CS Charter Extends District 4A-13 Lead With 8-1 Win Over Chaminade

For Coral Springs Charter, winning is becoming a habit the team does not plan on breaking anytime soon. The Panthers played another flawless defensive game Tuesday night, beating Chaminade-Madonna 8-1. The win, coupled with a Cardinal Gibbons loss, extends the Panthers’ District 4A-13 lead to 1 1/2 games.

CS Charter used a formula that is becoming routine in beating Chaminade, mixing in strong pitching, stellar defense and timely hitting. It is a formula for success that every team strives for, and the Panthers seem to have figured it out in winning their ninth straight game.

Facing one of Chaminade’s two aces, Brandon Burgess, Coral Springs Charter knew that runs were going to be at a premium. The Lions came into the game riding a hot streak of their own, winning five of their past six games. After scoring a run in the first, Burgess was suddenly doing something he has not been used to early in games, pitching with a lead.

The lead did not last long, however, as the Panthers scored three runs in the second inning to take the lead. Catcher Joe McChrystal, the hero from Charter’s Westminster Spring Break championship, came up big again, hitting a key double in the inning. Two of the Panthers’ three runs in the inning were unearned thanks to two Lions errors.

In its half of the third, Chaminade had its biggest threat of the game. Panthers starter Michael McKenna worked into a jam by walking the bases loaded. Coming into the inning, McKenna had given up only one run, but the three walks caused head coach Mike Higgins to go to the bullpen, bringing in sophomore Nicholas Grecco. The task at hand was to get out of a bases-loaded, no-out mess.

“I was a little nervous,” Grecco said. “But I knew I had my defense behind me to support me, and I’m more of a contact pitcher, so I knew if I threw strikes they would have my back.”

Grecco didn’t need much help from his defense, getting a fly ball to left, a ground ball back to the mound, and a fly to center to end the inning. It turned out to be Chaminade’s last threat of the night.

“Our pitching coach and I go through situations beforehand, and we know if we’re in the third inning, and our starting pitcher’s in trouble, what we’re going to do. It was a very gutsy performance by Nick, especially for a sophomore, to come into that situation and be calm and cool, he just did a fantastic job.”

Grecco received more help from his offense in the third when the Panthers scored a run on two hits. Jorge Solano singled, and Stephen Kerr doubled, but the run eventually scored on another Lions error.

In the fourth, Colton Rogers provided all the security the Panthers would need with a two-run double. CS Charter scored three runs in the inning and one more in the fifth to put the game on ice.

The Panthers improved to 11-2-1 and have control over their own destiny in a district where only the top seed gets a bye. First-year Panthers coach Higgins has his team thinking big, but he was quick to point out his coaching staff’s hard work as one of the reasons the team has come together this year.

“My pitching coach is doing a great job as far as pitch selection and helping our pitchers keep guys off balance. My assistant coaches work hard every day. It’s certainly not me,” said a humble Higgins. “It’s a group effort, and the kids are just enjoying playing, and it’s fun to see them having fun with it.”

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