Lately, when the Eagles put up a bunch of crooked numbers they get straightened out on the scoreboard and turn into 11. For the fourth game in a row, CCA scored 11 runs and beat North Broward Prep Thursday night for their ninth consecutive win. With the win, CCA goes a 4-0 against teams in District 14 3-A including American Heritage, Coral Springs Charter and Pine Crest. Three of those four wins were on the road.
Perhaps the Toby Mac pre game music featured at CCA is taking effect as the Eagles used "The Slam" to down the home team on their Senior Night. Tyler Middlebrooks dropped his third bomb of the year in the third inning to put CCA in front for good. As the drive left his bat, fans cringed knowing their car was in danger beyond the right field fence. The inning progressed with Ryan Reilly and Andrew Liberty reaching safely in front of Chris Walkerow. Walk was thinking sac fly with two strikes but this was NBP, remember. The ball got up and over the extended fence for a three run homer and a 7-1 lead.
But there were more runs to be had against the NBP bullpen. Stephen Barnett singled and DeSilva thrilled the crowd with a thirteen pitch at bat against reliever Casey Kopec in the sixth. Down 0-2, he fought off pitch after pitch and eventually gorked a ball inside the right field line for a well deserved single. Anthony Avila walked to load the bases and Kopec was done. In came NBP closer Sarkis Ohanian to face the meat of the Eagle line up. He got Taylor Gushue for the first out, but he did not get Dalton DiNatale. Dino cranked his first homer of the year into deep right for the second slam of the evening to cap the scoring.
The NBP run came in the first when starter Seth Natal looked like he may not have his best stuff. However, he wriggled out of a bases loaded no out jam giving up only one run. Emilio DeSilva cut down a run at the plate to take pressure off the defense and Natal induced an inning ending ground ball.
As the game wore on, Natal pumped up the volume. He struck out seven and walked only one as he recorded his second complete game win this year. It was three hit batsman that got him into trouble or his evening would have been even more spectacular. Natal allowed a double in the sixth which would have extended the game if the runner came around to score. But he was able to finish the inning keeping the ten-run rule intact.
Playoffs start Tuesday at home against Westminster Academy. Game time 4 PM with Ryan Lowrey scheduled to start.
Calvary Christian Academy Baseball - 142 As One: United, Passionate, Accountable, Relentless
