Olympic Heights Scores Big Win Over Lake Worth

John Ricca was 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run.

When Sam Howell first took over the manager position at Olympic Heights this season, he set a team goal that they would win a double-digit number of game this year.

Following Tuesday’s big victory over host Lake Worth, the Lions now find themselves halfway to that goal.

Behind a relentless offensive attack Olympic Heights piled up the runs for a 12-3 victory over Lake Worth, in the middle contest of day two of action in the GGI Baseball Classic Tuesday afternoon at Dave Manzo Field in Lake Worth.

“We’re halfway there,” said Howell. “I’m still a little upset about some of the things we don’t do well, that we revert back to the old ways. It’s frustrating. But slowly, but surely we’re making the turn around the corner. Hopefully it will be by the end of the year.”

The Lions (5-9) had a five-run third inning that broke the game open.

Casey Furnas got things going when he deposited a shallow hit into left field to score Vinnie Scambone in the third, and he was 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs on the day.

“They kept pitching me inside so I had to hit it where it’s pitched,” Furnas said of his approach at the plate. “The balls were dropping, so that was good. After that it was just really loose and we were playing our best.”

Nick Stachnik and Miguel Fernandez had back-to-back RBI doubles to keep pouring it on in the third and extend the lead to 7-1.

Stachnik added a two-RBI single in the sixth to finish 2-for-3.

The support would be all that was needed for Lions starter Sean McClaskie, who earned his first win on the mound this season.

The big right-hander tossed 95 pitches through six full innings of work, holding the Trojans (2-14) to a hit and five walks while striking out four to improve to 1-3 this year. He was also 3-for-5 at the plate.

After falling behind by a large deficit, Lake Worth battled back with a pair of runs in the fifth.

John Rodriguez and Matt Kopp both reached on errors, and Rodriguez managed to come home from third base ahead of the tag on a well-executed double steal play. Luis DeJesus followed by grounding out on a fielder’s choice that pushed Kopp across and pull the Trojans within 9-3.

“I appreciated my kids really trying to fight back and put up an effort,” Trojans Manager B.J. Gilbert said, while speaking about the pride the team has in hosting this tournament every spring since back when he was a player at the school.

Lake Worth’s Kevin Hankla bats in the first inning.

“They started to scratch some runs together, but they’ve got to understand to try and put it together early,” Gilbert said. “Then try to hold onto that lead. We actually play better when we get a lead early.”

Although Trojans sophomore Chase Forrest began the year as the team’s primary catcher, the coaches knew this natural pitcher could not be held out of the rotation any longer.

On Tuesday the right-hander got his third start of the season, taking the loss to fall to 1-2 while allowing six earned runs over four and two-third innings of work.

Forrest also accounted for both of the team’s hits, going 2-or-4.

But overall, the young team struggled against the rejuvenated Lions program. In his first season coaching at his alma mater, Gilbert reminds himself to be patient with his inexperienced squad.

“They have to get rid of the losing mentality,” Gilbert said. “They don’t know how to win right now; we’re trying to teach them how to win. They don’t know how to fight back when they are losing, and that is one thing that we are trying to preach to them is that the game isn’t over. We’ve been trying to teach them that in baseball and in life.”

Across the diamond the Lions first-year manager also reflected on the team’s growth and improvement.

With a 5-9 record that already nearly surpasses the team’s win total from a year ago, there is no question that Olympic Heights is heading in the right direction under Howell.

He also points out that the team has lost three games in extra innings, something that better results may help to more accurately reflect the team’s overall performance.

“I gave the principal my word I would get this program on its feet, find a good man to take it over, which I have, and I have a good coaching staff,” said Howell. “It’s fun. It’s been fun, and the kids are really having fun. I want people to be afraid of us. I think maybe we are getting people’s eyes open.”

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