HSBN Game Of The Week: King’s Academy At Benjamin

Kody Ruedisili is batting .488 and has scored 17 runs this season for the Buccaneers.

One of the hottest small-school rivalries in Palm Beach County will be put under the spotlight Saturday afternoon as King’s Academy and Benjamin square off in the HSBN Palm Beach Game of the Week.

The game, set for 4 p.m. at Benjamin, is the second meeting between the teams this season. In the first match-up, Benjamin avenged several losses to King’s by winning 4-0 behind the pitching of Matt Harris.

“It definitely was the best game of the year because of that team over there (King’s),” Harris, a senior right-hander who will be attending Elon in North Carolina, told HSBN after the game. “We’ve been waiting for that one for a while. They knocked us out of fall ball, knocked us out of regionals last year, districts last year. (They) won three straight on us last year. It’s a really good feeling.”

The Game of the Week concept was created by HSBN with the intention of raising money for the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation, while also giving fans something to get excited about each week.

Lions Manager Doug Magaw said he was “extremely appreciative when [HSBN] called regarding the opportunity [to play in the Game of the Week]. We always relish the chance to play in this kind of game. First of all, obviously the level of competition in this game is top tier. Secondly, it’s always good to play in big-game situations to prepare for post season play.”

Magaw said his players were “very excited” to learn they would be playing in a Game of the Week.

“They always look forward to competing with Benjamin,” Magaw said. “We know that ultimately we have to take care of business with this team. Whether we win the district championship or not, in order to advance to the regional championship game we would have to beat Benjamin in the regional semifinal game. So knowing these facts keeps our guys very motivated when we play Benjamin.”

Benjamin is equally grateful for the opportunity to play in an HSBN Game of the Week.

“We were really excited to be chosen as Game of the Week,” Buccaneers Manager Brian Kaplan said. “It’s one of our biggest regular season games of the year and to add HSBN to the mix really makes for an exciting atmosphere, especially in front of our home crowd. Benjamin baseball has come a long way in the last couple of years, and it’s an added bonus to showcase our talent to the community.”

Jacob Krigbaum is among the top arms for King’s Academy this season.

Kaplan said the team was successful against King’s in the first matchup because it played well in the main phases of the game.

“If we falter in any of those areas on Saturday, Kings has the ability to take advantage,” he said. “We have to stay sharp from the first pitch to the last out, and that kind of focus is necessary to be successful.”

Magaw said he didn’t expect his team to be 7-5 at this point and the team is working on some things with its pitching staff in preparation for the postseason. He said he’s pleased that the team is hitting around .330. Third baseman Dominic Mercurio is batting .429 and catcher Ryan Johnson is hitting .452 with 10 runs. James Vaughn is hitting .378 with 11 RBIs, and John Monte has driven in 13.

The Lions have spread the pitching around primarily among five players: John Carpenter, Matt Tucker, Monte, Jacob Krigbaum and Kyle Hanlon.

Benjamin is off to a 10-2 start with the only losses being to John Carroll.

“We have had a solid start to the year, but in any season, you want to continue to get better and progress as the schedule moves along,” Kaplan said.

Kaplan said the pitching rotation has been “strong and healthy” so far and the offense “is putting up some great numbers.”

The 1-2 combo of Bennett Sousa and Matt Harris are a combined 8-0 and have allowed just one earned run. The offense has four players batting over .400, led by seniors Kody Ruedisili (.488 BA, 17 runs), D.J. Paone (.417 BA, 15 RBIs, 10 runs), junior Sousa (.448 BA, 13 RBIs), and freshman Matt Ellmyer (.452 BA, nine runs, nine RBIs).

Each team participating in an HSBN Game of the Week will have someone throwing out a ceremonial first pitch. King’s has chosen John Carpenter, the grandfather of one of its players. He and his wife Kay have not missed more than a few games in the past six years while cheering for their grandson John Carpenter and the Lions.

Benjamin has yet to select the person who will throw their first pitch.

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