King’s Beats Chaminade 4-3, Gives Palm Beach 1-0 Lead Over Broward

Kevin Stypulkowski started the season off right with a three-run homerun in the first inning of Monday night’s game.

Click here to view the photo gallery of this game.

Rain kept most teams from playing their first game of the season on Monday, but King’s Academy and Chaminade were lucky enough to be playing at one of the few fields that heavy rains did not ruin. The two team’s squared off in the first game of the HSBN Broward/Palm Beach Preseason Challenge, and it was King’s Academy that gave Palm Beach a 1-0 lead with a 4-3 win.

On this night, all of the offense needed was supplied off the bat of King’s catcher Kevin Stypulkowski in the first inning. The senior launched a three-run homer that broke the ice, and while most hitters take some time to find their timing early in the year, Stypulkowski, expected to be one of the leading hitters in the county this season, picked up right where he left off last season.

“It just felt right,” said Stypulkowski, when asked about his early game-changing home run. “I got a pitch I could hit. I kind of was looking fastball, and I got it. I had guys on base, there was a runner on third, I just wanted to get something to the outfield, at least drive in one run, and I got something, and it kept going.”

The three runs may not have held up in previous years, but with the rule changes mandating BBCORE bats this season, many coaches expect scoring to be at a premium, and that was the case Monday night. Matt Pisciottano was on the hill for King’s, and the Lions ace made sure that three runs would be enough on this night.

Pisciottano went four innings, giving up only a bunt single to Chaminade shortstop Luis Guillorme. More impressive than the one hit, was Pisciottano’s control early on in the season. The senior struck out seven and walked none, ensuring King’s held a 4-0 lead when his night on the mound was complete.

“We didn’t really know what we were up against,” said Pisciottano, referring to playing Broward team that King’s was unfamiliar with coming into the tournament. “We expected a good game, and we got one. We played very well for our first game.”

While Pisciottano threw well, this win was a team effort from the pitching staff, and the starter expressed as much.

Matt Pisciottano kept Chaminade scoreless while he pitched Monday night.

“I feel like I had full command of my pitches tonight. I’ve been working out a lot, preparing, so it felt good. And then those pitchers behind me stepped up. (Clayton Morrell) came in, and he’s only a freshman, but he’s going to be a big part of our rotation this year.”

Chaminade did make the game interesting in the seventh. Catcher Eddie Guadarrama began the final frame with a double to right-center. Guadarrama came around to score on a wild pitch and a passed ball.

After a strikeout, Chris Comellas walked, and starting pitcher Flores, who had re-entered the game in the fifth to hit, pulled a two-run blast to right field.

The rally stalled when John Monte came in for King’s and earned the final two outs for the save.

“We didn’t have our best offensive outing, there’s no doubt about that,” said King’s head coach Doug Magaw. “We weren’t facing slouches tonight, they (Chaminade) were tough. We are building towards being ready for the second half of the year, and tonight was a good start.”

Chaminade did have some impressive performances in the loss. Center fielder Danny Vitello kept the game close in the fifth inning when he threw out Carpenter at the plate on a single by Monte. Rashad Flerismond came in to throw the seventh and turned some heads, including those on his own team’s coaching staff, when he struck out the side in order.

“Rashad surprised the heck out of me,” said head coach Mike Moss. “He came out and used his splitter. He doesn’t throw real hard, but when he throws his split, that thing just takes off, and that’s what he got the big guy (Stypulkowski) on. If he gets that pitch over the plate, he can be tough to hit.”

As part of the Broward/Preseason Challenge, High School Baseball Network will be giving away free extended profiles to the winners of the Player of the Game award throughout the tournament. On this night, that honor went to Stypulkowski, who, while accepting the award, stressed his team’s goals for the season.

“We want to win the district, and then advance on through the regionals.”

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