Jupiter Wins Santaluces Slam 8-5 Over Rival Palm Beach Central

Jupiter won the Santaluces Slam on Friday night.

Palm Beach Central and Jupiter have to face each other twice later on in the season as district foes, but they opened their rivalry Friday in the championship of the Santaluces Slam.

Both teams swept through the round-robin games, each posting three victories earlier in the week, so emotions were running high as the teams faced off for the championship, with Jupiter coming away as the winner, 8-5.

Jupiter coach Andy Mook felt the intensity of the game from the first pitch.

“Usually the kids step up a little more,” Mook said. “That’s what we are trying to get out of our guys. And I have fantastic guys that get fired up for every game, but playing a caliber team like Palm Beach Central, our guys are trying to make a statement.”

Peter Sitaras scored two runs for the Warriors.

The win capped a perfect week for Jupiter, but it took all arms on the pitching staff to get through four games in five days.

Warriors starter Kyle Keatts had the hot hand as he sat down the first seven batters via strikeout. His powerful fastball, complemented by his over-hand curve, kept the Broncos’ lineup off balance.

While Keatts was taking care of the Broncos on the mound, it was Johnny McCarthy who led the offensive charge. His RBI double in the fourth gave his club a 2-0 lead and himself two hits on the night.

After cruising through the first two batters in the fourth, Keatts ran into trouble. Lefty Gabe Martinez smacked a fastball down the right-field line, placing runners on second and third. He followed by walking the next two to push a run across. Keatts knew how big of a game this, was so he settled down and focused on making his pitches.

“I wanted to bring my ‘A’ game,” Keatts said. “I know Central is a tough opponent. I never expected to strike out the first seven batters, but when I got in trouble, I need to focus on the strike zone, take my time and trust my defense.”

Once he settled down, he induce an inning-ending fly out, which made him enthusiastically run off the field.

Following the inning, the Warriors fed off his emotion, leading to two runs in the fifth and four in the sixth, which made the score 8-1. Cole Johnson and Pat Walther led the way with two RBI apiece, while Hunter Halsey went 2-for-3.

In the seventh, Broncos coach Scott Benefict decided to empty his bench in a move to inspire the team. The move paid off, as his team scored four in the final frame and placed the tying run up to bat.

“The non-starters work very hard in practice, and they deserve to get a chance,” Benedict said. “I was pleased with the way they battled back and refused to die. Those guys work just as hard as the starters.”

Palm Beach Central players stretch out before the game.

However, the lead was insurmountable, as Brandon Keithley came in to record the save by getting the final two outs, while Keatts collected the victory on four innings of work with eight strikeouts.

Despite the tough loss, the Broncos had a solid week as they went 3-1 to start the season.

“Playing four games in five days, we got a chance to learn a lot about ourselves,” Benedict said. “We are going to try and get better and learn from our mistakes. We have two tough district games next week, and we will be ready.”

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