Douglas wins first sporting event at school since shooting

PARKLAND — Stoneman Douglas baseball coach Todd Fitz-Gerald knew it would be emotional returning to the Eagles’ home field for the first school sporting event since a mass shooting on Feb. 14 killed 17 people and injured 16 more.

It felt very emotional at first, but then the players just got to playing on Friday afternoon.

“It was emotional at the beginning, but once the first pitch was thrown, all that went out the window and then it was a baseball game,” Fitz-Gerald said over the phone. Members of the media were not allowed to attend.

“I said just go play and have fun. This is what you’ve been waiting for all spring. Now you get an opportunity to go out there and play in front of your home crowd — first game of the season. Go out there and represent.”

Behind four solo home runs, Douglas came up victorious, 4-1, over Cypress Bay, a team mourning in its own right after coach Paul Liotti died shortly before the season began.

Senior shortstop and FIU signee John Rodriguez homered twice, center fielder Ricky Shimko hit another one out and sophomore UCF commit Coby Mayo had a long ball of his own to provide the offense for the Eagles (1-0).

Senior Stetson signee Kyle Yeoward got the win on the mound, throwing five innings of one-run ball, and Connor Brian shut down the Lightning for the two-inning save.

For fans, fellow students and parents in attendance, it was a chance to get to see a team that has provided much pride to Parkland in action. Douglas, in 2016, won a Class 9A state title and was named national champion.

“It was a packed house,” said Fitz-Gerald, specifically lauding the atmosphere when Rodriguez’s second home run meant back-to-back long balls for the Eagles late. “Crowd was going crazy. It was awesome. Fans going crazy, student body going crazy. It’s just a great day for baseball all the way around.”

In addition to Douglas supporters, Cypress Bay fans and parents showed up in large numbers, too — some wearing shirts made by the Weston high school in support of their Parkland neighbors. One was Douglas maroon with white letters that read “CB (heart) MSD.” Another was seen with both schools’ logos on it.

Up next on the Eagles schedule is a doubleheader in Jacksonville against Bolles and Trinity Christian on March 10 as part of a tournament.

Cypress Bay (2-4), which has been under the direction of interim coach Bo Diaz since Liotti’s death, hosts Flanagan for a district game on Tuesday.