Lozaro Masterful In North Broward Prep 1-0 Win Over Heritage

North Broward Prep has developed a reputation of winning high school baseball games on the strength of their bats. On Tuesday night, the Eagles showed that they are about more than just the long ball when they put together an impressive display of pitching and defense.

NBP pitcher Josean Lazaro dazzled all in attendance with a complete game 1-0 shutout over District 14-3A rival American Heritage. The win was the second this season by NBP over Heritage, and it locked up the top seed in the district.

Coming into the game, both teams knew that runs would be tough to come by. Heritage had their ace, Jimmy Nesselt on the mound, and the Eagles trotted out their top pitcher, Lazaro. The game went as many would have predicted, with the two aces controlling the action.

After the Patriots failed to score in the first two innings, NBP opened their half of the second with back-to-back singles by Mike Vigliarolo and Christian Correa. Sarkis Ohanian followed with a single, loading the bases with no outs. The only run of the game came home when a balk was called on Nesselt.

Heritage Head Coach Todd Fitz-Gerald acknowledged that it was a judgement call, and made no excuses for why his team lost the game. Instead, the Patriots coach focused on some of the missed opportunities to get to Lazaro early in the game.

“He had the ability to make a big pitch when he had to make a big pitch,” said of Lazaro, who escaped a bases loaded jam in the third inning. “We had a chance, and we just didn’t get it done. He shut us down tonight, he did a great job.”

Before the Patriots loaded the bases on Lazaro in the second, the Eagles pitcher was helped out by a spectacular play in left-field by Justin Bard. The outfielder tracked down a drive by Patriots lead-off hitter Brandon Diaz for the second out of the inning. After Heritage loaded the bases on a single and two walks, Lazaro struck out Derrick Fritz to end the threat.

Early in the game Lazaro relied on his fastball, but as the game wore on, his off-speed stuff became more of a factor. Afterwards, the Eagles ace explained how he adjusted on this night.

“I wasn’t comfortable with my fastball at the beginning,” explained Lazaro, “But I had to keep coming to it because I was falling behind. As the game went on, I went more to my slider. That was my strike pitch, and my curve ball was my out pitch tonight.”

Head Coach Brian Campbell has seen his share of games at North Broward Prep, but he could not remember a time when pitching was the story.

“It was huge,” said Campbell, about Lazaro’s performance. “Obviously, it’s a 1-0 ballgame, probably the first 1-0 ballgame I’ve ever seen at this park. He’s a competitor. They’ve got a tough lineup over there. All those guys are tough outs, so for him to compete and battle that way, it means a lot.”

Lazaro finished the day giving up only three hits, while striking out eleven. His counterpart, Nesselt, also threw a complete game, giving up only four hits and striking out seven.

The two teams will have to get over the emotional high of their match up quickly as both have district games looming later this week. NBP will be on the road at Pompano, while Heritage will play host to Coral Springs Charter Friday night.

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