Sun Sentinel Broward Edition

Vigil honors baseball standout

- By Brian Ballou and Brooke Baitinger Staff writers

Zach Finch carved out anamefor himself in the classroom and on the baseball diamond at Flanagan High School, and realized his dream to play in college.

But on Father’s Day, the 21-year-old senior at TheCollege of the Cumberland­s in Charlotte, S.C., was shot dead after he visited an apartment complex in North Carolina to buy an iPhone, according to a report onWBTV in Charlotte.

On Saturday, about 200 people gathered to pay tribute to Finch at a candleligh­t vigil at the Silver LakesPark inPembroke Pines. Hisname, Zachary, was spelled out in candles on a table at the front of the crowd.

Many of those in attendance, holding candles aloft, were former teammates, friends and loved ones. Family members traveled from North Carolina to attend.

Finch’s girlfriend, Sarah Goode, 19, traveled fromSouth Carolina. “Zachwas one of a kind,” she said. “I know he’s here with us tonight, and that’s what’s keeping me going.”

Finch’s mother, Tara Finch, spoke to the crowd via phone. She said: “Let his spirit live tonight. He would have been sohappy to see all his friends and loved ones here.”

Finch, who maintained an “A” average in college, was visiting his family who recently relocated from South Florida to North Carolina. Authoritie­s said that Finch may have been the victim of a robbery. No arrestshav­e beenmade, according to theWBTVrep­ort.

Finch’s ties to Pines are deep. He attended PantherRun Elementary School, SilverTrai­l Middle School, WestBrowar­d High School and Flanagan High School. His mother taught at the middle school for many years.

More than $21,000 has been raised through a GoFundMe page for Finch’s family, with a goal of $30,000.

bballou@sunsentine­l.com or 954-356-4188

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