Palm Beach Gardens Outlasts Park Vista 2-1 In 11 Innings

Joey Boyd struck out 11 in nine innings for Palm Beach Gardens.

Palm Beach Gardens’ Joey Boyd and Park Vista ace Brandon Rhodes were locked in an iconic pitcher’s duel for nine innings, but it was Boyd’s two-out single in the 11th inning that gave Palm Beach Gardens a 2-1 win in a Class 8A regional quarterfinal Thursday in Boynton Beach.

The Gators (19-10) will play at rival Dwyer on Tuesday in the regional semifinals. Dwyer defeated Palm Beach Gardens 2-0 in the district championship game on April 25.

“Joey was Joey,” said Gardens head coach Joe Russo. “It was fitting that he came up with the big hit to win it. Just a great night.”

Pavin Smith led off the 11th inning with a bloop single to short right field that fell in front of a diving Matthew Mika. James Jean bunted Smith to second and after Matt Williams flew out, Boyd singled to right on a 2-1 pitch from reliever Chris Wurster that fell in despite another diving attempt by Mika.

Williams, in his second inning of relief after starting at third base, retired the Park Vista side in order in the bottom of the 11th, striking out Brett Lashley on a 1-2 pitch to end the game.

Boyd, who was primarily used a closer during the regular season, has become the Gators ace during the playoffs. The junior right-hander was the winning pitcher against Palm Beach Central in the district semifinals.

Boyd gave up a home run to Robbie Coman in the fourth inning and allowed a single to Jason DeFelice but then settled down, retiring 18 in a row before he left the game.

He finished with 128 pitches, striking out 11 and walking three while allowing three hits and hitting one batter.

“He threw a heck of a game last week against Palm Beach Central,” said Russo. “He’s beaten two of the top teams in the area. So just tip your hat to him. He’s a competitor.”

Boyd enjoyed his game-winning hit as much as his pitching performance, and his teammates drenched him with water during a post-game interview.

“I struggled a little bit in the middle but then I starting hitting my spots more and I had a great defense,” said Boyd. “My arm feels fine. I can throw another couple of innings. This is one of my best games, that and (Palm Beach) Central. Beating the No. 1 teams, it feels great.”

Brandon Rhodes struck out 11 in nine inning for Park Vista.

Russo was thinking about replacing Boyd after the seventh inning when he reached 107 pitches, but Boyd needed just 21 pitches to get through the next two innings.

Rhodes, who has committed to Florida Atlantic, was equally as good for the Cobras (23-5). The left-hander also went nine innings, striking out 11 and walking two while allowing four hits and hitting one batter.

The Gators tied the game in the sixth inning on an unearned run, snapping Rhodes’ scoreless streak that lasted more than 30 innings, according to Park Vista head coach Larry Greenstein.

“It was a great game,” said Greenstein, whose team reached the Class 6A state semifinals last year. “I just wish we could get a little more behind Beamer (Rhodes). He carried us tonight. We just couldn’t take advantage of it. And their pitcher threw a heck of a game. And it came down to that. You’ve got to hit the ball to win, and unfortunately tonight wasn’t our night. But I’m proud of our guys. They battled. It was two good clubs going at it.”

Palm Beach Gardens had several scoring opportunities in the ninth and 10th innings. But Rhodes stranded two runners in the ninth by striking out Nick Oberg on a 1-2 pitch.

And the Cobras defense bailed out reliever Chris Wurster in the 10th inning, turning a 5-4-3 double play with runners on first and third.

“As a team, we expect to be here, we expect to compete in the regionals,” said Russo. “We’re disappointed when we’re not. They truly believe and expect to win. We’ve battled through some injuries and some tough times and we’ve steadily gotten better as the year went on and it’s starting to pay off.”

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