Heritage-Delray Wins #500 For Manager Carm Mazza

American Heritage-Delray Manager Carm Mazza celebrates his 500th career coaching victory on Saturday.

Saturday afternoon’s comeback victory was no normal end result for the American Heritage-Delray Stallions. Their 5-1 win over the host Aubrey Rogers Patriots brought their record back even for the season, but it was another record that had the team’s attention.

Lifelong Stallions manager Carm Mazza earned his 500th career coaching victory as a result of the win. The staple to a program that has known no other manager in its time, the fact that his career has spanned so long at the same school that he started makes it as special as anything.

“It is special for the program,” Mazza said. “I basically started the program from scratch, and being here the entire time is really important. It’s what you want when you build a program, to see it grow. For me, this is something that is all about the players and the coaches and the school support. That is what has made things happen.”

Befitting all good stories, this one turned on a dramatic moment that everyone can remember. Senior Joey Abbazia crushed a three-run home run that was the difference, and once that ball left the yard it seemed to help the entire team relax and take care of business.

“It is kind of a relief,” Mazza admitted. “It was something that we knew we would get to eventually, but there was kind of a build-up and the kids felt it was something that we needed to get through and get done. We lost last night when we had our first shot at it, but we won today.”

The Stallions celebrate Carm Mazza’s 500th career coaching victory on Saturday.

Saturday’s eventual celebration was no foregone conclusion, as the Stallions (10-10) had to rally back to victory after falling behind 1-0 by surrendering an unearned run in the bottom of the first inning.

Heritage-Delray answered right back to even things back up with a run in the second. Anthony Tomonto walked and then stole second to put himself into scoring position, and Ricky Bellantoni sent him home with an RBI single to right.

Those three runs in the third broke the game open to provide the Stallions with the winning margin. Evan Fernandez and Jack Quinn drew back-to-back walks to lead off the frame, and Abbazia jumped on a 1-0 pitch and slugged it to left for his crucial home run.

“No matter how quiet you try to keep things, they knew,” Mazza said. “They had it marked down in their minds and they wanted to get it, and it probably pressed on them a little bit too. A lot of these kids have been to varsity for four years so it was special to have this group. Hopefully now we can be a little more free and easy and win some more games.”

Abbazia provided the final insurance run in the fifth to end the game with four RBI, as he delivered a sac-fly RBI that plated courtesy-runner Michael Manna for his second run of the game.

Pitching has long been a staple for this program, and that was again a huge part of the result on Saturday. Starter Dane Rossi piled up eight strikeouts in four innings, while allowing just two hits and two walks. Elias Raptis then finished things off with three scoreless innings, allowing a hit and five walks while striking out six.

American Heritage-Delray manager Carm Mazza celebrates his 500th career coaching victory with his girls.

Thinking all the way back to the start of his coaching career in 1999, Mazza could still recall what it felt like to earn that very first win. He does not remember who his team beat that day, though he does remember that they won 16 games in his first season.

“It’s so long ago, but you fight for every single win no matter if it is number one or number 157,” Mazza said. “They all feel good, and the losses don’t. You do it to win games, but you do it to win games for the kids and the program and your school. Win one to this win, they are all important.”

For all us Palm Beach baseball fans and beyond, Carm Mazza is important. His impact on Heritage-Delray and the larger baseball community cannot be overlooked, and everyone at High School Baseball Network feels lifelong gratitude towards him.

It is because of coaches like Carm Mazza that palmbeachhighschoolbaseball.com even exists. Fate aligned that I joined HSBN early in its first year, and there was a quick mutual agreement that expansion into Palm Beach County was a great idea. My prior experience had allowed me the chance to build a trusting work relationship with Palm Beach coaches, although I had only ever spoken to them all on the telephone. Thanks to their belief in us, I got to finally meet them in person.

Carm Mazza and American Heritage-Delray has been one of HSBN’s biggest supporters for all these years, since our launch in Palm Beach County in 2012. The Stallions have hosted countless All Star and tournament games over the years, including our first All Star game in 2012 that was rained out by a monsoon. That baseball field is just one of those places that feels like part of my childhood, as it is ingrained into my history working for HSBN.

After years of knowing him only through the phone, I got my chance to meet Coach Mazza in person when I covered the team in our first year in 2012. On the opening day of our Palm Beach site launch, I stood in the center of the Santaluces Sports Complex watching four games and eight teams all play at once. We had arrived, and Carm was one of the first coaches whom I got to meet. I volunteered to go to FAU Stadium later that year to cover them in a game against American Heritage-Plantation, and then we were there to the end as the team made a run all the way to the state final that season.

The 2018 Stallions won the HSBN March Madness Shootout Spring Break Tournament.

We’ve been there again with the team at states two more times since.

Those early days as we established our relationship with Palm Beach very much mirrors what it is like for a young coach starting a new program. Coach Mazza reflected perfectly on that aspect, back when we wrote about his 400th win that came in the 2018 season.

“Back then it was just a rush,” Mazza recalled in 2018. “I was young and I just remember it being the craziest feeling ever that, ‘Holy Cow, I’m in charge of all these young kids and I’ve got to do the right thing’. I remember it was just a special moment realizing that you are in charge of all of these young men, and you have to do right by them.”

Coach, you’ve done right by them. Us as well.

Over these years I have personally etched my place in this team history as well, having been there for so many of those big memories. But for all the happy dogpiles and celebrations, it is the class and dignity embodied in those low moments that highlight the man leading them.

I was there covering the playoff win that never was. It was a playoff game where the Stallions rallied from sure defeat for a late comeback over Coral Springs Christian Academy, and then suddenly the skies opened up and the field was flooded. The game was called, and reverted back to the final completed inning. The Stallions lost and their season ended right there, and Coach Mazza had to explain to his guys how that worked, even though they had just done everything they were supposed to and earned the right to victory.

I had the privilege of a Sunday Morning Chat with Coach Carm back in 2018. We found a nice spot at a table under the softball stadium bleachers at the school to have the interview conversation, and it felt like being in the backyard of a close family member.

Certainly Coach Mazza has embraced the family culture at Heritage-Delray, his family intertwined into the fabric of the school right along with him. This connection makes this moment that much more special, as it gives cause to celebrate across the entire campus.

So again, Coach, congratulations. Also, thank you.

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