Coral Springs Christian’s Late Rally Falls Shorts

In a cross-county battle of biblical proportions, the Boca Christian Blazers used potent offense and good defense to back stellar mound work by Logan Rataziak and Adriel Martinez en route to downing the Coral Springs Christian Crusaders 7-3 on Tuesday afternoon.

“I am really proud of our guys,” Manager Clint Erickson said. “We really earned our win.”

The Blazers started their day off by plating four runs in the first inning, getting all the run production it would ultimately need. After Rataiczak reached on a double and Zach Gray reached on an error that also plated the team’s first run, Jack Havelka drove home two more with a single. Havelka then exhibited great base running instincts by stealing second and coming in to score on an errant throw.

The Crusaders had a similar day to their counterpart. Taking what the Blazers gave them, they plated three runs in the first inning. After reaching on an error, leadoff hitter Zack Clark stole second base and came in to score on a double by Jordan Sabates, who was then plated by Louis Pagan’s RBI double. Pagan also came in to score on an RBI single by Austin Marks.

For Pagan, the double was the first of his two hits on the day. He reached base in each of his three at bats.

“Louis has a beautiful swing. We noticed that right away,” Manager Steve Carp said. “He’s also a sophomore so he is still young in a lot of what he does. But one thing he can do is replicate a good swing. In almost every game so far he’s taken a good swing at a pitch and done something good with it. We’re real high on him as a hitter.”

Again, like their opponent, after a rough first inning defensively, the Crusaders were able to put together a solid defensive effort. With runners at first and second in the fifth, a line drive single back up the box was fielded by the center fielder Clark, who made a great accurate throw to his cut-off man, Jordan Small. Small then completed the relay to the catcher and successfully cut down a runner trying to score.

Crusaders’ starter Ethan Hochhauser also helped his own cause with a great defensive play. On a dropped third strike, the ball bounced back to Hochhauser, whose throw to first drew his teammate off the bag. However, showing great awareness, Hochhauser was able to get back, cover the plate just in time, and tag his man out on a close play at home, saving a run.

After hanging the crooked number in the first, the Blazers didn’t look back. In the fourth, Austin Smith showed why he belongs in the leadoff spot by creating another scoring opportunity. Reaching on a single, the catcher stole second and third base before being driven in on a two-out RBI single by Casey Carpinello. In the sixth, Carpinello scored on a wild pitch after both he Rataiczak singled to set up the scoring situation.

For the starting pitcher Rataiczak, it was his third time on base and second time crossing the plate. On the other side of the ball, Rataiczak crossed the plate a lot more with the pitches he threw. Using mostly off-speed stuff, the junior pitched to contact effectively, recording 16 outs against 22 hitters.

Before giving up hurling duties in the sixth, Rataiczak created a bit of a jam for reliever Adriel Martinez to deal with. The senior, throwing high-80’s heat and mixing in a low-60’s slider, a mix of speeds which would buckle the knees of any hitter, set down the tying run at the plate two times in a row to end the Crusaders’ rally. Martinez then turned in a solid final frame to seal the victory for his team.

“Adriel Martinez did a nice job digging us out in the sixth, and finished well in the seventh,” Erickson said.

The Crusaders have struggled some to start the season. Carp equates his team’s shortcomings so far to inexperience due to unforeseen circumstances, such as eligibility issues and injuries.

“We’re growing as a team,” Carp said. “Right now, as we speak, we have a lot of guys who should be at the junior varsity level getting an opportunity. That’s good in a way to give them a chance they normally wouldn’t have. But if we get all our guys back in the lineup at full speed, it’ll be a lot different. We will be able to make the plays we aren’t making. But it’s all part of growing pains when you have a young team.”

If there was ever a squad that is facing it’s fair share of uphill battles to start a season, it has been this year’s Crusaders. However, Carp’s team keeps showing up and putting forth a good effort each game. For that, Carp lauds his young squad and knows that with more hard work and luck that can only get better in the future, Coral Springs Christian will return to it’s former glory sooner rather than later.

“The whole thing is a major challenge but we are owning it,” Carp said. “We are not making excuses. We are showing up and we are fighting. They practice nice; we just have to translate that looseness and having fun and the making of plays to the game. That’s a big transition for young players.”

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