Monarch Ends Atlantic’s Run With 4-0 Shutout

The Eagles saw their playoff run come to an end at Deerfield Beach High on Thursday night.

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For every high school senior over these final weeks of the season, it is going to end eventually. On Thursday a proud Atlantic program played its final game with eight important seniors.

Behind a complete-game effort from Joey Hennessey, the Eagles fell 4-0 to Monarch in a regional quarterfinal played at Deerfield Beach High in Deerfield Beach. Hennessey struck out five while scattering five hits and a walk through seven scoreless frames.

While the Knights (21-3) celebrated the victory and enjoyed the chance to advance to the regional semifinals, across the diamond Eagles Manager Steve Wilson and his team took one final huddle with this group. Atlantic (14-15) has established a program over these years full of pride, class and respect. While the loss may sting, the Eagles understand that these are the playoffs.

“It’s tough when the game is over,” Wilson admitted. “There is only one team that is going to be happy in the end. We happened to lose this year. Monarch has a very good team and Joe Franco is doing a very good job. They are 21-3 for a reason. I wish them the very best as they move forward.”

Atlantic was playing in its fourth conesecutive regional playoff, starting with a run all the way to the state Final Four in 2012. Every year since the program has gotten the absolute most of its players down the stretch when the games matter most. Just as in the previous few years, Atlantic overcame huge odds and obstacles to advance to the district championship this season. The Eagles beat rival West Boca, and then downed the district’s top seed in Forest Hill to uphold recent tradition and earn a regional playoff berth.

“It had been a long time since Atlantic was in regionals and now it has been four in a row,” Wilson said. “It’s my understanding it’s the first time we’ve gone four years in a row, so that’s a big deal. It’s a great big deal for our program, for our administration and for our players. I’m proud of each and every one of them.”

Over this stretch Atlantic has established a great identity as a team. The coaching staff has increased and only grown stronger, and the bond with the players has also just become better with that continuity and cohesion. The Eagles have honored traditions and also created many of their own, such as Wilson taking the moment to personally say a final goodbye to each of his eight seniors after they broke their final huddle of the season.

Each senior played its part throughout their career, and many also had an impact in Thursday’s action. Right-handed ace Stefan Leclerc made his 21st career start for the team, working into the fourth and keeping the offense in the game while it tried to figure out Hennessey. Brach Thomas, Leclerc and Michael Buckley each had a hit, and Colin Kosuch also reached on a fielder’s choice.

Although not all of those seniors have been along for the entire ride, they have all helped maintain the legacy by buying into what the coaches ask them to do. The team plays a tough schedule, and the coaches explain that the regular season is just practice for the playoffs. Guys are asked to be unselfish and learn their roles. They continue to get the job done.

“Not all of them were on varsity for the past four years, but they still do it the Atlantic way,” Wilson said. “We have certain things that we ask our players to do and our goal is always the same. It is to win the district title, and if that doesn’t work out, like this year, it’s to still go to regionals.”

Although the playoff run ended all too quickly for this year’s group, the experience will benefit the team again going forward both in its positive and negative reprecussions. Atlantic has 11 returning players on its roster, and those guys all know what playoff baseball is like. They should also return hungry to erase the memory of Thursday’s loss and replace it with another exciting and successful playoff chapter for Atlantic baseball next season.

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