West Boca Blanks Spanish River 2-0 In Pitcher’s Duel

Angelo Dovas had a stellar performance both on the mound and at the plate to lead West Boca to victory.

GOTW Gallery

If not for the weather, baseball fans might not have realized that Thursday’s contest was not a playoff game. With a bitter chill reminding everyone that it is still winter and just the start of the season, Spanish River and West Boca provided so much fire on the field that it certainly felt like a playoff battle.

In a pitcher’s duel that has become reminiscent of this series, it was the host Bulls who managed just enough offense to pull out the 2-0 victory to win their season opener in the first HSBN Game of the Week of the 2014 season.

This friendly city rivalry always brings the best out of both sides, and it was an environment that felt more like the sort that baseball fans can expect to be played in May rather than in early February.

“What do you expect? We’re crosstown rivals so it’s always like that with them,” said West Boca senior Angelo Dovas. “They always bring it to us and we always go back at them. It is always a back and forth battle. It feels great to get this win against them. It’s going to be a good year; it’s definitely going to a good year for us.”

The Bulls (1-0) have played Spanish River in their season-opener each of the past three years, but Thursday marked the first time in that stretch that they came out with the victory. More important than the bragging rights is the fact that the team got off on the right foot to start this season. Manager Nick Siano admitted that the past two losses to the Sharks (1-1) caused them to take a step back right out of the gate, while this win helps give them momentum for the grueling season ahead.

“We always talk about getting better every time, and tonight was a step in the right direction for the 2014 season,” said Siano. “We played well enough to win. We didn’t play great, but it’s early enough in the season that we have some things to correct. That’s part of the game. I saw some things I really liked and I saw some things we can improve on.”

Sam White put in a quality start with five strikeouts in a complete-game performance for the Sharks.

One thing the Bulls did like to see was their senior pitcher Sean Gabel back on the mound throwing for them. The right-hander missed almost all of the 2013 season after he left with injury during the first inning of this matchup last year, and Thursday night marked his return to action. Gabel was on a strict pitch count and left after only three innings, but Siano admitted that he liked what he saw from their starter, and that he especially appreciated how he managed his adrenaline coming back in that environment against such a quality opponent in such an electric atmosphere.

“It was a weight off of my shoulders, especially going against the team that I got injured against,” Gabel said. “It’s good to be back out there. We want to always have that playoff atmosphere every single game. We did that last year and we’re going to continue to do it every game this year. I’m just so happy to be back.”

After losing their top starter right out of the gate last season, the Bulls were blessed by the emergence of Dovas to fill those big shoes and lead them to the regional finals last year. On Thursday night Dovas picked up right where he left off in building off of that success to shoulder the load again this season. The righty tossed four shutout innings to shut the door and lead the Bulls to the victory.

Dovas scattered four hits and recorded five strikeouts on just 50 pitches to earn his first win of the 2014 campaign.

“He’s around the zone, and that’s what we ask of our guys is to just be around the zone and give us an opportunity,” Siano said. “He works quick and the position players like that; everybody is on their feet. He came out of nowhere for us last year and he was the reason we got where we did last year.”

The Sharks have equal aspirations to reach the postseason and end a long playoff drought this year, and Thursday night gave them more than a glimpse of the chances they have to accomplish such goals. Setting the tone for Spanish River was their left-handed starter, Sam White, who pounded the zone and matched the Bulls pitch for pitch throughout. White went the distance in the loss, throwing 62 of his 87 pitches for strikes and picking up five strikeouts to help keep his club in the ball game.

“I’m very proud of my teammates. We came out here and we gave it everything we had,” Sam White said. “We just need to work on a few things and cut down on the strikeouts. The mental part of it, if we fix those little things, the sky is the limit. Our goals and our dreams that we want to achieve are going to come true. I know they will. We’ve just got to work a little harder and fix those mistakes starting tomorrow.”

White admitted that it felt like Game Seven of the World Series in the environment they played in at West Boca, and Coach Harvey was also quick to remind his guys that this is exactly the type of atmosphere they should expect to see all season. The Sharks have tough opponents like Atlantic, Park Vista and Palm Beach Central still ahead on their schedule, and they will face each of those clubs twice this season.

The Bulls make a big tag at the plate to preserve the shutout.

“They have a good team and I told the guys that this is the kind of team they are going to run into, so be ready to strap it on,” said Harvey. “It was a close game and it’s a growing opportunity. I thought their pitching staff did a good job and they got some big outs when they needed to. But so did we, for the most part. We played with them and it was two good teams playing a good ball game. All it takes is one hit or one missed play.”

That was indeed the case in this one, as the Bulls were able to capitalize on the few scoring chances they were able to muster. Koby Pepia blooped a single to left field with one out in the bottom of the third, and then had a great jump on a 2-2 pitch to successfully steal second base and get into scoring position.

Dovas followed by nailing a shot to centerfield for an RBI double that pushed Pepia across the plate for the first run of the contest.

Dovas was equally lethal at the plate Thursday, as he added another double when he lifted a pitch just past the diving outfielder in the fifth. After Dovas moved to third on a balk call, and Chris Busch reached on an infield single, Ricardo Gonzalez sent Dovas the final ninety feet home when he connected for a sacrifice flyout to right field.

Despite committing a few errors, the Bulls defense played to their normal identity by making some big plays in key moments. One such instance came in the top of the fourth, after Sharks first baseman Fenway Parks singled on a liner to right field and advanced to third on a single from Spencer Diaz. Parks broke for home on a passed ball, but Bulls catcher Ryan Clark was able to track down the ball and fire it to Dovas in time to make the tag at the plate to preserve the shutout and keep Spanish River off the scoreboard.

“I’m confident in my defense; they definitely have my back out there 100%,” said Dovas. “They are diving and making plays every time, just doing everything. I love my defense behind me and I love my catcher Ryan Clark.”

That defense also came through in the final inning, after the Sharks made one last push. Diaz slapped a leadoff single to shallow left field, and Julian Delgado followed with a single to left field as well. But the runners got caught up on the bases, and the Bulls were able to take advantage and catch Diaz at third base to erase the lead runner and record a crucial out. Dovas then finished things off with a strikeout and a foul popout to end the game.

The Sharks Billy Marion dives safely back into first base on a pickoff attempt in the second inning.

“A couple of years ago we would have been thrilled to come out and only lose 2-0,” Harvey admitted. “But right now this is a team that is capable of winning. There aren’t any moral victories any more; there are defeats you hope you can learn from. That’s what this team is and that’s where we are going.”

Spanish River made plenty of big plays of their own on the night. Following Dovas’ RBI double in the third, Chris Busch dropped down a great bunt that straddled the white line but never crossed the chalk to allow him to reach for an infield single, and Bradley Busch was walked intentionally to load the bases. Sam White then forced a routine flyout to end the threat and limit the damage. Bulls second baseman Joe White led off the fourth with a single, but was then thrown out stealing on a perfect throw from Sharks catcher Austin Hurwitz.

The Sharks know this was a game they could have won, and it is a lesson they intend to learn from. The program has not made it to the regional playoffs in 15 years, and this group this season has made it their mission to end that drought this year. To do so they must learn to win games such as this, and the lessons learned on Thursday are ones they intend to build off of.

“We were tested tonight on the fourth night of the season, and we learned,” White said. “It’s all we can do now. We’re going to come together, we’re going to fix what we need to, and mark my words we’re going to do something special. Everyone proved it tonight; we all know we can and we’re going to do whatever it takes.”

Leave a comment using your facebook account!