Charles W. Flanagan High School Baseball

The much anticipated district showdown between Flanagan and West Broward lived up to expectations, as it took a total team effort on offense from the boys in green to defeat the resilient Bobcats, 15-11, on the road Thursday afternoon.  The Falcons move to 10-1 on the season, winning their 8th in a row, while clinching the #1 seed in next month's 6A-District 12 tournament, with a perfect 5-0 district record.  For the third game in a row, the Falcons put up double digits in hits and runs, this time in support of starter Justin Machado ( 4 IP, 4 R, 0 ER, 3 H, 4 BB, 4 K), who improved to 6-0 on the season.  Additionally, for the second consecutive game, every Falcons starter had at least one hit, and six of them drove in at least one run.

Flanagan set the tone in the top of first inning, sending 10 men to the plate and coming away with a 6-0 lead, which they would extend to 7-0 by the end of two complete.   The Bobcats would get on the scoreboard with two runs in the 3rd inning to make it 7-2, and then plate two more in their half of the 5th, to cut the Flanagan lead to 8-4.  In the final two frames,  the two ballclubs traded offensive blows, with each team scoring three in the 6th and four in the 7th, to close it out at 15-11.

The Falcons hit parade was led by junior firstbaseman Mike Melendez, who finished the afternoon 3 for 5 with 3 RBI.  At the top of the Flanagan lineup, seniors Geoff Jimenez and Collin Martindale went 2-4 with a double and a stolen base, scoring 3 runs each in the process.  Pichi Torres (2-3, R, BB, HBP) and Corey Janson (2-3, 2 RBI, 2 BB) reached base safely on five occasions, and junior SS Ricky Santiago belted a two-run jack in the 6th inning, for his team leading 3rd home run and 18th RBI of the season.  Junior Matt Beauchemin also contributed, recording his first Varsity hit with a late inning, pinch hit single.

The boys in green now take their show on the road for four games during Spring Break at the Hofball National Classic in Orlando, opening up against the Seacrest Country Day Stingrays from Naples on Monday, 3/29, at 1pm.