King’s Academy Downs Benjamin To Advance To Class 3A Regional Finals

John Carpenter connects for an RBI double in the first inning of King’s Academy’s 7-1 win over Benjamin.

These two teams would have played each other in the parking lot if they had to.

After enduring a weather delay that ultimately pushed their Class 3A regional semifinal back a day and also to a new site, and then also experiencing a lengthy game delay because of an injury to one of the officials, district rivals Benjamin and King’s Academy were finally able to complete play Wednesday afternoon at Royal Palm Beach High.

The Lions rode the strength of two big offensive innings and a solid overall performance from its pitching staff to defeat Benjamin 7-1 and advance to Friday’s regional championship against host St. Petersburg Catholic.

“To play and beat a great team like them three times is incredible,” King’s Academy coach Doug Magaw said. “This is very rewarding. The boys spent a great deal of time trying to accomplish the things they want to do.”

After the game was initially halted in the top of the third inning when heavy rain and lightning swept over the King’s Academy field on Tuesday, the contest was moved to nearby Royal Palm Beach High in order to accommodate for the possibility that it would be played into the night on Wednesday, since the Lions (19-10) do not have lights at their own stadium.

Despite the distractions, the Lions were poised and focused in the pursuit of the team goal to make it back to the regional finals again this season.

“It’s not rocket science. Half the battle is just to focus,” Magaw said. “They are a loose bunch and we don’t have to work to keep them ready. They just enjoy playing together, and there is a nice mutual respect for Benjamin.”

King’s starter Matt Pisciottano earned the victory with six solid innings, allowing one run and getting four strikeouts.

King’s drew first blood with all the runs it ultimately would need in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Just as he has done all season, catcher Kevin Stypulkowksi ignited the offensive spark with a deep shot to center field. John Carpenter followed by driving a pitch to nearly the same spot for a standup double that sent Stypulkowksi in to score all the way from first base. John Monte then squared a pitch through the right gap to send Carpenter around third and across the plate, and Dominic Mercurio kept the momentum going by looping a liner to shallow right field to put runners on the corners.

With the Buccaneers (20-9) now on the ropes, James Vaughan delivered the knockout blow by dropping a hit into right field to send Monte in and put the Lions up 3-0.

It was Mercurio coming up big again in the fourth inning when he blasted a bases-loaded shot to right field that easily scored Ryan Boyle, who had led off the inning with a single and a stolen base. Carpenter also came in on the hit, and Monte was able to follow him in after the relay throw to the plate hit Carpenter and rolled out of play from the catcher.

Three batters later, Mercurio tallied the Lions’ final run when Mark Zippin roped a shot up the middle that fell just out of the reach of the diving second baseman.

“I felt comfortable and just waited for my pitches,” Mercurio said, after finishing 3-for-4 on the day. “It feels good hitting behind Kevin, and everybody is gelling together. This year has had its ups and downs, but everybody has really come together now.”

Despite the tough loss that eliminated the Buccaneers’ chances of advancing the furthest into the playoffs in school history, it does not overshadow the fact that this team turned the corner this season in proving they can hang with the county’s top programs.

Benjamin’s Brian Dolan singles and eventually scored the Buccaneers only run of the game.

“This was a coming-out party for us,” Benjamin coach Brian Kaplan said. “We had a goal to have a winning season, and we had some big wins over marquee programs along the way. I’m proud of everything we accomplished, and the seniors set a great example for what the younger kids need to do now. We took a big step forward today, and that bad taste this leaves helps to develop character and gives them determination in the offseason.”

Benjamin faced King’s starter Matt Pisciottano four times this season, and Coach Kaplan admitted that he was lights out in the final two meetings against them.

“A lot of it comes with experience,” Kaplan said. “They have been there and they know what it takes.”

Pisciottano worked ahead in most counts and was able to limit his pitches, tossing six full innings while allowing six hits and a walk and recording four strikeouts.

James Vaughan was 3-for-3 to lead the Lions’ offense, which pounded out 11 hits total.

The Buccaneers avoided the shutout in the top of the fifth when A.J. Alevizos singled through the right side of the infield to send home Brian Dolan, after Dolan had reached on a one-out single.

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