Broncos’ Bats Carry Palm Beach Central Past American

Palm Beach Central’s Danny Hernandez was 2 for 4 with a run as the Broncos came back for a 12-4 win over American.

Don’t tell these two teams that preseason games have no meaning.

Palm Beach Central and American pitted themselves in a competitive contest that carried more the feel of a regional playoff than simply being both team’s first action of the 2013 preseason.

This rare meeting between these two talented ballclubs in the opening night of the HSBN Preseason Classic at North Broward Prep helped to stoke the competitive fire, with each club determined to defeat an opponent they knew in reputation alone.

In the end the Bronco’s big bats proved to be just too much, as Palm Beach Central pulled away for a 12-4 victory.

Though the final result may suggest otherwise, this one was not easy for either ballclub.

The Bronco’s rode the momentum of a big, four-fun third inning to swing the pendulant in their favor after falling behind 3-0 early on. Junior infielder Jameel Edney took a high fastball and delivered it high over the centerfield fence to put Central up for good at 4-3.

“I was just trying to put the barrel on the ball,” Edney admitted. “I was just out there trying to help the team. I was seeing the ball really well today.”

It was Edney again in the sixth inning who connected for a towering three-run homer that put the game away.

“Our 3-4-5 hitters did their job real well tonight,” Broncos manager Scott Benedict said. “It seemed like they came up with big hits all night for us.”

Edney finished 3-for-4 and scored three times, while Joe Shue, Danny Hernandez and Ian Hagenmiller each collected two hits apiece.

It was Shue who helped spark the Bronco’s comeback in the third, as the senior catcher battled through a tough at-bat against Gladiators starter Rodney Williams before finally finding a hole in the left side of the infield defense to drive in Gage Morey and put Central on the board.

The Broncos’ Kyle Perkins anticipates a pickoff throw as American’s Romy Gonzalez leads off from the bag.

Williams exited with stiffness in his throwing arm and gave way to senior righty Luis Lopez, who promptly gave up a single up the middle to Hagenmiller to bring Edney to the plate.

The Bronco’s tacked on five more runs in batting around the order in the fifth inning. Hagenmiller, Kyle Magnor and Shane Sawczyk each had an RBI single in the frame.

“It was very good intensity for our first preseason game,” Benedict said. “We gave them some runs early on and got in a hole. They are a really good team, so it was good to see us come back. We kept our composure and got the momentum back to where we could use our speed and handle the bats properly.”

The Gladiators drew first blood with a three-run second inning, chasing Central starter Jorge Alonso in the process.

Catcher Steven Alvarez drew a leadoff walk and gave way for courtesy-runner Eric Gonzalez. Junior Matt Ruiz followed by drilling a liner past the first baseman, and two batters later second baseman Kris Perez nailed the ball streaming down the third baseline to send Gonzalez in for the game’s first run.

Edison Cabrera pushed Ruiz home with a sacrifice flyout, and Romy Gonzalez laced a shot up the middle that took a tough bounce and clipped Bronco’s second baseman Raige Hasko in the cheek, allowing Perez to cross the plate and make it 3-0.

“Offensively we swung the bats well,” Patriots manager Ricky Gutierrez said. “We battled and played the game well. It’s not really just about the win or loss; when you’re playing a good quality team it’s good to see where you’re at. I think we’ll be fine.”

Kendrick Gutierrez connected for a deep home run to right field for the Gladiators in the fifth inning. But American was unable to mount a rally against the reliever Magnor, who earned the victory while recording six strikeouts in three and a third innings of work.

After being forced into action when Williams exited with injury, the Gladiators’ Lopez proved to be a workhorse in throwing 78 pitches over three and two third innings.

Leave a comment using your facebook account!