Palm Beach County District Playoff Preview

Jeremy Alfonso of Palm Beach Central

DISTRICT 8A-9
Site: Jupiter
Teams (in order of seeding): Palm Beach Central, Jupiter, Dwyer, Palm Beach Gardens, Wellington
Teams To Watch: Palm Beach Gardens, Dwyer, Wellington

Preview: There is no question this is the toughest district in all of Palm Beach County, if not the entire state of Florida. The fact that only two of these teams will be left still playing games by week’s end is nearly tragic, and the rest of Class 8A had best watch out against whichever of the two battle-tested squads they will face from this district. None of the teams in 8A-9 can be taken lightly.

Palm Beach Central earned the distinction of the number seed after thriving this season even though it played one of the toughest schedules in the county, as the Broncos played just three non-district games against teams with a losing record this entire season.

Right in tow are the Warriors, a team that already has beaten every team in its district this season. The third-seeded Panthers overcame a major obstacle this season by finally defeating the Warriors — twice, in fact. When they play again this week, it will be the fourth time this year, as they also met during the Miami Selective Recruiting Tournament.

The Gators have proven their resiliency this year in overcoming a rocky start by playing back to contention. Should Palm Beach Gardens defeat Wellington as could be expected of the higher-seeded team, it would set up a match up between Gators’ coach Joe Russo and Broncos coach Scott Benedict, bringing together more than 900 combined career high school coaching victories.

But certainly Gardens is not overlooking Wellington, as none of these squads are foolish enough to do that. Although the Wolverines did not fare as successful as others this year, unlike most teams who may need a sequence of events to help bring them good fortunes, they are capable of causing major damage off the strength of one play, one pitch or one hit.

Wellington has won a state championship in the past, but ironically it was during coach Scott Benedict’s tenure at the school back in the late 1990s.

DISTRICT 8A-10
Site: Park Vista
Teams (in order of seeding): Park Vista, Spanish River, Boca Raton, Seminole Ridge, John I. Leonard
Team To Watch: Seminole Ridge

The top-ranked Cobras tore through the district this season as they embark on another quest for that elusive state championship they have come so close to earning in recent years past. Park Vista will face the winner of John I. Leonard and Seminole Ridge for a return to regional play. Armed with a strong senior class that includes five Division I signees, the Cobras have earned the recognition as the clear favorite to win this newly minted district.

Spanish River comes armed with pitching that can keep it in any game, headed by ace Mike Chambers. Chambers pounds the strike zone and the Sharks play solid defense, which has gotten a boost of late when catcher Cody Meyer returned to shortstop after switching to catcher this season to help fill a hole for the team.

Boca Raton and Spanish River split two very competitive and tight contests during the regular season, and the semifinal rematch figures to be nothing but more of the same. The Bobcats have struggled offensively but have been excellent on defense and have consistency in the pitching staff to give them every bit the chance to contend.

The Hawks and Lancers both finished strong down the stretch, as Seminole Ridge brings a five-game winning streak into the district playoffs, including a big victory over Dwyer in its last game, and John I. Leonard has gotten strong production from its pitching staff down the stretch.

DISTRICT 7A-13
Site: Santaluces
Teams (in order of seeding): Royal Palm Beach, Santaluces, Forest Hill, Palm Beach Lakes
Team To Watch: Forest Hill

Las Vegas has very high odds on Royal Palm Beach defeating Palm Beach Lakes and advancing to play for the district championship, which also earns the Wildcats a berth in the regional playoffs. The Wildcats held court in this district and are deservedly the favorites to earn the district crown.

But there are two teams playing in the other district semifinal that have set all their sights on that same crown, and both are plenty capable of pulling off the Vegas upset. Santaluces has been solid across the boards, although rather inconsistent. The Falcons have the strength of their ace pitcher Mike Murray, who will throw 200 pitches if that is what it takes.

While the Rams are not quite able to match the favorite Wildcats, it cannot be ignored the improvement that this team has shown this season after it shook off a 70-game losing streak to begin the year. More importantly, the players have not given up as others had in years past.

