Graffeo’s Walk-Off Single Lifts Eagles Past Gators

With zero runs through seven innings, the Boca Eagles’ Chris Graffeo made the biggest play of the game at the most crucial moment. Graffeo’s low grounder drove in the only run of the game, lifting the Eagles to a 1-0 win over the Gators to end a night of stellar pitching.

“I was looking for a first-pitch fastball,” Graffeo said. “We’re a young team, but we’re good. Tonight was pretty fun.”

Josh Parker started on the mound for the Eagles, recording 11 strikeouts before being relieved by Alex Bialakis in the sixth. The Eagles struck out 13 batters and stranded more than seven.

“The key was our fastball, and tonight it was outstanding,” Eagles coach Pete Graffeo said. Parker had a “good command on his slider, but he really worked his fastball tonight in and out. Alex came in and he was throwing even a little bit harder than Josh was, and we were able to locate.”

The Gators, lead by pitcher Edwin Bonilla, stymied the Eagles as well, facing 24 batters, giving up just five hits and striking out six.

“Bonilla threw a great game,” Gators coach Jim Murray said. “Our pitching and defense played one great game.”

Parker sat down the first two batters at the start of the game, but the Gators were able to find fortune in a couple of defensive mistakes and load the bases in the top of the first. Parker dismissed any chances with another strikeout.

The Gators and Eagles jousted back and forth through innings, neither team allowing any sort of offense. The teams combined for seven hits and 19 strikeouts.

Through six innings, neither team seemed able to break through the infield, but Ruiz gave the Gators their first hit of the night to start the final inning. The Gators’ Del Pozo then found a way to get on base after a catcher’s interference was called against the Eagles. The Gators had runners in scoring position, but Bialakis and the Eagles stiffened and were able to squeeze out of the jam.

“I thought we had our chances.” Murray said. “We didn’t take advantage of situations we had.”

The Eagles, however, did. Stephan Gogreve singled up the middle to put the winning run on base in the bottom of the seventh. The Gators gave up another single, advancing Gogreve to third. Graffeo stepped up to the plate with two outs away from extra innings and ripped a pitch across the infield, bringing in Gogreve.

“It was a good baseball game,” coach Graffeo said. “We’re prepared to battle and grind it out. It may not look pretty at times, but we’re going to battle it right to the end.”

Murray said the Gators have a plan to rebound.

“We’re going to be working hard tomorrow,” Murray said. ”We’re hitting all day tomorrow, and then Thursday we’re going to score five or six runs. And If my pitching and defense continues to do what it does, we’ll be fine.”

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