Schoolhouse Prep Drops Pitcher’s Duel To Heritage Delray

Joey Abbazia and Brady Snow combined on a one-hit shutout in American Heritage Delray’s 3-0 win over visiting Schoolhouse Prep on Tuesday.

Abbazia went the first six innings, allowing just one hit. The senior righty struck out four and did not walk a batter. He threw 51 strikes in his 75-pitch outing. Snow finished up and recorded the final three outs. He walked one and struck out one.

“Both teams were strong on the mound tonight,” said American Heritage manager Carm Mazza. “Joey was in complete control. Their guys on the mound were tough. They’re a solid team, athletic, well coached.”

Zavier Hatfield walked and later scored on an error in the third inning to break a scoreless tie. He came across the plate again in the fifth when the Stallions put the game out of reach for all intents and purposes, with a pair of runs. Hatfield singled and came around the bases to score on a wild pitch. Aaron Tralongo, who walked, also scored in the inning on a sacrifice fly by Evan Fernandez.

Nico Bellantoni had one of American Heritage’s two hits.

“We just put enough pressure on their D to squeak out some runs,” Mazza said.

Schoolhouse Prep got outstanding pitching as well from a host of hurlers. Hector Noriega started and worked the first two innings for the Wolfpack, allowing just one hit. He walked two and struck out two. Rudy Ramon and Luis Rincon followed with an inning each of no-hit relief. Both recorded one strikeout.

Francisco Pichardo had the lone hit for the Wolfpack, a two-out single in the third inning.

“We tip our caps to their starting pitcher,” said Schoolhouse Prep manager Jorge Aguas. “He held us down to one hit tonight and they found a way to put up three runs on two hits. Against a well-coached team, you can’t make mistakes and we made one and it cost us.

American Heritage (11-10) hosts Dr. Joaquin Garcia at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

Schoolhouse Prep (6-6-1) closes out the regular season with a 6:30 p.m. Thursday game at Highlands Christian.

“For a second-year program and being in a district for the first time, we will be just fine,” Aguas said. “We trust our pitching staff, which has been pretty good this year and getting better. Just need to wake up those bats.”

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