Gray’s Gem Leads West Broward To 2-1 Victory Over Monarch To Even Series

West Broward starting pitcher Austin Gray was supposed to pitch only four innings on Wednesday night.

But once he got in a groove, Bobcats coach Sergio Ambros made the decision that this would be his game to win or lose.

The senior right-hander tossed a complete game with seven strikeouts to give West Broward a 2-1 victory over Monarch in Game Two of the second-round match up of the HSBN/Perfect Recruits Fall Classic played at McArthur High.

The Bobcats evened the series at a game apiece, setting up the deciding game at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

“We knew we had to win today, and we were pumped up for this game,” Gray said. “We didn’t come off the loss last night very well.”

Gray’s performance was the first time any Bobcats pitcher had tossed a complete game this spring, although part of that is because of the coaches taking advantage of the fall games to get work for everyone. But this fact alone is only further testament to the impressive performance that Gray exhibited on the mound Wednesday, as he tossed 51 of his 75 pitches for strikes while relying on a sharp curveball that was effective throughout.

Gray seemed to get stronger as the game wore on, recording five of his strikeouts in the final three innings.

“That’s the type of pitching we’ve been getting this fall, and it really gives us a chance to win,” Ambros said. “Austin saved us from using the rest of our staff today.”

West Broward did all of its damage in the top of the third inning. Senior Mike Mordente drew a two-out walk, then stole second and came around to score on a passed-ball strikeout of senior Mark McGinnity. McGinnity also reached on the error, then managed to come around and score the deciding run on a wild pitch from Knights starter David Webb.

Monarch made three very costly errors in the inning.

Mordente recorded three stolen bases on the night, after also reaching on an error in the first inning before being stranded on third base when Webb recorded a strikeout and then forced a lineout to shortstop James Buckley.

Webb had a solid showing on the mound, recording eight strikeouts with four walks and no hits while throwing 81 pitches over four innings of work. His performance is even more impressive considering he was throwing on shorter rest after Monarch’s original Game Two starter, Andrew Rohloff, became unavailable after he broke his tibia during Tuesday’s contest.

After scattering three hits throughout the first six innings, the Knights finally got on the board thanks to a solo home run to left-center field from senior catcher Josh Mila with one out in the bottom of the seventh. Mila finished 2-for-3 on the night.

Ambros even took responsibility for the homer, admitting the coaches called the wrong pitch and Mila made them pay for it.

“That one was on us,” Ambros said. “Austin didn’t question his ability, and he just settled in and got those last two outs that we needed.”

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