The Marjory Stoneman Douglas JV baseball team had their first 5 games to start their season, a two game series with away games versus Westminster Christian, then a two game stint versus American Heritage Delray at home, away at Taravella on March 1, and then two games against Western at MSD on March 6.
The team is off to an extremely hot start at 7-0, with great pitching, hitting and defending. These aspects of the team was a key part of the preseason training for them. They outscored Westminster Christian by +10, winning 9-1 and 5-3, away from home. In which they threw a no-hitter by Jayden Dubanewicz (23) and Vincent Toloza (20), then in game 2, MSD had a big sixth inning effort and drove in three runs for the win.
The next 2 games, the home openers versus American Heritage Delray, were no doubt wins for MSD, a 5-0 and 9-1 series sweep. Game 1 went very well for the pitching again with Dubanewicz and Gabriel Jardine (22) pitching a three hit shutout, and in game 2 was an overall great game and they continued to pitch, hit and defend well in front of the home faithful.
They then had a Monday night lights game versus rival JP Taravella, in which they won 5-2, thanks to another sixth inning rally, capped off with an Alex Lazar (1) single to left field which scored Dillion Moquin (26).
Then there were the latest two games versus Western High School, which brought the biggest test yet, with two very challenging games, with MSD winning 3-1, and 5-4. Patrick Sullivan (9), Brayden McCluskey (5), and Dubanewicz pitched well in game one, but in game two, Grant Harrison (2) was the hero, winning it with a ground ball single in the sixth and final inning to win the ball game for the Eagles.
“Ahead of the home opener, the pregame talk was to see the ball well, get line drives and score runs this game,” catcher Cayden Freels (15) said. “I mean we’re undefeated, so I guess it is doing pretty well.”
The team was feeling pretty eager to play well in front of friends and family that early Saturday morning.
“I think our chemistry has been very good so far. Everyone is open to each other and the whole team has really gelled together as a group,” catcher Ethan Askin (16) said.
The team has their next home game on Tues. March 9 against Hialeah Educational Academy.
