Palm Beach State Tournament Preview: Trio Of Teams Going For Their First Title

Corey Cohen and American Heritage begin the chase for their first state title Wednesday against St. Petersburg Catholic.

There is one commonality among the three Palm Beach County baseball teams that will be playing in this year’s state tournament, and that is that none of them has ever won a state title before.

But for American Heritage, Atlantic and Palm Beach Gardens, the 2012 FHSAA State Tournament at Digital Domain Park in Port St. Lucie is a chance to take care of some unfinished business as all of these programs have been here before.

“Our first time here we were all fired up and gung-ho,” American Heritage coach Carm Mazza admitted, after he and his staff led the Stallions (21-7) to state tournament berths in 2006 and 2007. “We’re more relaxed this time, and we’re making sure that we don’t forget to enjoy it. Back then we were all newer and we didn’t appreciate as much that we don’t get here every year. Now we’re focused on keeping the kids light and ready.”

The Eagles will get the first crack at it, playing Venice at 1 p.m. today. The Gators will then play their showdown with Miami Columbus later tonight at 7 p.m. Should either team advance, they will play again on Sunday for the state title.

The Stallions will play St. Petersburg Catholic at 4 p.m. Wednesday, and likewise will play in the final day of the tournament the following day should they advance.

There are no easy roads to Port St. Lucie, but perhaps none was rougher than the route needed to bring the Gators (21-10) to Digital Domain Park.

Palm Beach Gardens survived arguably the most difficult district in all of Florida, then the Gators had to go on the road and face Class 8A’s toughest opposition through three regional games. All three of the teams the Gators defeated in regional play would enter the state tournament as a heavy Las Vegas favorite to win it all.

Atlantic also knows a thing or two about that, after it defeated state powerhouse Nova 4-2 in the Class 7A regional championship to earn its state berth. The Titans had entered the home contest at Pat McQuaid Field with only one loss on the season and a number three national ranking.

But they ran into a team that was just a little better than them.

Although the Eagles (22-7) are the only team of Palm Beach County’s three finalists to have won a state playoff game, it was 24 years the last time the program made it this far, meaning that every member of the current team was not even born yet the last time they were here.

“Isn’t that something?” marveled Atlantic head coach Steve Wilson. “Of course, if they were, I’d be worried about their eligibility.”

Certainly the Eagles were the least likely to have made it this far, as even Wilson marvels at how the team has been able to avoid any trip-ups that are so easy to endure in the playoffs where every single play is magnified.

“They never get down,” Wilson said. “It’s amazing how hard they’ve worked. It’s amazing for the school, for the community, and for the players. It’s all about these kids. They’re the ones throwing and fielding the ball. Every high school players wants to be in this position.”

Atlantic has a rare bevy of left-handed pitching, culminating in its two stud starters Rigo Beltran and Sam Bergida. Together the two have combined to earn 17 of the team’s victories, and have been a source of motivation and inspiration for one another as well.

Meanwhile fellow lefty Kevin Clarke has been lights out in the closer’s role, earning five saves and grabbing the torch to close out some crucial victories.

Rigo Beltran and the Eagles will take on Venice on Saturday in Class 7A.

The Stallions have a nice compliment of left-handed pitching as well, led by Florida State signee Dylan Silva and Dylan Arnold. As the season has worn on, the team has leaned more and more on its pitchers, primarily its two aces, and they have all answered the bell.

“We’re real happy with the pitching staff,” Mazza said. “Our depth is good, and our two guys are ready to start. We’re excited and we’re ready.”

The Stallions are also a battle-tested group, and their biggest test was in defeating district rival and defending Class 1A state champion Summit Christian four times in an unprecedented five meetings this season.

Mazza admires how unique this group is in being able to be driven, determined and focused, yet still enjoy coming to practice and having fun during the games. The team works hard, but the players enjoy what they do.

“Do what you’ve been doing all year and keep a smile on your face,” Mazza said. “It’s a great feeling and we let these kids enjoy it. If we do our thing, we’ll be fine.”

All three of the county’s state-qualifiers are similar in that they are confident but loose and relaxed, and Palm Beach Gardens is the greatest example of that.

The Gators fell into an early funk to start the season, falling out of the gate to a 3-5 record and staring up the barrel of their very competitive district. But by the time they survived a close battle with West Broward for the regional championship, the team had grown into a confident, talented and very capable squad that has proven it cannot be taken lightly.

“These guys are gamers. Nothing phases them and they wear it on their sleeves,” Gardens coach Joe Russo said. “They are very even-keeled; they are not shy but they are not overly excited. We’ve played in some tough games this year. We have a good idea what it’s about.”

Outside of their tough five-team district, the Gators also competed in and won the Florida High School Invitational in Sanford, running away with the championship 13-1 over state power Orangewood Christian in a televised game. Gardens hit five home runs in four games during the tournament, including two longballs from J.J. Schwartz and three from James Jean. Gardens outscored the opposition 41-10.

Also during the tournament, Russo earned his 400th career coaching victory. Even with the big milestone hanging over them, the Gators managed to stick to their guns and stay on track. The team was on a roll, and they have not stopped coming ever since.

Joey Boyd and Palm Beach Gardens take on Miami Columbus today in Class 8A.

As the playoffs began, they also saw the emergence of Joey Boyd to compliment fellow starter Brooks de Montluzin and lock down the front end of a very strong pitching staff.

Now the Gators will take on Miami Columbus, a top-ranked team that is every bit as good as advertised.

“Columbus is a good club, they have good arms, and we will have to manufacture runs,” Russo said.

The Eagles are another team that knows how to manufacture runs. Reach into the celebration pile of Atlantic players at Nova High last week and anyone you may pull out is someone who helped contribute to their success.

From clutch hitting to stellar defense, key base-running and just an overall ability to maintain the same level of play as the rest of the team, Atlantic has been able to rely on anyone on the team in any number of clutch situations.

“It’s because of the hard work they put in, which is why I am so proud of them,” Wilson said. “They go after it hard in practice and you can see it in their eyes. It’s a special feeling and it’s important to Delray. This is a really big deal for the community and they are pulling for us. It means an awful lot to our assistant coaches who have lived the Atlantic experience. Hopefully we can win and extend our season.”

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