Cioffoletti’s Grand Slam Carries Seminole Ridge Over PB Central

Teammates mob Carmine Cioffoletti after his game-winning grand slam.

Carmine Cioffoletti showed a flair for the dramatic in Seminole Ridge’s district opener against Palm Beach Central.

The senior powered a 2-1 off-speed pitch over the center-field fence for a walk-off grand slam home run to lift Seminole Ridge over Palm Beach Central 5-1 in an 8A-9 game Tuesday night.

“I knew the whole the game they were going to throw me off-speed pitches,” the 6-foot-1, 220-pound Cioffoletti said. “I think I got one or two fastballs the whole game. On the last at-bat I was sitting back on the off-speed. I knew I had to make great contact. We just needed one run. I really sat back on the curve and I really drove it.”

This was the first walk-off grand slam victory in Seminole Ridge Manager Trent Pendergast’s coaching career.

“That was really awesome to see,” Pendergast said. “Carmine is one of the best kids I’ve ever coached. To see him have that success makes you proud as a coach.

Jake Paez limited the Broncos to three hits in the complete-game victory.

“He’s always had some power, but it’s been doubles and things like that. We try to focus on the gaps rather than hit it over the fence but he got a hold of it and he’s a really strong kid. I was so happy for him, it was great for him.”

The home run broke up a pitching duel between sophomore Kyle Giragos of Palm Beach Central and senior Jake Paez. Both pitchers used their off-speed pitches to befuddle the hitters.

Paez (2-0) struck out seven and walked one while Giragos (1-1) struck out six and walked four as they each pitched a complete game.

“He’s a pitch-to-contact guy who relies on his defense,” said Pendergast, referring to Paez, who pitched well earlier this season and beat Palm Beach Gardens in a regional game last year. “This is one of his top five games.”

Palm Beach Central Manager Scott Benedict was equally pleased with Giragos’ performance.

Sophomore Kyle Giragos of Palm Beach Central allowed just four hits.

“Kyle did a great job,” Benedict said. “He gave us a chance to win. He’s keeping the ball down; he’s been very competitive out there.”

In the bottom of the seventh, Hawks cleanup hitter Alex Aristy led off with a bunt down the first base line on the first pitch and went to second on a throwing error. David Moss was intentionally walked and Jason Aponte beat out a bunt down the third base line on a 1-1 pitch to load the bases.

Cioffoletti worked the count to 2-1 before his heroics.

“Before my at-bat, I told Jake (Paez) I was going to win the game for him,” Cioffoletti said. “That was my motivation. He pitched his heart out.”

Seminole Ridge (4-0) took a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning. Moss walked on a 3-1 pitch and went all the way to third on two throwing errors after an attempted double play on Aponte’s bunt pop-out. With the infield in, Cioffoletti drove a 2-2 pitch to deep right field.

Mark Kuhner led off with a double in the first for Seminole Ridge.

The Broncos (2-2-1) tied the game in the top of the sixth inning when Connor Power singled to right on a 1-0 pitch. Jonathan Rosado came in as a courtesy runner and reached second on an errant throw on a pickoff attempt. A low throw to first on Jorge Alfonso’s grounder into the hole at shortstop allowed Rosado to score.

Danny Hernandez, who led off the game with a single, and Diego Francisco, who singled in the fifth, had Palm Beach Central’s other hits.

Aponte had two hits to lead Seminole Ridge while Mark Kuhner doubled and walked.

“It’s going to take some time for us to come together,” said Benedict. “I like to think we’re a work in progress and we’ll be playing better as the season goes along. Hopefully we’ll learn from it and be better down the road.”

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