Park Vista Runs Away With 9-2 Victory Over University

The Cobras had plenty of reason to celebrate following their season-opening 9-2 victory over University School.

Most baseball teams have a guy or two who are blessed with great speed. Their teams rely on them to get on base and create scoring opportunities.

This year’s Park Vista Cobras feel like they have a lot of guys who are capable of running at will, and in Monday night’s season opener they proved that. The Cobras were incredibly aggressive on the bases, manufacturing plenty of offense on their way to a 9-2 victory over University School in the Colts First Pitch Classic played at Coral Springs High.

Park Vista (1-0) amassed 11 stolen bases in all, as coaches gave their base runners the green light all night long.

“We feel like we’ve got a lot of guys who can create havoc when they get on,” agreed Cobras Manager Larry Greenstein. “It’s still early, so we need to see who gets the good first jump and who doesn’t. We’re still trying to figure things out, and it was nice to see they were aggressive. They got the job done all night.”

Players are amazed at how much speed this squad possesses, and the chance to score runs and help this team win is the only thing the batters are focused on. As junior Joey Ganord put it, the guys have accepted that the game is not about individual statistics but rather about scoring runs and building a big lead. If the opposing pitchers are not throwing strikes, hitters are more than willing to draw a walk and then be ready to run as fast as they can.

“We need to get base runners and score runs,” said Ganord. “If you get the opportunity where the pitcher doesn’t throw strikes and walks you, take it. You just look to make sure the pitcher is going home, take the best jump you can and then see if the catcher gets it and throws the ball. Then just be ready for the batters to hit you in.”

Ganord accounted for a pair of swiped bags on Monday night, after he reached base in all three trips to the plate. The first baseman had a big day offensively, going 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a run. Yet even though he knows this team can fly on the base paths, he admitted that he was surprised that his coaches even gave him the chance to steal bases.

“For me to be stealing third was a little surprising, but they gave me the opportunity and I took it,” Ganord said, while joking that he does not consider himself as one of the club’s base-stealing threats. “I don’t know how I’m going to do it, but it looks like even I will be stealing some bases.”

Ganord had been popping out a lot lately, so his focus has been on hitting line drives to try and score runners. Both his hits were exactly that, and his first RBI came after he sent a slow roller deep to the shortstop and then got on board after the fielder was unable to secure the throw in his glove. The play scored Dakota Julya to put Park Vista up 2-0, after the second baseman lined a single to left field and stole second to get into scoring position in the bottom of the first.

Austin Smith delivers the first pitch of the season for the Cobras. The right-hander tossed four no-hit innings to earn the 9-2 victory.

Junior shortstop Matthew Mika helped set the tone by connecting on an 0-2 pitch and driving it deep to right-centerfield for a leadoff double, then stealing third on the first pitch to Julya and coming home on a throwing error on the play. Mika also swiped a pair of bases and scored in the sixth, finishing 2-for-4 on the night.

Despite a solid performance overall, the Suns (0-1) quickly found themselves in an early hole that they struggled to climb out of. Nearly every time a Cobras batter reached base, he took off running and continued to keep the pressure up on the University pitchers and defense.

The Cobras added to their lead with the decisive runs in the bottom of the third. Austin Smith legged out an infield single to lead things off, and then gave way to courtesy runner Brandon Sharpe. After Sharpe wasted no time in swiping second, the Cobras executed a perfect hit-and-run as Ganord waited back to line the ball up the middle and easily allow Sharpe to come home with the winning run.

Colin Smith walked and both runners pulled off a double steal to get into scoring position. Nyle Newland pushed Ganord across on an RBI groundout, and then Joey Innacone singled to center to score Colin Smith and push the lead to 4-0.

Park Vista added to that lead an inning later. Julya walked and scored on an RBI triple on a shot deep to center from Tyler Barre. Ganord then drove another RBI single up the middle to send Barre across the plate.

The runs provided more than enough support for Cobras starter Austin Smith, who tossed four no-hit innings to earn the victory. The right-hander stymied the Suns offense, allowing just a pair of walks while recoding eight strikeouts on just 62 pitches.

“Austin was our guy last year, so coming in he has to step right in and guide us,” said Greenstein. “He’s the guy you want to have the ball, and it makes everyone play loose knowing we have our guy there. All we have to do is make some plays for him. He’s going to challenge batters; that’s what he does. He did a great job tonight.”

After falling into a big hole, the Suns continued to battle back and avoid the shutout. Daniel Epstein broke up the no-hitter with a single to left field leading off the top of the fifth, and then scored as Matt Johnson reached on an error. Adam Sinkoe followed with a slow roller past the second baseman and Kyle Oren walked to load the bases. Brendan McKendry pulled the Suns to within 7-2 as he singled to centerfield to drive in Johnson, before Sinkoe was thrown out at the plate when he also attempted to score on the play.

“The guy that started for them is a pretty special player, but we were fortunate to have some quality at bats towards the end of the game,” said Suns Manager Dan Rovetto. “If we clean up a couple of small things then it’s a much closer ball game. That’s a darn good team over there and it is going to be a great experience for us in the long term.”

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