Game Of The Week Preview: Spanish River at West Boca

Players at Spanish River are spending time honing their offensive skills in order to put up more runs on the board this year.

Boca Raton is home to four public schools, and it seems as if each has a great rivalry going with the other three. This Thursday, fans will get to see the Spanish River-West Boca Raton rivalry renewed as the Sharks travel to the Bulls for the High School Baseball Network Palm Beach Game of the Week. The game is set for 7 p.m. Thursday.

Spanish River, which won last year’s clash with West Boca 1-0, is looking to make the regional playoffs for the first time in 15 years. They plan to accomplish that goal with a strong pitching staff, staunch defense and a much-improved offense that’s solid one through nine.

The Sharks are hopeful the pieces of success will fall into place at River this season. The team, which is loaded with juniors and seniors, is confident in its offense and has a good core of returning players on defense.

Matthew “Chui” Slootsky and Sam White head the pitching staff, which will also include Billy Marion, John O’Connor and Ryan Berger. Those three are also starting outfielders.

Experience is a plus in the infield as well as Fenway Parks, who’s expected to be one of the leaders this year, is back at first base. Anthony Acino, who hit over .400 last year, will play at second with Devin Bard at short. Boomer Saraga returns at third.

To tune up for Thursday’s game, Spanish River will travel to rival Olympic Heights for the season opener Tuesday before taking on Lake Worth in the Forest Hill City Tournament on Wednesday.

Sean Gabel returns after missing last year because of injury. He’ll bolster the West Boca pitching staff this year.

While the Sharks are getting ready to start what they hope will be a memorable season, the Bulls also are preparing for their own greatness as they look to accentuate their familiarity with one another.

The bond among the players is strong at West Boca, where a core group of them have been competing on the same ballfield together since their preschool days.

In addition to senior leadership, pitching is going to be another strength for the Bulls. They are delighted for the return of Sean Gabel, who missed last year because of injury. He’ll be in the rotation along with last year’s workhorses, Dovas and Bradley Busch.

Four players who hit over .300 last year will bring their big bats back this year. They are Koby Pepia (.329, 17 runs, 11 RBIs in 2013), Joe White (.368, 18 runs, 18 RBIs), Gary Garcia (.380, 17 RBIs) and Bradley Busch (.359, 20 runs, 12 RBIs).

With strong chemistry and an experienced pitching staff, the Bulls are prepared to at least match last year’s 20-7 season. They’re eager and hungry to erase the memory of a bitter loss to St. Thomas in the regional final. The first step towards replacing that pain will be starting the season with a win, and the Bulls will get that opportunity in Thursday’s season opener against Spanish River.

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