Toussaint, Coral Springs Christian Stymie Westminster Academy

Coral Springs Christian’s 9-3 win over Westminster Academy on Thursday came down to a strong pitching performance from Touki Toussaint and patience at the plate.

Toussaint allowed one hit and struck out nine in his five innings on the mound Thursday as the Crusaders secured a key district win. The Crusaders (14-7-1 overall, 4-3 district) need to win Saturday against Highlands Christian in order to remain in second place in the competitive District 3A-14. Westminster (15-7, 4-4) is in third place right now, the spot Springs Christian was in before Thursday’s game.

“We treated this like a playoff game,” Toussaint said.

And it had the feel of one from the start as Toussaint was locked in a pitchers’ duel with Westminster starter Daniel D’onofrio, who pitched three and two-thirds innings and was chased by Springs Christian’s four-run fourth.

Toussaint said his approach on the mound was simple: “I tried to throw first-pitch strikes and get ahead.”

The Crusaders displayed patience at the plate from the start, opening the game with three consecutive walks. Leadoff man Zack Butler and Toussaint reached base via the walk in each plate appearance. Overall, the Crusaders walked 13 times.

Springs Christian broke up a scoreless game in the top of the third as Butler led off with a walk. His pinch-runner, the speedy Pemron Burrows, scored on a wild pitch. Nick Lamberti hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Toussaint, who also got on with a walk.

“I was just trying to be selective and aggressive at the same time,” Butler said. “Anyway I can get on base.”

Coral Springs Christian coach Matt Cleveland said “if you’re going to beat a team like this, you’ve got to be disciplined. We tell the kids that a walk is as good as a hit.”

The message hit home as the Crusaders continually found ways to score despite getting just five hits. Walks accounted for runs in the fourth by Luke Bramos and Shane Wilder, and Lamberti drove in two more with a single to center field.

Up 6-1 after the fourth, Springs Christian kept the momentum going in the sixth and again used walks to its advantage. Butler again led off with a walk before Ryan Cabreja singled and Toussaint reached on a base-on-balls. Lamberti was walked to bring in another run, and Ryan Milner hit a two-run single, scoring Cabreja and Toussaint.

Westminster, which won the first meeting between the teams 4-3 on March 10, made some noise in the bottom of the seventh and scratched across two runs. Will Buschmann doubled and scored, and Blake Kidwell came in on Weston Clemente’s bases-loaded walk. But that was all Westminster could muster.

“We had some opportunities but weren’t able to capitalize,” Westminster coach Nick James said.

James identified the things the Lions need to tighten up before the district tournament begins in a little over a week.

“We need to continue to play solid, fundamental defense. That’s what got away from us tonight,” he said. “This is the first night we didn’t have command of the zone.”

Cleveland said the Crusaders have a lot of work to do as well before the tournament with the knowledge in mind that no team can be overlooked.

“A lot of people thought our district would be down,” Cleveland said. “High school players, talented or not, if they’re coached the right way, are always going to be competitive. It’s exciting.”

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