North Broward Prep’s Tejeda Jr. wins pitchers’ duel to reach final
North Broward Prep punched its ticket to state by hitting a staggering 11 home runs in one game.
A week later, the Eagles found themselves locked in a pitcher’s duel against West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman in a Class 3A state semifinal at Hammond Stadium.
The powerful right arm of senior Yoel Tejeda Jr. and a clutch save by Jonathon Xuereb helped North Broward Prep secure a 1-0 victory on Tuesday afternoon.
It’s that balance of pitching and defense coupled with timely hitting that has the Eagles on the verge of securing back-to-back state championships.
A year after winning the school’s first title, the Eagles (22-9) will try to secure the repeat when they take on Tampa
Berkeley Prep on Wednesday at 1 p.m. in the 3A final.
“I’m really proud of the way we played defense today, and there’s no doubt we won because of pitching and defense,” said North Broward Prep coach Brian Campbell, who has led the Eagles to all four of their appearances at the state final four beginning in 2011. “I would think being here before would give us an advantage, but at the end of the day it’s a baseball game and you have to make pitches and make plays, and that’s why we won.”
Tejeda Jr., a University of Florida signee, struck out eight, walked four and allowed two hits over 6 ⅔ innings and outdueled a potential future college rival in Newman starter Drake Flowers, who is a Florida State signee.
“I knew this was my last start and I was going to give it everything I
have,” Tejeda Jr. said. “I knew it was a good team and I knew a lot of their
hitters, so I came out aggressive and ready to beat them.”
Flowers struck out six and walked none and had the Eagles blanked through six innings until an error led to North Broward Prep’s lone run. Tejeda Jr. reached and advanced to second on a dropped fly ball in short left field. Two batters later, Riley Luft singled to left field, allowing Tejeda Jr. to score.
“I swung at the first pitch so I was expecting some offspeed. I just waited and put the bat on it,” Luft said.
Tejeda Jr. came close to finishing the game with some help from his defense. After allowing a leadoff single to Newman first baseman Jack Bello, Tejeda Jr. struck out Flowers. Newman center fielder Nick Groover then grounded sharply to first and first baseman Nick Kroose threw out Bello at third for the second out.
The game nearly ended when Groover was almost retired on a forceout after designated hitter Santi Gutierrez hit a grounder behind second. But Groover beat the throw to the bag.
With Tejeda Jr. at 105 pitches, Campbell turned to Xuereb to get the final out.
A week earlier, Xuereb led North Broward Prep’s barrage in the regional final win over Westminster Christian, hitting three home runs.
On Wednesday, Xuereb’s first three pitches missed the zone. But at 3-0 to Newman third baseman Louis Paolillo, Xuereb rallied to work the count full and induced a grounder to third to end the game.
“Yoel did a great job, but I trust Jonathan to come in and get the job done,” Campbell said.
Added Xuereb: “Before that inning, he told me to get ready and that’s what I did. Even after 3-0 [count], I settled in and threw strikes.”