CS Christian Wins Hall Of Fame National Classic Title In Orlando

Coral Springs Christian Coach Matt Cleveland has been saying all year that he created a tough schedule for his team with the hopes it would make them a better club by the end of the season. On Thursday night, Cleveland and his Crusaders players started to experience the fruits of their laboring through that tough schedule.

CS Christian won their fourth game of the week, 5-4 over T.C. Williams, and in the process, they won the championship of the Hall of Fame National Classic tournament in Orlando. The tournament had three Broward teams entered, but none fared as well as the Crusaders.

The last two days, there were times when CS Christian did not look as if they were going to win the title. On Wednesday, the Crusaders battled back from a 5-4 deficit against Pine Crest in the semi-final game of the tournament. CS Christian won that game with two runs in the sixth inning.

Thursday, the team from Coral Springs spotted T.C. Williams three runs in the first. The runs were largely a result of some bad hop ground balls and a bloop single up the middle. Still, it provided the Crusaders with an early deficit. The lead had grown to 4-0 by the fourth inning, and things were looking gloomy for a Crusaders team that had problems adjusting to a southpaw that was not throwing hard.

In the fifth, the bats finally came alive. Zach Butler walked and Derek Barra hit the second of his two doubles on the night. With runners at second and third, Kyle Pitts also doubled, driving in both Butler and Barra, and cutting the T.C. Williams lead to 4-2.

The next inning, the Crusaders did their damage with two outs. Luke Bramos hit a two-strike single and Butler followed with a single of his own. After a pitching change, Barra was hit by a pitch, loading the bases for who would eventually be named the tournament MVP, Pitts. This time up, Pitts hit an infield single, making the score 4-3. Kevin Knapp plated the tying run with a walk, and Dominic Ferrusi finished the scoring for the night with an infield hit.

Nursing a one run lead, Corey Johnson threw a scoreless sixth, picking up the win for his stellar four innings of relief work. Knapp pitched the seventh, picking up the save. It was Pitts again in the seventh that made the difference when he held his ground on an attempted “slash” play. Pitts turned a spectacular 6-3 double play, and when the last T.C. Williams player lined out to third, the title belonged to CS Christian.

“Tonight is was all about poise,” said Cleveland. “The kids were a little bit frustrated early when they (T.C. Williams) were getting the breaks, but the players just kept telling each other they were going to win, and to play all twenty-one outs. Finally we put on a little pressure, and we broke through.”

Three Crusaders took home tournament honors. Pitts, who was 9-13 with four doubles and nine RBIs, was named tournament MVP. Butler was named outstanding hitter, going 6-13, and Johnson made the all-tournament team for throwing nine innings in two games, giving up only one earned run along the way.

For the Crusaders, these last two games could provide the springboard needed for a long playoff run.

“Two comeback wins in the late innings is nice,” said Cleveland. “It’s always good to be going into the playoffs with a good taste in your mouth. It’s a good feeling.”

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