Park Vista Survives Late Scare To Hold On For 5-3 Victory Over Atlantic

Park Vista’s Brett Lashley was 1-for-4 in the Cobras 5-3 victory over Atlantic at Little Fenway Park.

If only every baseball game could have such dramatic finishes.

With two outs and two runners on base, Atlantic junior Cody Bryant crushed a pitch from Park Vista closer Kyle Weeks high and deep to centerfield.

If it clears the fence, it will go for a walk-off, three-run home run.

Every set of eyes at Little Fenway Park in Delray Beach followed Bryant’s offering slowly sail into the night.

But it was the Cobras junior center fielder Trey Amburgey who filled the hero’s role on this night, chasing down the ball for a spectacular catch at the wall to end the game.

After Atlantic had battled back from a five-run deficit in their final at-bats, the visiting Cobras were able to hold on and prevail with a well-earned 5-3 victory.

“I just prayed to God that it didn’t go over,” Weeks said, after the senior had come on in relief to end the Eagles rally and earn the save. “You can get nervous in that situation, but I know we have a great defense and I just focused on throwing strikes.”

It was that defensive effort that had Park Vista coach Larry Greenstein so pleased.

The coach knows better than to take the Eagles lightly, after competing as district rivals for many years. Against a team like that, one simply cannot give them any extra outs on misplays and errors, and on Thursday night, the Cobras (18-4) were not guilty of committing any errors.

There was also the game-ending catch, a play in which Amburgey displayed impressive speed in covering a lot of ground in little time in order to make the play.

“It was a great challenge against a solid ballclub,” Greenstein said. “Coming down the stretch it is what you want to see, just two teams playing really hard.”

Coach Greenstein was also pleased of the effort by senior Chris Wurster, who pitched six shutout innings before running into trouble in the final frame.

Despite getting runners on base in nearly every inning, the Eagles (17-6) were unable to scratch any runs across against the tough righty Wurster. He scattered six hits and two walks while striking out four to earn the victory.

Atlantic’s Kyle Blank attempts to score in the first inning, but was out on the play after a strong relay throw from centerfielder Trey Amburgey.

Eagles ace starter Sam Bergida did not fare as well, struggling through four shutout innings before the Cobras finally got to him in the fifth.

It was Wurster who helped his own cause with a two-RBI double that broke the scoreless tie and chased Bergida from the contest after 74 pitches.

Senior catcher Robbie Coman kept it going by slicing a line drive over first base and into the right-field corner for an RBI double. Coman later came in on an error to stake Park Vista with a 4-0 lead.

“Against a team of the caliber of Park Vista, you can’t make mistakes. They cost us runs,” Eagles coach Steve Wilson said. “In reality, this is a game we cold have won. But they were the better team tonight.”

The Cobras added to their lead in the top of the seventh when Coman scored on an RBI double from Amburgey. Coman finished 2-for-3.

After being held off the scoreboard through six, the Eagles were patient in their final at-bats. Chris Brown drew a leadoff walk, Stefan Rolle was hit by a pitch, and Kyle Blank also walked to load the bases. Atlantic pushed Brown across on a free pass to Jesse Kieffer, and then Rigo Beltran singled up the middle to send Rolle home and force the Cobras to go to the bullpen a second time in the inning in bringing in Weeks.

Brad Myott grounded into a fielder’s choice that allowed Blank to score, bringing up Bryant for the game’s dramatic conclusion.

“I’m proud they didn’t give up,” Wilson said. “We can build on that and take it into the district playoffs. It doesn’t get much better than Park Vista in this county.”

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