University Southpaw Sultan Does It Again

As the regular season is coming to a finish and district play wrapping up, teams are looking for momentum to ride into the district tournament. The University Suns are riding that wave with their latest 4-1 victory over Coral Springs Charter. The Suns (15-9) have gone 7-1 in their last eight, with the lone loss coming in a continued 14-inning affair that was split into two days over the course of a month against Calvary Christian.

In his first game back at Coral Springs Charter since his late departure for University this year, Rovetto was welcomed with open arms by his former district championship team.

“Those kids over there are special to me,” said Rovetto. “I think most people in this community around here, they know that. The families and kids both know that. The way the boys embraced me tonight, hugged me, makes me feel good as a person. I care about those kids, and we went through a lot together last year. We talk about adversity in life, and those kids with some of their life lessons, they keep in touch with me about it, and that really makes me feel special.”

Workhorse Freddie Sultan took the mound for Manager Dan Rovetto and University in their final district game of the year. Sultan was exceptional on the mound once again in his fourth complete game finish of the season. Sultan threw seven innings, allowed one run on six hits and struck out six to lead the Suns to their win over the defending district champs.

“I really have to tip my cap to Fred Sultan, his record does not indicate how good he has been all year. An unbelievable effort once again from him,” said Rovetto. “At the end tonight he found a way to battle; he didn’t have his stuff at the very end but continued to stay in and finish it off. We are not where we are today without Fred Sultan. In my heart, people in Broward County need to understand that we have a special arm here.”

Tommy Romero has been equally as effective all season for Coral Springs Charter, and he received the nod for the Panthers Thursday night. Through the first three innings, Romero was able to match pitch for pitch with Sultan. He struck out the side in the second and didn’t allow his first hit until two outs in the third.

The key inning for both was the fourth, when both teams scored their only runs of the game. In the top of the fourth, Romero struggled to find the strike zone. After walking Evan Klugerman and Brendan McKendry to start the inning, he recorded his first out with an infield fly. University saw their first real scoring threat when Jesse Crosno came to the plate with the bases-loaded and one-out. Understanding Romero has been a little erratic in the fourth, Crosno worked a full count before he delivered a base hit to left center and drove in the first run.

At times it appeared the Suns found a way to score “crookedly”, as Rovetto put it. A total of four runs scored, and all four runs came across in a different fashion.

With the bases still loaded, Adam Sinkoe grounded out to first and drove in the second run of the inning. Julian Cabrera followed with a ground ball to shortstop that was misplayed and resulted in the third run.

Panthers Manager George Mianowski went to the bullpen to call in lefty Michael Faircloth. Faircloth faced just one batter in the fourth, but balked in a run in the process for the Suns’ fourth and final run of the frame. Faracloth struck out the next batter to end the bleeding.

The Panthers looked to answer right back with something of their own in the bottom half when Brandon Laboy hammered a ball to deep center for a one-out triple.

James Doherty put the Panthers on the scoreboard with a sacrifice fly to center that scored Laboy. That was all Sultan would allow as he retired the next batter to get out the inning.

In the bottom of the seventh Charter threatened again, getting two base runners on with one out. After a quick meeting at the mound, Sultan took a deep breath and induced a ground ball double-play to end the game.

“Defense was huge today, made every play. Tonight I think I made my pitches really well,” said Sultan. “I try to just go out there and do what I can do, not think about anything else. I just make my pitches and let the rest take care of itself.”

Both teams wrap up their district season and have a few more games for some last minute fine-tuning before the tournament. The Suns want to continue doing what they have been and riding the way their playing into districts. For the Panthers, it has been an up-and-down season and they’re looking to find a stride and their bats heading into the final week.

“We’ve been struggling the last couple of weeks offensively. It Looks like we are a little tired right now, and we have changed our approach. We have played at some small ball parks and are trying to hit the ball out,” said Mianowski. “We are pulling away from our approach and pulling off the baseball a little bit. We have to get back to fundamental baseball and do what we did early in the year and hit behind runners; get motion on the bases and get back to that kind of baseball to see success.”

C.S Charter finishes this week with St. Brendan and concludes the season with Westminster Academy and St. Thomas at home for final improvements before they defend their 4A-14 district title.

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