Ferguson Defeats Hialeah Gardens In Game Of The Week

Things got off to a rocky start for the Ferguson Falcons on Friday afternoon. After winning the first two games in a tough, three game week, the Falcons were forced to scramble to get ready for their HSBN Miami Game of the Week against Hialeah Gardens on Friday afternoon.

The team bus was late, and the Falcons arrived, had to get loose, and then rush into a game that started late. Ferguson, however, like they had done in their two previous games this week, started fast, and finished out their perfect week with an 11-1 win over the young Gladiators.

“I was hoping for us to come out with the same intensity and focus we’ve had all week,” said Falcons Manager Angel Herrera. “We’ve had a pretty long week…but the boys were able to come out and do that, and Jose set the tone for us.”

The Jose Herrera was referring to was starting pitcher Jose Zucaro. The Ferguson senior came into the game having thrown only seven innings all year, but was able to throw five strong on Friday, giving up only two hits, while striking out five.

“I was just trying to attack the zone, start off with first pitch strikes,” said Zucaro. “Trying to let them hit the ball. I trust my defense behind me.”

While Zucaro was handling his task on the mound, the offense continued to put up crooked numbers all day long. The Falcons jumped on top with a run in the first, and then broke the game open in the third and fourth, when they scored three and two, respectively.

The game stayed at 6-0 into the sixth when the teams exchanged runs. In the seventh, the Falcons tacked on four runs in the seventh to ensure there would be no comeback on this day.

Angel Aguilar was a spark plug at the top of the order for the Falcons, going 1-for-3, with three runs, three RBIs, and two walks. Carlos Rodriguez had two hits and two RBIs, and Jose Hernandez added a hit and three RBIs.

The offense followed a pattern that has become all too familiar to Herrera.

“What I saw today has kind of been the theme the past three or four games of us just getting better every day,” said Herrera. “The guys are very coachable, and they listen and take what we are teaching them. So it’s really been a joy to watch them start to have some success.”

On the other side of the field, Manager Carlos Garcia spoke before the game about the youth on his team, and he knows this is going to be a growing process.

The Gladiators will have to recover quickly from this one, as they host district rival Dr. Krop on Tuesday.

Ferguson is staring at a big district showdown with Southwest this week, before moving on to play in the HSBN March Madness spring break tournament the following week.

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