Rigo Beltran of Atlantic

DISTRICT 7A-14
Site: West Boca
Teams (in order of seeding): Atlantic, West Boca, Olympic Heights, Lake Worth

There is little question that this is a two-horse race to the district title, with no disrespect to the Lions and Trojans who have struggled this season. The Eagles and Bulls split their match-ups this season, and the likely rematch for the district title would figure to add more fuel to this budding new rivalry. The Eagles struggled a bit down the stretch, but they have one of the scrappiest teams that are the hardest to record that final out against. Meanwhile the Bulls are eager to prove they can defend their state championship despite now missing the three starting pitchers who were so crucial to that success.

DISTRICT 5A-15
Site: Jensen Beach
Teams (in order of seeding): Jensen Beach, Suncoast, Boynton Beach Fort Pierce Westwood
Team To Watch: Boynton Beach

The top-seeded Falcons will likely win and advance to the district championship, while the rival Chargers and Tigers will play in the other semifinal for the right to represent the county in the Class 5A regionals. Suncoast has worked for seasons to prove themselves in the playoffs, and this season, it finally may get that chance. Meanwhile, the Tigers have worked themselves back into relevance by avoiding that lowest seeding that always saw them falling to the top-seed in the district. Boynton has strong senior leadership, but the Tigers must avoid the trap of falling into old ways if they are to avoid losing for the third time to the Chargers this season.

DISTRICT 4A-12
Site: St. Andrew’s
Teams (in order of seeding): Lincoln Park, Cardinal Newman, St. Andrew’s
Team To Watch: St. Andrew’s

With Glades Central dropping out, Lincoln Park is assured of a spot in the district championship by virtue of a perfect 4-0 record in 4A-15.

That means the Crusaders and Scots will play in the other semifinal with their season on the line to either win once to assure of at least two more games, or see the year come to an end.

Cardinal Newman swept the regular-season series against St. Andrew’s, but the Scots have senior experience capable of rising to the occasion. The Crusaders will rely on the same formula that has led to success in the first two games.

John Monte of King’s Academy

District 3A-12
Site: Jupiter Christian
Teams (in order of seeding): Benjamin, King’s Academy, Jupiter Christian, Glades Day
Team To Watch: Jupiter Christian

This is one of the more intriguing districts in the county. Benjamin had the most success in the regular season, but still must prove it is capable of matching that when the stakes are higher in the playoffs. The Lions have proven they are a tough out with their achievements in the playoffs, and now is the time of year when this team tends to turn up the heat on its opposition.

The Buccaneers will open with the fourth-seeded Gators, who are a young but disciplined group that is capable of competing in this district. The Lions will square off with Jupiter Christian, and playing to the Eagles advantage is that they have performed well on the road this year at 6-7.

DISTRICT 3A-13
Site: American Heritage
Teams (in order of seeding): American Heritage, Summit Christian, Pope John Paul II
Team To Watch: Pope John Paul II

The Stallions and Saints have faced off three times already this season, and it could be as many as five times should they manage to both make it to the regional quarterfinals. After Summit won in the Santaluces Slam, American Heritage took the next two contests to earn the top seed and a spot in the district championship.

The Saints look to begin defense of their state crown by facing the Eagles in the semifinal after the two teams played a pair of very close and competitive games during the regular season. While Pope is a younger group, they have a great chance to prove they can turn that corner with a win over the rival Saints.

DISTRICT 2A-12
Site: Boca Christian
Teams (in order of seeding): Boca Christian, Lake Worth Christian, Wellington Christian

Boca Raton Christian is already assured of a spot in the district championship as well as a berth in regional play. But the Blazers are determined to repeat as district champions after sweeping the district during the regular season.

The Defenders earned the second seed and home-field advantage in the semifinal against the Eagles. However it was one of the teams’ few victories. They will need that same level of success to repeat those results against a disciplined but also very young Wellington Christian team.

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