Atlantic Stymies Coral Springs Charter in HSBN Preseason Challenge

The Atlantic Eagles traveled all the way from Delray Beach to take on Coral Springs Charter at Flanagan High School in Pembroke Pines on Wednesday night, and a 9-2 victory made it worth the Eagles’ trip.

In the top of the first, lead-off batter and Charter right fielder Cody Woodburn led off with a walk. A hit by Stephen Kerr moved Woodburn over, and a single by designated hitter Trever Kane gave the Panthers the early lead. Seven men came to bat in the inning, but only one of them scored, and this proved to be the way things would go for Charter on the night.

On the hill, Charter starting pitcher Joey Borrelli started strong, holding Atlantic in the bottom of the first to no runs. But a new game opened up in the second as Atlantic pitcher Rigo Beltran, winner of the HSBN player of the game honor, took control.

The currently undecided senior ended his night with 6 K’s, 2 BB’s, 2 H and only 1 ER in 4 IP. He also had two doubles, batting out of the three hole for the Eagles.

“I was happy with the way I settled in in the second inning, and it was good to make some improvements every inning,” Beltran said. He ended his night striking out three of the last four batters he faced.

Beltran went 1-2-3 in the second, third and fourth inning, after having the rough first inning when he walked his only two batters of the night.

Eagles coach Steven Wilson attributed the shaky first inning to the off days because of the rain but was happy with how his pitching settled in after that.

“Our pitching did a good job,” Wilson said. “We threw strikes after the first inning, and we made the plays behind them (the pitchers).”

In the top of the second, two walks, a hit batter, a sacrifice bunt that turned into a hit, a sacrifice fly by Atlantic’s third baseman, Daniel Metz, and a bloop single with the infield drawn in helped the Eagles push four runs across the plate. From then on, it was all Eagles.

In the third, Atlantic’s Chris Brown started a rally with a single. Another single by Joey Ohannesian and a walk loaded the bases for Metz, who singled to drive in two runs, giving him a total of three RBI on the night.

“I am very pleased with what we did,” coach Wilson said. “We did the little things right, we put pressure on them and we did what we needed to do.”

Atlantic will face North Broward Prep in their next HSBN Preseason Challenge matchup on Friday at American Heritage Delray.

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