University Rallies To Win Group One; Opts Out Of Round Two

The University Suns came into their game with Pembroke Pines Charter knowing that they needed only a win to advance to the second round of the HSBN/Perfect Recruits Fall Classic tournament. Even with a loss, the Suns could have advanced if they held the Jaguars under five runs.

For much of the game, it looked as if University would face its worst nightmare, losing the game while giving up more than five runs. Heading into the bottom of the seventh, the Suns were down 7-5. Facing hard-throwing Jaguars closer Jorge Marrero, the Suns showed why they were the best team in Group One.

Laurenz Reyes led off the inning with a walk, and after a strikeout, Andrew Denis reached on an error. Sebastian Diaz, who went 3-for-3 on the day with two doubles, drove in a run with a single. Another strikeout brought JJ Cormier to the plate with runners on second and third and two outs. Cormier took an off-speed pitch for strike one and then lined a single into left-center, bringing home the tying and winning runs.

“I was looking fastball, because the previous at-bat with White (Mike), the pitcher struck him out by throwing a curve ball and then a fastball,” Cormier said. “So I figured he would be doing the same thing for me, and I was just thinking about hitting it hard, and hopefully it would fall in.”

With the win, the Suns advanced to the second round of the tournament. University, however, decided to opt out of the second round, with the team already committed to hosting their own tournament next weekend.

Coral Springs was the beneficiary of that decision by University coach Rich Hofman. The Colts would have advanced if the Suns lost and gave up more than five runs on Saturday afternoon, and Coral Springs head coach Frank Bumbales and many of the Colts players were in attendance when the Suns completed their three-run rally. That left the Colts for the time being hoping for a wild card later in the day. With University dropping out of the tournament, the Colts became the group winner with a 2-1 record.

The University situation ended up being moot when several teams lost late Saturday night, meaning the Colts would have been a wild-card team in the next round even if the Suns decided to move on.

Coral Springs put themselves in that position by defeating Somerset 12-1 in the Group One early game. The Colts offense came out slow, scoring only one run in the first two innings. In the third, Coral Springs broke open a 1-1 tie by scoring five runs. Lewis Brinson and Jordan Gleisher each had RBI doubles in the inning. Brinson went 3-for-3 on the day with two doubles, three runs, two stolen bases and an RBI.

On the mound for the Colts, Jonny Ortiz threw a complete game, giving up only one run.

Coral Springs moves on as the number six seed in round two. They will face number three seed Chaminade-Madonna in a three-game series starting Tuesday.

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