Broward Defeats Miami-Dade In Private Teams All Star Game
Saturday night’s historic HSBN Senior All Star Event at Nova’s Pat McQuaid Field provided players from private schools in Broward and Miami-Dade to compete one final time in their high school careers in the first cross-county all-star battle ever. A six-run fourth inning helped pave the way for the Broward team to win on its home turf, taking the first in the series before the game shifts to Miami next year.
The event paid tribute to the careers of so many accomplished high school players, with All American awards handed out between innings throughout the contest. Players enjoyed customized jerseys as part of their uniforms, as well as a complimentary pre-game meal before preparing for the action on the accommodating Nova facility at Doug Amos Stadium.
It was a special night with many memorable moments that exemplified everything the event is about. Heading into action the Broward team saw its pitching staff suffered unrelated misfortunes that prevented them from playing. One player was hypnotized into believing he was a chicken, while another was too busy rescuing a woman and her possessions from a fire.
Just like he did all season in helping lead Archbishop McCarthy to a state title, Austin Genao stepped in to lead the remaining hurlers that all combined for a heroic and impressive night. The right-hander set the tone by tossing the first four innings, striking out five to earn the win. Genao allowed singles to Blake Miller and Jordan Lopez, but worked out of trouble.
The batters did their job in providing plenty of run support. Cameron Krzeminski got the Boward team on the board in the second, as he singled, reached to third when Ryan Stadler doubled off the right field wall and came home on an RBI single up the middle from Chris Vickers.
Two innings later the blue team erupted for the big frame that put it away. Swindly Lint singled to center, advanced on a passed ball and stole third to set himself up in prime scoring position. Kevin Gutierrez then provided an RBI infield single. 
The Broward team loaded the bases to keep the pressure on. Damian Serralta singled through the left side and Gary Mattis walked. Alex Carballo then lined a shot to right field to plate two runners and Max Guzman followed with a blast off the wall in right field for an RBI double. Anthony Mulrine and Stefan Revelo added RBI singles.
Guzman drove in another run that ended the scoring with a bases-loaded walk in the eighth. The state champion member of Calvary Christian was 2-for-2 with a walk and two RBIs, showcasing the stuff that also helped earn him Hitter of the Year honors.
Mike Drag and Swindly Lint both reached and scored in the seventh for the Broward squad.
Gary Mattis also provided an impressive moment to complete his high school career. The four-year starter only recently returned to action after a baseball hit him in the face, and on a play late in the night a grounder took a funny bounce to clip Mattis again.
Thankfully the American Heritage senior was fine and stayed in the game, and rather than let that baseball oddity be his final memory Mattis made the most of his final at bat. After lining a single past first, he found himself on third base and ninety feet from home. Mattis then made his 58th career stolen base something to remember when he timed it up and stole home ahead of the pitch for Broward’s final run.
The pitching staff kept its impressive stand going, as Roger Garcia and Cameron Andres both went two innings each with three strikeouts each. That brought things to Stefan Revelo, who had not pitched in four years. Revelo showed no signs of rust and worked a perfect 1-2-3 ninth inning, recording a strikeout and a pair of flyouts that ended it.
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