Deerfield Comes From Behind To Win BCAA Tier 3 Title

Deerfield Beach is off to one of its strongest starts under Manager Drew Phillips, who is in his fifth year with the Bucks. Phillips is widely respected for what he has accomplished at Deerfield, and on Thursday night, his Bucks added another milestone in their return towards the upper echelon of teams in Broward County.

Deerfield, down 2-1 late to Cooper City in the championship game of the BCAA Tier 3 mid-season tournament, scored five runs in the sixth, and then held on for a 6-4 win and a tourney title.

“We have a young team, and we are learning how to win games,” said Phillips. “Winning this tournament continues the great start we have had to our season.”

The story of the night for Deerfield was on the mound, where Joseph Hendren threw six innings of four-hit ball, allowing only two runs, while striking out 11.

“Joe was dominant tonight on the mound for us, and gave us a great chance to win this game,” said Phillips. “He held them down until our offense was able to get going and get the runs we needed to win the game.”

The sixth inning rally began with a Javier Sierra walk. Leonard Noguera followed that up with a base hit. Adamo Vellucci then doubled, tying the game at two. Hendren singled, giving the Bucks the lead, and a wild pitch made the score 4-2. Easton Viveros put the punctuation mark on the inning, with a two-RBI double.

Cooper City fought back in the top of the seventh. Vito Faridani led off the inning with a single, and Robert Scott cut the lead to 6-4 with a two-run home run. Viveros, who had relieved Hendren in the seventh, then settled in, and worked around a single, striking out two of the last three Cowboys hitters, and sending the Bucks to the tourney title.

Deerfield now sits at 5-2 on the season, and has the best record in 6A-14 at 5-2. They have won three straight, and Phillips hopes that the early season success leads to bigger things.

“These are the type games and tournaments that you hope a young team can build on,” said Phillips. “I am happy with the way the team has performed so far this year, and I am looking forward to seeing the guys continue to grow as the season moves on.”

The next week will be a difficult one for Deerfield, and will test how far they have come. They face a 4-2 Somerset team on Monday, before a home match up with Monarch, and a road battle with Western.

Cooper City, who reached the championship game of the tournament by defeating South Plantation and Pompano, will attempt to rebound from the title game loss with a three game upcoming week. They face Pines Charter, who is in the BCAA Tier 2 title game tonight versus Nova. The Cowboys will then face both Hialeah Educational, and Coral Springs, at home later in the week.

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