Palm Beach Gardens Reaches State Finals After Knocking Off West Broward, 5-4

Joey Boyd delivers a two-run triple for Gardens. He also struck out 11.

The invitation to the state finals was on the line and a regional championship at stake, so both Palm Beach Gardens and West Broward knew how important this game was.

It was beyond win or go home for both schools, as the West Broward Bobcats were trying to reach states for the first time since the school opened in 2008, while the Palm Beach Gardens Gators were trying to get back to states for the first time since 2005, when they fell in a semifinal to Flanagan.

“It was since 2005,” said Gators outfielder James Jean. “We wanted this so bad because so many people gave up on us. So many people said we could not make it to states, but they didn’t know our guys. They did not have a coach that believed in them like coach Russo believed in us.”

It was that resolve and that dedication of the Palm Beach Gardens Gators that pushed the fourth seed in District 8A-9 past the West Broward Bobcats 5-4 Friday night.

Gardens will play Venice in a state semifinal May 19 at Digital Domain Park in Port St. Lucie. The Gators will be seeking their first state title.

The Gators got on the board early in the second inning as Jean crushed a 2-2 pitch over the left-field fence to make it 1-0.

With Gators ace Joey Boyd on the hill, one run would be more than enough on any other night. Fortunately for the Bobcats, they were not fazed by Boyd’s remarkable playoff run as they came out swinging in the top of the third.

Gio Ruiz led the inning off with a ringing single to left field. After a strikeout of the next batter, lead-off hitter Danny Pardo smacked a ball over the right fielder’s head to even the score at 1. Mike Mordente pushed the score to 2-1 with an RBI single to right field. Mark McGinnity reached on a throwing error by the shortstop to put runners on second and third with one out.

Boyd got cleanup hitter Gio Perez to pop up and looked prime to get out of the jam. However, Cody Swavely had other ideas as he lined a single to left, scoring both runners and pushing the lead to 4-1.

Riding the momentum of a three-run lead, Bobcats starter Tyler Draughon set down the side in order. The cool and calm Draughon walked back to the dugout as the crowd erupted.

“He has ice water in his veins,” said club booster and supportive fan Tara Finch. “Nothing ever fades him. He has the same calm, cool look no matter what is going on.”

One could say the same thing for Boyd, as he came out after giving up four runs and looked like a pitcher playing catch on the side instead of a regional final, as he struck out the side using nine pitches.

“It was big,” Boyd said. “I have complete confidence in my team, so I knew we’d come back.”

The Gators carried that momentum in the bottom of the frame as they scored three runs to tie the game. Pavin Smith led the inning off with a single. One batter later, Matt Williams singled to to put runners on first and second with one out. Like he has done all season, Boyd came through when his team needed him most, as he tripled in both runners to make it 4-3. Nick Oberg tied the game with a sacrifice fly to right field. Danny Pardo made it as close as can be as his throw was seconds late, which scored pinch-runner Dalton Lew.

“He is a streaky hitter,” coach Joe Russo said. “He seems to rise when the stage gets bigger, and he came through for us.”

Palm Beach Gardens celebrates its regional championship.

After that four-run third, Boyd did not surrender another hit as he went seven innings, scattering five hits and striking out 11 batters.

“He was tough,” Bobcats coach Sergio Ambros said. “We had a plan to jump on his fastball early, but later in the game, he started working in his secondary pitches.”

The Bobcat bats were silenced the rest of the night, as the Gators tried to punch in the golden run.

In the bottom of the sixth, Pavin Smith walked and was bunted over by Jean to put a runner in scoring position with one out. Matt Williams delivered as his ground ball to second base skipped through the side of the second baseman to score Smith.

“Sometimes the hops do not bounce in your favor,” Ambros said. “It’s baseball.”

Although pleased, Russo knows its not time for his team to rest just yet.

“It is a great feeling, but we know it will only get tougher,” Russo said. “Hopefully we can put two more wins together.”

For the West Broward Bobcats, the end of a great season brings about a new purpose for the next year.

“This is the first, full graduating class, so I’m proud as ever of them, but I told my guys who are returning to let this loss linger in the pits of your stomach so you know what it feels like,” Ambros said. “Because like we have done from the beginning, we have one goal, and every year we must remember the 2009, 2010, 2011 and the 2012 classes as we will finish what they started.”

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