Two-Day Affair: Gators Defeat Broncos In 10 Innings

Joey Boyd delivers a pitch on day one of the match-up with Central.

You never know what is going to happen when district rivals Palm Beach Central and Palm Beach Gardens get together. The two programs have provided some epic games through the years, and now they can add a new chapter to their rivalry.

The game between the two on Tuesday afternoon meant so much to both programs coming down the stretch this season, that one day was not enough to separate the two teams. After nine innings Tuesday, the teams were deadlocked at two, and play was suspended because of darkness. The coaches agreed to come back Wednesday to finish the game, and darkness was no factor this time as Joey Boyd delivered the game-winning hit in the top of the 10th, driving in Pavin Smith and giving the Gators a big 8A-9 win.

Boyd was also instrumental on the mound for the Gators, starting the game and going five innings. He gave up only a run in the first. Boyd then turned the ball over to Matt Williams, who also allowed only one run. Cam Romaine pitched the 9th inning on Tuesday, and picked up the win on Wednesday when PB Gardens scored in the top of the 10th.

The Broncos started the scoring in the first when Gage Morey walked, moved to second on an error, stole third, and came in to score on an error. PB Central threatened to put additional runs on the board, but Boyd got Jameel Edney to ground into a 6-4-3 double-play to end the threat.

In the third the Gators tied the score when Caleb Perez singled, was sacrificed to second by Sendle Jean, and then scored on a Nick Horvath base hit.

Broncos starter John Padich would give up his only other run of the day in the fifth. Smith reached on a fielder’s choice, moved to second on a groundout, then was balked to third, and scored on a wild pitch. It was one of the few bad pitches on the day for Padich, who gave up only two runs while striking out seven in his six innings of work.

Shane Sawczak and Hunter Sanicky look back to see if the double play was completed.

The score remained 2-1 Broncos until the seventh. In the home half of the inning, PB Central mounted its biggest threat of the game. Lead-off hitter Morey singled to start the inning. A perfect bunt by Danny Hernandez appeared to put runners on first and second with no outs, but the home-plate umpire ruled that Hernandez had run inside the baseline going to first, and called Hernandez out. Morey was returned to first base.

Joe Shue immediately singled, and Brandon Krock followed with a single of his own, loading the bases. Jameel Edney drew a walk, tying the game at two. Williams then got Andrew Zipp to ground to second to end the inning.

The teams battled for two more frames with neither being able to push across a run, and at that point, the game was called for the day.

The win moved Palm Beach gardens into a tie for second place in the district. Their win, coupled with a Jupiter win, locked up first place for the Warriors. Central can still lock up the two seed with a win over Jupiter on Friday. PB Gardens could win the two seed with a Central loss and a win over Dwyer. The Panthers, meanwhile, have put themselves back into contention for the second seed, and could claim the spot with a Central loss and a win over the Gators.

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