High schools

Calvary Christian’s baseball team tops Chaminade-Madonna to secure a regional berth.

LAUDERDALE LAKES — Despite forfeiting 11 regular-season wins, the Calvary Christian Eagles still have all their state aspirations in front of them.

Calvary, bumped from the first to the fourth seed in the District 7-4A tournament due to forfeits from incomplete paperwork on three transfers, pulled off the “upset” against topseeded Chaminade-Madonna, 6-2 in district semifinals on Tuesday at Westminster Academy Sports Complex.

The Eagles, whose record officially is 12-15 but would be 23-4 without forfeits, have secured a spot in regionals. They’ll play a district final on Thursday night, which only impacts regional seeding. Regional semifinals in Class 4A are then on Wednesday.

“I think it speaks to the resiliency of the kids,” Calvary coach Alan Kunkel said. “They continue to go out and play the game.”

Senior pitcher and Florida signee Christian Scott threw a complete game, striking out 13 and allowing one earned run against Chaminade, which was eliminated at 17-8.

“It’s been hard knowing that we came out ranked [nationally], and then [it] coming out that we have to forfeit all these games,” Scott said. “But we know we’re better than every team in Broward when we play our game. We know we’re better than every team in the nation when we play our game.”

The Eagles struck in the first inning with sophomore shortstop Dante Girardi, the son Major League Baseball player and manager Joe Girardi, hitting a solo home run to left. It was his first as a high school player.

The Lions, had Calvary remained the top seed, wouldn’t have faced the Eagles until the district final and had an easier path to a regional spot.

“Circumstances are what they are, and that’s out of our control. We can’t control that, but I can’t be any more proud of those guys,” Chaminade coach Jorge Miranda said. “All I ask my guys is to go out there and compete understanding that that’s a really good baseball team.”