American Heritage Beats Coral Springs Charter By A Final Of 17-4
American Heritage jumped on Coral Springs Charter pitching early and often scoring 17 runs on 15 hits. They hit three home runs along the way as they advance to the district championship game for the 11th straight year.
The hit parade started in the bottom of the first with three runs on three hits. Brandon Diaz doubled to lead off the bottom of the first and Brandon Sedell singled as they both eventually came around to score. Esteban Puerta also singled to drive in a run.
“I thought we had a good plan coming out, their starter shut us down last game,” said American Heritage Head Coach Todd Fitz-Gerald, “We just wanted to have good approaches and we did that, top to bottom, and off the bench.”
Coral Springs Charter could not score in the first two innings as they left two base runners on in each inning. Heritage was shut down in the second for their only scoreless offensive inning of the game.
In the third, Charter scored their first run on back to back doubles by Colton Rogers and Joseph Greenwood. That would be as close as they could get as Heritage sent fifteen batters to the plate and scored ten in the bottom of the third on seven hits.
The big blow came of the bat of designated hitter Jim Nesselt who hit a grand slam to make it 7-1. Brandon Lopez and Derrick Fritz both singled twice, scored twice, had a stolen base and an RBI in the inning. Sedell and Brandon Vickens also added two-run singles in the third.
“Our kids were very prepared and very focused today,” said Fitz-Gerald.
Charter had base runners all game as they totaled twelve hits but could not seem to get them across the plate. They scored one run on three hits in the fourth on three consecutive singles. Stephen Kerr drove in courtesy runner Nick Haynes.
The Patriots kept swinging away as they scored four more runs on a pair of home runs. Sedell hit a three-run home run and pinch hitter Dan Dispenziere hit a solo home run to make it 17-2.
Vaughn Bryan hit a double to knock in two runs for Coral Springs Charter as that would all they would be able to get for the game. Shaun Anderson recorded the last out for Heritage as the game ended after the top half of the fifth inning.
Alex Seibold got the win working four innings and Derek Vetere received the loss for Charter as they used five pitchers in the game.
“Alex didn’t have his best stuff today, it was one of those days, he battled and threw strikes to win and that’s what we needed,” said Fitz-Gerald of his starting pitcher.