PB Central walks off nationally ranked PB Gardens

WELLINGTON — Palm Beach Central junior Jayden Malave entered Friday’s game against Palm Beach Gardens in the midst of a slump, hitting only .125 so far this season.

He’d been working hard to break out of it, so when he stepped to the plate in the eighth inning with Carmine Mercadante standing on third base and representing the winning run, he was presented with a perfect opportunity.

Malave singled to left field, scoring Mercadante and giving the Broncos a 4-3 victory over the nationally ranked Gators in Wellington.

“They always say for you to do the job, don’t let someone else do the job,” Malave said. “I was just trying to come up big right there for my team.”

Palm Beach Central’s win over their district rival, who entered the game ranked 14th in the nation by MaxPreps, got off to a disappointing start. Gardens scored two runs in the top of the first on a sacrifice fly by Jaydyn Hylton and a run-scoring groundout by Kris Blanks.

But the Broncos came right back in the bottom half of the inning, capitalizing on wild pitching from Blanks. The Gators hurler walked four batters in the first inning, and three scored on a pair of wild pitches.

Both teams’ pitchers rebounded, holding the opposing offenses in check for the next five innings. Junior Billy Reid pitched four innings of scoreless relief for Palm Beach Gardens, while Palm Beach Central starter Samuel Orozco pitched three more innings without giving up another run.

“If you told me we were going to give up two runs in the first and hold that team to two runs through six innings — there’s no way,” Broncos coach Tony Gullo said.

Palm Beach Central had an opportunity to put the game away in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases with one out. Broncos leadoff hitter Logan Szrejter hit a line-drive to center field, and the runner broke from third, looking to give Palm Beach Central an insurance run on a sacrifice fly.

Palm Beach Gardens center fielder A.J. Hunerberg fired the ball to home, catching the runner in time and keeping the deficit at one run.

That double play loomed large, as in the top of the seventh inning, Palm Beach Gardens third baseman and Oklahoma State signee Aiden Meola hit a home run to left field to tie the game.

“That home run, it’s easy to put your chin to your chest and feel sorry for yourself,” Gullo said. “But we just tried to stay positive.”

As sunset approached a Palm Beach Central field without lights, the Broncos needed a quick victory. Mercadante hit a triple down the left-field line with one out in the eighth inning, setting up the game-winning chance for Malave.

“[The win is] huge,” Gullo said. “We really needed it.”