Alvarez drives in 5 runs for Panthers in road win

FORT LAUDERDALE — Junior Jordan Alvarez drove in five runs and Somerset Academy made an already tight District 14-5A race more interesting with a 10-4 win at Pine Crest on Friday afternoon.

A three-run home run by Alvarez in the second inning helped Somerset take a 5-0 early lead.

“There’s nothing like getting out ahead with a 5-0 lead,” Somerset coach Onel Garcia said. “It relaxes you a little bit and you know you can put some runs on the board.”

Alvarez pushed another run across in the fourth with an RBI double and finished 2 for 3 with a sacrifice fly.

Somerset (7-4, 4-2) scored twice in the first on back-to-back RBI singles from Xavier Moronta and Miguel Useche. Moronta also brought home Gianny Galvez, who went 2 for 4, with a sacrifice fly in the seventh.

On the mound, the Panthers split the work with Juan Teixeira going the first 3 1⁄3 innings and Ryan Cabarcas pitching the final 3 2⁄3.

Pine Crest (7-3, 4-1) got the score as close as 6-4, but left the bases loaded in the fifth. Somerset pushed back in the top of the seventh, scoring four to blow it open.

Second baseman Sam Brody singled three times and designated hitter Jordan Schulefand finished with two hits and two walks for Pine Crest. Jared de-Faria hit a two-run homer in the third.

Pine Crest joins Pompano Beach (8-2, 4-1) with one loss in the six-team district.