3A-13 Playoff Preview: Calvary Leads 4-Team Race

Calvary Christian and University School have been among the best teams in Broward County all season long, and it’s no surprise to see them at the top of 3A-13 heading into the playoffs.

All four teams in this district have a shot at the regional tournament, but Chaminade-Madonna needs to pull off an upset to secure an at-large bid.

Let’s take a look at each team’s prospects.

3A-13 District Playoff Schedule

Location: NSU University School

Semifinals – Tuesday (5/2)

No. 1 Calvary Christian Academy vs. No. 4 Chaminade-Madonna @ 7:00 p.m.

No. 2 NSU University School vs. Winner No. 3 Pine Crest @ 4:00 p.m.

Finals – Thursday (5/4)

Winner (Calvary Christian-Chaminade) vs. Winner (USchool-Pine Crest) @ 7:00 p.m.

Calvary Christian Academy – Team Page

The Eagles have turned things around in Year 2 under manager Wayne Rosenthal and are the top seed and front runners in 3A-13 this season.

Jonathan Gomez leads the team with a .394 batting average, 26 hits and three home runs. Five different Eagles have more than 20 hits, including sophomore Braden Rosenthal, who has served as the team’s top arm. Rosenthal has 52 strikeouts and  1.79 ERA through 39 innings, and senior Franco Ruocco has also been a major contributor with a 1.94 ERA and 36 innings under his belt.

Calvary Christian has only dropped a handful of games over the regular season and figures to be a tough out into the regional tournament.

Chaminade Madonna – Team Page

The Lions are at the bottom of 3A-13, but they shouldn’t be counted out in the district tournament. Chaminade Madonna played a tight game against Calvary Christian at the end of March and beat Pine Crest in the final week of the regular season.

Zachary Malvasio is having a standout year at the plate with 30 hits and 25 RBIs. His three home runs are tied for the most on the team with Ryan Wilson, who also has 24 hits on the year. Jon Gourrier and Robbie Lee have combined for 75.2 innings over 16 starts (19 appearances total), so they’ll lead things on the mound during the postseason.

The Eagles are good, but the Lions are capable of pulling off the upset if everything goes right.

Pine Crest – Team Page

The Panthers started and end of the regular season on a little bit of a skid, but winning 10 out of 12 games between those two small losing streaks has Pine Crest on the cusp of its first .500 or better season since 2017.

Ian Hurt is leading the offense with 25 hits and a .431 batting average, while his two homers are tied for second on the team with junior Stephen Tate. Freshman Stephen Gladding has the most of any Panther with three in under 50 plate appearances. Hurt also has an impressive 20 stolen bases in 21 attempts. On the mound, Lafayette commit Mason Koczwara has stepped up with 45 strikeouts and a 2.12 ERA over 33 innings of work.

Pine Crest split its two-game regular season series with University School, so an upset in the semifinals is certainly possible. Regional play is on the table, but a win would almost guarantee it.

University School – Team Page

Manager Dan Rovetto has had the Sharks playing at a high level all year long, but claiming a district championship won’t be an easy task. Pine Crest is a tough semifinal draw, and Calvary Christian has really taken a big step forward. But so has University School.

Bradyn Potter’s 34 hits lead the team, but Griffin Pomper and Rocco Rovetto are right behind him with 33 apiece. Mark Manuel is also likely to cross the 30-hit threshold during the playoffs. Pomper’s three home runs pace the team, and Nelson Rosa’s 24 RBIs are a team high as well. The offense is a clear strength for this club. Logan Hallaran leads the pitching staff with a 3.31 ERA and 32 strikeouts through 36 innings.

Avenging the regular season loss to Pine Crest comes first on the list, but bringing a district title home is the goal this year.

Leave a comment using your facebook account!