Douglas tops Coral Springs; rainouts abound

PARKLAND — Douglas High’s baseball team has impeccable timing.

One of the few squads to schedule its district championship game Thursday at 4 p.m. rather than primetime 7 p.m., the Eagles’ 11-9A matchup against Coral Springs wrapped up in time to miss the rainstorms that washed out most of the evening games.

But Douglas also is peaking at the right time as it prepares to defend its state title.

On Thursday, the Eagles won their 11th consecutive game, topping the Colts 4-2 to capture District 11-9A honors.

Douglas (20-4) will host District 12’s runner-up Tuesday in the Class 9A regional quarterfinals, but will have to wait another day before learning who that opponent will be.

Top-seeded Flanagan’s 12-9A championship game against West Broward, hosted at Cypress Bay, was postponed until today after rain and lightning pummeled Weston on Thursday. Next week, Coral Springs (17-8) will face the winner of that contest.

In Thursday’s district title game, University of Miami commit Brandon Kaminer was stellar on the mound for the Eagles. The senior allowed just two runs in 52⁄3 innings for the win. Kyle Yeoward got the save, pitching a perfect seventh inning.

Junior infielder Brandon Auerbach led Douglas with 2 RBI on 1-for-2 hitting. Max Miednik and John Rodriguez also drove in runs.

“We’re finding ways to win,” Douglas coach Todd Fitzgerald said. “We’re grinding out at-bats and the team’s really jelling. We’re playing good defense and that’s what you’ve got to do in the playoffs — pitch and play defense. We continue to do that and we’ll be in the ballgame.”

Also postponed until tonight at 7 was this season’s biggest rematch — American Heritage (19-6) at reigning state champion Archbishop McCarthy (23-2) in the District 15-6A final.