Boynton Beach Bats Break Out In First Win

Victor Hughes did good work everywhere Tuesday

After beating Lake Worth Christian 12-2 in five innings on Tuesday night for their first victory of the season, the Boynton Beach Tigers listened to Manager Evan D’Angelo’s post-game words, warmed down and packed up their gear.

Sure it was nice to get that zero out of the first column of their record and score more than three runs for the first time, but D’Angelo wasn’t about to celebrate too much. That’s because he sees the big picture.

“Our struggles early this season have nothing to say about how our season will end,” D’Angelo said. “I tell the guys it’s all about how we finish. We’ve played some good games against good teams this season and tonight we made some real progress with the bats. A couple of guys who haven’t hit the ball all season hit the ball hard. To score twelve runs was a big deal for us.”

It also helped that junior Victor Hughes threw a one-hitter, striking out six, and also had a double plus three RBI.

“He’s our leader, he’s our energy, he keeps the guys in line,” D’Angelo said of Hughes. “When he’s behind the plate he’s throwing runners out, and when he’s at the plate he’s broken up a number of no-hitters. He has so much potential.”

Hughes did his best work on the mound Tuesday though, with only a slightly wild second inning spoiling what could have been a very memorable outing.

Christian Perez was a menace on the base paths

Of course, a pitcher needs a good defense behind him, and sophomore shortstop Christian Perez made several tough plays look very simple, and first baseman Kyle Tedesco showed a good glove at first.

Tedesco also had a good night at the plate with three hits and a pair of RBI, while Perez and Luis Cepeda notched two hits a piece. Cepeda also scored three times and Perez stole three bases.

D’Angelo had been waiting for this kind of output all season.

“For us, it’s going to be a battle to keep this momentum going for us heading in Friday’s game (against district rivals Suncoast),” D’Angelo said.

As for further down the road, D’Angelo thinks the future is bright for his young Tiger cubs.

“We’ve got guys that know our next season is going to be so much better,” D’Angelo said. “We let the past be the past and put it behind us and look toward the future.”

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