CS Christian Downs Calvary 5-3 In 10 Innings For Second Straight District Title

The Coral Springs Christian baseball team is no stranger to adversity. 

But the Crusaders would have it no other way. 

Twice during the regular season they lost to district rival Calvary Christian, and they also suffered a tough four-game sweep in a Miami tournament that dropped their record to 4-6-1 at mid-season. 

Those struggles only helped make the moment that much sweeter for the Crusaders, as they celebrated their second-consecutive District 14-2A title following a marathon 5-3 10-inning victory over the host Eagles in the district championship at Calvary Christian Academy on Saturday. 

“These two teams are absolute equals,” said Crusaders coach Matt Cleveland. “I told them they can only control what they can control and let the game come to them.”

Both teams qualify for regional play, which begins on Tuesday. 

Leading off the top of the tenth inning, junior third baseman Ryan Milner singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from junior Luke Bramos. A pair of walks loaded the bases, and Milner came in to score the deciding run on a walk to senior Kevin Knapp. Senior Dominic Ferrusi brought in the final run of the game when he was hit by a pitch in the following at-bat. 

Ferrusi was 3 for 4 with a stolen base and two RBI and Milner was 3-for-4. 

The game, which was postponed from Friday due to heavy rains, was twice stopped due to more weather delays that totaled more than two hours in all. Eight different pitchers threw 320 total pitches and the game elapsed more than five hours. 

“I cursed us because I preached all day that we just needed to get twenty-one outs, but we actually needed thirty outs,” joked Cleveland. “It’s a testament to them that they stayed with it this season and stayed level-headed.” 

Coral Springs Christian improves to 17-8-1, having won 13 of its last 14 games, and will host The Kings Academy in the regional opener on Tuesday. 

Calvary will travel to face host American Heritage-Delray, also on Tuesday. 

The contest began as a pitchers duel, as Calvary starter Seth Natal opened with an eight-pitch first inning and cruised into the seventh while throwing 51 of his 79 pitches for strikes. 

Meanwhile Crusaders starter Cory Johnson allowed only one hit while recording eight strikeouts in only four innings of work. 

“We’ve never played our best game against them,” said Johnson. “I really appreciate my defense, that’s for sure.” 

The Crusaders avoided allowing any big innings thanks to a few key defensive plays, including a deep diving catch by centerfielder Derek Barra on a shot by Eagles’ standout catcher Taylor Gushue in the fifth inning. Thanks to the catch Calvary was held to only one run on the play, which made an even bigger difference when junior Dalton DiNatale doubled the following at-bat to score Emilio DeSilva and pull Calvary down only 3-2 heading into the sixth. 

DiNatale finished 2-for-4.

Coral Springs Christian broke open the scoring in the fifth inning when Barra scored on a sacrifice fly from Ferrusi, Nick Lamberti singled in Knapp and Milner reached on the third error of the inning to score senior Jesse Feyers and make it 3-0.

“All year we have been able to answer back, but we caught a team playing really well,” said Eagles coach Gregg Mucerino. “We kicked it around a bit and still kept the damage to a minimum. I’m proud of how they kept fighting.”

Calvary (18-7-1) forced extra-innings in the bottom of the seventh. DeSilva led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from senior Anthony Avila, then advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Gushue followed with a walk and DiNatale hit into a fielder’s choice that brought in DeSilva to even it at 3-3. 

After failing to hold the lead in regulation, the Crusaders turned to their senior closer Knapp, who closed out the final two innings to earn his first victory of the season to go with his six saves. 

“My location felt good coming back,” said Knapp, who entered the game in the eighth inning and then remained in after a nearly two-hour rain delay. “We have been playing well since the Miami tournament and we know we can win.”

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