased that his team followed the game plan that was discussed before the evening began.

“I challenged the kids before the game, to get their front foot down early, and to hit the ball hard,” said McQuaid. “I was happy with the way we hit the ball today. Especially when kids hit the ball up the middle, that’s what you want them to do….we hit the ball on the nose today, so that was good.”

The offense would not need to do much more on this night as Titans starter Reed Salzman went 3.2 innings, striking out eight of the fourteen batters he faced. Had Nova not held a 13-0 lead, Salzman could have gone longer, but McQuaid chose to get reliever A.J. Howell some work. Howell closed the game without giving up a run.

The shutout was significant as it was the eighth shutout of the season for Nova. The only game in which the Titans staff surrendered any runs was a 6-5 eleven inning loss to St. Thomas.

For the Titans, Corey Graf was 2-for-3 wit a run and an RBI. Gugino went 2-for-3 with two doubles, two RBIs, and a runs scored, and Fox was 2-for-2 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Matt Zanis and Tommy Corey each contributed a pair of singles, and Corey also added two RBIs.

The final score could have been worse if not for Paladins center fielder John Kennedy. The senior, who according to South Plantation Coach Brad Burgess, has been clocked under 6.5 seconds in the sixty yard dash, robbed three Titans hitters of extra base hits with spectacular catches.

Nova advances to the championship game tomorrow night against Bartow, who beat Western in a wild 11-10 affair earlier on Monday. The title game is set for 7 PM at Nova.

One Response to “Nova Reaches Tournament Final With 13-0 Win Over South Plantation”