South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Park Vista extends win streak to 33 games
LAKE WORTH — Park Vista junior Iliana Hernandez tried to focus during her sixth-inning at-bat Friday, but in the back of her mind, she knew how crucial her chance was.
The Cobras were trailing by a run to visiting West Broward, and her team’s 32-game winning streak was hanging in the balance.
“Even when I’m trying to get it out [of my mind],” Hernandez said, “it’s always there in the back. You don’t want to mess this up. You don’t want to break the streak.”
Hernandez fouled off pitch after pitch before doubling into left-center field, scoring Emily Konz and tying the game. Park Vista scored another run in the inning and beat West Broward 3-2 in Lake Worth, extending the Cobras’ winning streak to 33 games. Park Vista has not lost since April 23, 2019.
“We’re expecting everyone’s best,” Cobras coach Joe DellaRocca said. “And for what it’s worth, we’ve faced some pretty good competition this year, and some teams have really given us their best shot and we’re thankful for that. That’s why we schedule those teams.”
Park Vista fell behind early, largely because of its own mistakes. The Cobras committed four errors in the first two innings, and both runs were unearned.
“Definitely a rocky start, defensively, and that bothers me,” DellaRocca said. “We work pretty hard on defensive reps.”
Hernandez kept the Bobcats from scoring another run in the second inning, throwing out a runner
at home from center field.
The Cobras got a run back in the bottom of the second, scoring a run on a single by Rylee Kent. But for the next three innings, Park Vista managed only two singles off West Broward pitcher Victoria Navarro.
Fortunately for Park Vista, sophomore pitcher Chloe Fariello matched Navarro’s zeroes. Despite allowing two unearned runs, she pitched a complete game. Fariello surrendered four hits while striking out two batters and walking none. She retired the last eight batters she faced.
Park Vista did add to its one run in the sixth. Emily Konz singled, reached second on an error and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Hernandez drove her in and scored the winning run on a sacrifice bunt by Danielle Dougherty.
Park Vista, which is ranked 14th in the state by MaxPreps, has more tough games coming up. The Cobras face Cooper City, ranked 20th in the state, on Tuesday and Palm Beach Gardens, ranked 19th in the state, on April 9.
“We’re just going to have to be able to handle some pressure situations and understand that that’s probably going to be the way it’s going to be going forward,” DellaRocca said. “Hopefully, the experience of it will help us as we get closer to the postseason.”