Broward Public Team Holds Off Miami-Dade In All Star Game
History happened from the onset to highlight an exciting All Star battle between the top seniors from public schools in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties competing one final time in their high school careers in the first cross-county all-star battle ever.
Saturday’s HSBN Senior All Star Event at Nova’s Pat McQuaid Field 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.
Broward’s Public team claimed the win with a pair of big innings and some dominant pitching, taking the first in the series before the game shifts to Miami next year.
Although he was hitting in the leadoff spot, Derek Cartaya found himself in a unique position to provide the deciding runs. Jonathan Grant was hit by a pitch and Nik Sanders walked to start the fourth and the lineup turned over to allow Cartaya to line a single past the shortstop to drive in both runners. A throwing error allowed Cartaya to also score and make it 7-2 in favor of the Broward team.
They jumped in front with a four-run second inning highlighted by a two-run home run from Steven Revilla. John McKenna singled to right to start the inning and Revilla followed with a drive over the right field fence. His former teammate Julian Burgess followed with a double to the right field fence that also nearly left the yard, and he scored by advancing thanks to a single from Henry Matias and a passed ball that brought him in. A throwing error allowed Matias to score later in the frame.
Broward received strong pitching throughout. Dylan O’Connell got it started with a scoreless first that included a pair of strikeouts, and Dylan Silva matched it with a scoreless second and two strikeouts. JC Carillo struck out three over two innings midway through, while Colbie O’Donnell, Brady Norris and Matt Rumpf also tossed scoreless frames.
Chris Lugo struck out a pair and allowed two earned runs in the third, while Mark Bejar struck out the side but also surrendered two earned runs in the seventh.
The Miami-Dade team got on the scoreboard in the third by loading the bases when Jose Chavez and Brandon Paez singled and Bryan Lavastida walked. Julio Creazzola lined a shot past third base to drive in both runners.
The Miami club was held at bay until the seventh. Allan Berrios sent a shot deep to right field for a double and Alek Manoah followed by driving one even deeper to the right-center field gap for an RBI double. Thomas Hernandez supplied a liner into shallow center field that drove in Manoah for the final runs of the night.
Pitching helped keep Miami-Dade in the contest. Rene Arauz, Andres Perez and Nelson Alvarez tossed scoreless innings, Deivis Jacomino recorded a big out in a relief role, while Dylan Carter, Gio Arriera and Ralph Fernandez all struck out two during their time on the mound. Marcel Guadarrama struck out the side during his inning of work.