Stoneman Douglas baseball makes statement with quality victories ahead of postseason
Is the Stoneman Douglas baseball team back?
If this past week is any indication, the Eagles’ dynasty is still alive and kicking.
Despite some struggles over the first half of this season, Douglas reminded everyone who is still the team to beat in the upcoming playoffs with quality victories over two of the top programs in the nation.
Following a 6-5 walk-off win over North Broward Prep - secured by a two-run home run by senior first baseman and USF signee Niko Benestad - on Tuesday, the Eagles turned in an impressive encore by dominating Doral Academy on its home field for a 9-3 victory.
“We’re getting back our fire,” said Douglas left fielder Bennett Gary, who went 3 for 4 with a double, two runs scored and two RBI against Doral. “The playoffs are coming and we’re showing what we can do. We’re starting to show our chemistry.”
Douglas set the bar extremely high these past three years, winning state and national championships and completing the first perfect season (29-0) by a Broward County baseball team last year.
So while a 17-5 record at this point in the season would be a reason to celebrate for most programs, the five defeats have drawn much more scrutiny.
But a younger Eagles squad appears to be hitting its stride at the perfect time with the district playoffs a little over a week away.
“(It’s our) Cohesiveness. We’re a different team (than last year),” Douglas coach Todd Fitz-Gerald said. “We really only had four or five returning starters and a lineup with a bunch of young kids we were giving opportunities to and maybe we asked them to grow up a little too fast or not fast enough. That’s ok because they’ve got really bright futures ahead of them. It’s still a work in progress but I couldn’t be happier for the guys.”
The victories over North Broward Prep, which entered the week ranked No. 5 nationally by MaxPreps, and Doral (21-2), ranked No. 8 in that same poll, could elevate Douglas back to the top seed in Region 4-7A assuming it can stay on course heading into the postseason.
“I think Tuesday’s win was a big one for us,” Fitz-Gerald said. “We came from behind and scratched and clawed and got a walk-off win against a quality North Broward Prep team. And then coming in here we knew it was going to be a tough task coming here, tight confines, everything’s on top of you (at this park). Our kids came out in the first inning and set the tone for the entire game.”
Gary ignited Douglas’ six-run first inning by belting a double to right center field off Doral starter Marcelo Rodriguez with the bases loaded to plate two runs. Nick Diaz and Drew Freeman drove in runs on infield singles and two more runs scored on wild pitches by Rodriguez and reliever Antonio Socarras.
Doral Academy has advanced to the state final four in four of the past five seasons when a championship has been held and won its first state title in 2022.
But the Firebirds struggled from the start against Douglas’ potent lineup. Doral pitchers walked a combined 12 batters, hit three others and three of the Eagles’ runs scored on wild pitches.
On the flip side, Gavin Gargiulo started and allowed one earned run on four hits and three walks over three innings while striking out three. Breylynn Courtney allowed one earned run on three hits and a walk and struck out five over four innings of relief.
“They didn’t do a good job throwing strikes but that’s not typical for a Doral team. They’re better than that,” Fitz-Gerald said. “Gavin did a good job navigating through the lineup and Breylynn has really been the go-to guy out of the pen.
“Our guys have played a lot more innings now and I think they can take this momentum into next week and let it carry us through the playoffs.”
This story was originally published April 20, 2024 at 3:45 PM.
