Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
North Broward Prep’s run to the regional finals in Class 5A ends with loss to Monsignor Pace.
COCONUT CREEK — Unable to keep up with the potent Pace lineup, which had seven extra-base hits and three home runs, North Broward Prep’s tremendous run to the regional finals in Class 5A ended in a 10-4 defeat to Miami Monsignor Pace at home on Tuesday night.
The Eagles (22-9) missed out on what would’ve been their first state appearance since 2014 and third overall. Instead, the Spartans (22-6) will be playing Avon Park on May 31 at Fort Myers’ CenturyLink Sports Complex.
Pace struck for three runs in the third on backto-back home runs. Michael Montes hit a tworun homer to left after M.C. Sagaro doubled, and lefty Kenny Gonzalez followed him up with a long ball well over the scoreboard in right-center.
The Eagles worked their way back into it with one in the bottom of the third and fourth. Liam Cogswell drove in Gabriel Esquivel with a base hit, and leadoff man Xavier Edwards hit a solo shot to left-center.
But after North Broward inched closer, Pace erupted for five runs in the fifth. Luis Tuero’s two-run double to leftcenter capped the rally
Both teams scored twice in the first. NBP had a Logan Clyatt single to center to drive in Edwards, and Sawyer Feller drew a bases-loaded walk, but the Eagles stranded three.
Sophomore Miami commit Sammy Infante, the game’s second batter, hit a solo home run to left. The Spartans ended up with another later in the frame with Kenny Gonzalez scoring on a throwing error after doubling off the left-field wall.
Neither starter, NBP’s Parker Foss and Pace’s Victor Mederos, lasted more than three innings Tuesday.
The two teams met the first week of the season with North Broward winning 12-8 on Feb. 21.
The Eagles reached Tuesday’s regional final by first winning the District 14-5A tournament as the district’s No. 3 seed, topping Cardinal Gibbons and Pompano Beach. They then won regional contests against LaBelle and Fort Pierce Lincoln Park.