Jupiter Blanks Dwyer 10-0 To Earn First District Win

Jupiter starting pitcher Kyle Keatts goes five innings and strikes out seven in the 10-0 win.

Jupiter used a complete performance on both offense and defense to blank host Dwyer 10-0 on Tuesday to earn its first District 8A-9 win this season.

The bats lit up for the Warriors (5-0), and they backed it up with solid pitching and great defensive play. Starting pitcher Kyle Keatts threw five solid innings, striking out seven and allowing two hits. He had an excellent command of the strike zone all night and was able to locate his pitches precisely.

“I felt really good,” Keatts said. “I wanted to get ahead with the fastball early and stay with the fastball until they caught up with it. I didn’t want to show them my secondary pitches until I absolutely had to.”

The Warriors came out firing early and often. They put up five runs in the first two innings and never looked back as both the offense and defense were rolling from the first pitch on.

It all got started with the first batter of the game, Kyle Vesnesky. He reached on a throwing error by Dwyer starting pitcher Tom Szapucki. Glen Casaceli hit a sacrifice bunt and catcher Logan Heiser singled down the left-field line to put runners at the corners with one out.

After a strikeout by John McCarthy and an intentional walk issued to Pat Walther, Scott Danek came up with the bases loaded and drew a walk to bring in Vesnesky. Hunter Halsey came up next and drew a walk as well to score Guy Casaceli, who courtesy ran for Heiser. The second inning for the Warriors was highlighted by a two-run double by Heiser, whose courtesy runner Casaceli later came around to score the third run of the inning on a wild pitch.

“I felt really comfortable at the plate tonight,” Heiser said. “We had a lefty come out and throw to us today because we knew Szapucki was pitching and that really helped me out. So I was able to get my timing down and be able to see the ball good off a lefty before the game.”

Heiser was at it again in the fourth inning. After two quick outs and a Glen Casaceli single, Heiser drew a walk to keep the inning alive. McCarthy hit an RBI double to right and a smart baserunning move by Heiser’s courtesy runner Guy Casaceli allowed him to come around and score as well on a throwing error by the Panthers right fielder.

It was that small-ball mentality that Jupiter coach Andy Mook thought gave his team a big advantage on the night.

Logan Heiser went 2-for-2 with two RBIs and four runs.

“It puts the pressure on the other team,” Mook said. “We can start doing different things because they’re thinking we are going to do small-ball. Once we get that momentum it makes us a real tough team to beat.”

Guy Casaceli scored again in the sixth inning on a two-run single by Pat Walther.

Heiser finished the night 2-for-2 with two walks and two RBIs. After Wednesday’s performance, he is now batting .642 (9-for-14) on the year. Jupiter’s 3-4-5 hitters are all getting hot, hitting at least .440.

For Dwyer, the two hits on the night were recorded by Robert Moss and Shane Olive.

Dwyer Manager Frank Torre knows his team has to improve offensively if they want to win games.

“We know we have to get better offensively,” Torre said. “There were a few good things from certain guys but we are a little banged up offensively and we can not afford to miss anyone in our lineup. But the other guys are going to have to pick it up.”

The win tonight for Jupiter sets up a big matchup Friday night with district foe Palm Beach Gardens, which also is 5-0. It will be Jupiter’s home opener and everyone knows this is going to be a big game.

“They are going to be fired up just as much as we are going to be fired up,” Mook said. “I am inviting all the alumni back, and hopefully that gives us an edge and gets the guys fired up.”

Keatts recognizes how huge the game is.

“We have a bunch of friends on the team [Gardens], and we all want bragging rights,” Keatts said. “It will be good to see my friends and hopefully get the win.”

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