King’s Academy Strikes Early to Win District 3A-12 Title 2-0

King’s Academy won the District 3A-12 title Thursday.

After splitting the season series in District 3A-12, both Benjamin and King’s Academy were eager to win when it mattered most.

“We wanted to win this game bad,” King’s Academy starting pitcher Matt Pisciattano said. “All season long we knew we could compete with them and play with them. We did not get caught in what the others said, we wanted to prove out on the field.”

He did just that as he threw a complete game shutout to lead King’s Academy to a 2-0 win as the Lions captured their first district title in five years.

“I have been the coach for five years and felt like this was the year,” said coach Doug Magaw.

King’s Academy will host Community School of Naples on Wednesday, and Benjamin travels to Evangelical Christian.

In the bottom of the third, King’s Academy broke through as they scored the game’s first run. Ryan Boyle started the two-out rally with a single through the three-four hole. After starter Matt Harris plunked Kevin Stypulkowski on 2-2 pitch, the Lions had runners on first and second. Harris followed by making a great pitch to get John Carpenter to ground out to the shortstop. However, the middle infielder overthrew the first baseman, allowing a run to score.

In the top of the frame, starter Matt Pisciattano set down the order, recording his third strikeout of the game, putting a halt to any type of rally.

His team used his momentum on the mound to punch across another run in the fifth as Mark Zappin laced a single up the middle to set up Ryan Boyle with an RBI opportunity. Boyle delivered as he got a ground ball through the three-four hole to score the second run of the game.

That would be all Pisciattano needed as he continued his dominance on the mound, going the distance and recording seven strikeouts.

“I struggle with my command early,” said Pisciattano about his five walks. “In the fourth, I started to get comfortable, mixing in all my pitches. Once my slider started working, I knew I would be fine.”

For the Buccaneers, who all season talked about winning a district title, it was a disappointing but eye-opening feeling.

“We have to fight back,” coach Brian Kaplan said about their regional invite. “If we want our season to end like this, all we have to do is play like we did tonight. We need to fight back if we want to make a big run at regionals.”

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