South Dade Wins 1-0 Pitchers’ Duel Over Southridge

“Tonight was his coming out party.” Those were the words South Dade Manager Fred Burnside used to describe the performance he had just witnessed from his ace, Adam Roush. The senior dazzled for much of the night, mixing pitches, fielding his position, and surviving a gut-check seventh inning to lead the Buccaneers to a 1-0 district win over rival Southridge.

“Adam Roush is one of the fiercest competitors I’ve ever had,” said Burnside. “He’s always around the plate. He has command of three pitches. Tonight, he threw some great change-ups and hit his spots. He wanted this game tonight, and there was no way I was taking him out there at the end.”

Roush was in complete control for most of the evening, striking out 11 Spartans. In the seventh, Burnside admitted to second-guessing himself for leaving Roush in after a high pitch count performance through six. The Spartans had their only big threat of the evening in the final frame. With one out, Josten Heron reached on an error. After Roush recorded the second out, he worked into a jam, walking Alex Aguila and hitting Jerrick Campbell.

Suddenly, a game that Roush had been in control of seemed like it was coming undone, but the senior saved his best for last, striking out the final Spartans batter to preserve the 1-0 shutout.

“Right from the second inning on I felt like I had command of my pitches,” said Roush. “I felt like if I wanted the ball in a certain place, it was going there. Everything was working, fastball, curve, change-up, I was using them all in whatever count. I felt good out there. Coach left me out there in the seventh, and I just had to dig down and find a way to get that last out. This was a big win for us starting district play.”

The game may have gone long into the night had it not been for another Buccaneer. Center-fielder Jaden Garcia came up in the fifth inning of a scoreless game and worked the count to 3-1, before delivering the lone RBI of the game on a single to right field. Angel Zabata, who had started the inning by reaching on an error, came around to score on the base hit.

Garcia’s hit spoiled what was a dominant performance by Southridge starter Dayron Moreno, who had matched Roush pitch for pitch into the fifth. Moreno, like Roush threw a complete game, giving up only the run provided by Garcia’s single.

“I was just looking for a pitch away to hit to right field,” said Garcia of his game-winning RBI. “He had been pitching me outside, and I had a feeling that was where he was going with that 3-1 pitch. Luckily it was where I was looking, and I was able to drive it to right field.”

These two teams have grown accustomed to playing tight games. The two managers, who are close friends, would have it no other way.

“Eddie is one of my best friends, but when we get between the lines it’s all business,” said Burnside. “I always say, other than winning the World Series, there’s no better feeling than beating Southridge.”

Of course, Burnside was speaking tongue-in-cheek, without real anymosity for a place where he won many a game himself as a coach. On the other side of the field, Doskow was left to ponder how to stop his teams early season trend of leaving runners on base in scoring position.

“Witchraft, maybe a little voodoo,” said a chuckling Doskow. “No, but seriously that’s definitely something we have to work on moving forward, situational hitting with men on base. Tonight, it was just a great pitcher’s duel. The fans that paid their money tonight saw a great high school pitchers’ duel, no doubt about it. Both guys threw the ball great.”

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