In their first regular season game, the West Boca Bulls beat Palm Beach Gardens 19-2 on Tuesday night.
It was nothing but a blowout on opening night. After going down 1-0 in the top of the first inning, West Boca went on to score 14 consecutive runs, including seven runs in the bottom of the first. Simply put, the deficit was way too big for Palm Beach Gardens as they managed to score only one more run the rest of the game.
The Bulls had eight total hits, but two stood out. In the third inning, Tyler Lichtenberger (committed to Appalachian State) and Matthew Pagan (committed to Santa Fe College) hit back-to-back home runs down the right field line. Lichtenberger’s home run was a grand slam, the first of his career. Last season, West Boca only had two total home runs, and zero were hit to right field. Already in game #1, the Bulls have hit two home runs, and they were both hit to right field.
“After getting out twice in one inning, it was tough,” Pagan said postgame. “After seeing him (Lichtenberger) get one out, I knew I had to match it or else I am looking shameful. So, that is what I did. I got a nice swing off… and just let it ride.”
Starting pitcher Daniel Norbeck pitched a complete game, pitching four innings (due to a mercy rule) with three strikeouts while allowing only two runs and three hits.
No one on West Boca had a multi-hit game but five players recorded two walks: Parks Fucci, Lichtenberger, Chicho Goldstein, Max McDougall, and Joshua Schainuck. Palm Beach Gardens ought to figure out their pitch selection and control as the Gators walked 14 batters.
Fucci went 1-for-1 with three RBIs and a stolen base in his West Boca debut (after transferring from Boca High). The senior, who is committed to Palm Beach State College, led Palm Beach County and was fourth in the state of Florida in stolen bases last year with 36 stolen bases.
Next Up
The Bulls will play the U School at Nova Southeastern on the road on Thursday night. FAU commit James Litman is scheduled to start on the bump for West Boca. NSU has yet to play this season but they are coming off of an 18-9-1 season where they lost to Calvary Christian in the district championship.
To keep the momentum, Lichtenberger said that “we got to stay within our approach. It is all about approach. If we stay within our approach we are going to win every game we play.”
