While it is still early in the season, the trajectory of the two divisions of the SFCBL are already beginning to shape, and it is becoming clear that they are taking two different paths.

In the South division, the past two SFCBL champions (the Lightning and Blazers) are already looking like they are in top form, with each team at just one loss as of Friday afternoon. 

However, the North division is different, with all four teams within striking distance of each other. Friday’s intra-division doubleheader between the Palm Beach Diamond Ducks and the West Boca Snappers looked to solidify one team at the top of the standings in the North.

While some games in the SFCBL can get out of hand quickly, both games on Friday were close, hard-fought battles at Sable Pines Park.

Game One of the doubleheader provided a close, one-run win for the Snappers, with each manager going to their dominant bullpen early to shut the door on the opposition. 

Lefty Adrian Quinonez (American International) got the start for the Diamond Ducks. After working through a clean first inning, walks and smart base running by the Snappers would knot the game at two, as the Snappers recorded both runs without getting a hit. 

However, the Diamond Ducks showed their resilience by tacking on a run in the third via a majestic home run by third baseman Anthony Labita (Pace). “My timing was off in my first at bat, so I was looking to get ready early the next at bat” said Labita of his homer. “I got a curveball down and knew he was going to throw a high fastball on the next pitch, and I was able to put a good swing on it.”

The scoring did not stop here, as the Snappers were able to scrape both the tying and go-ahead run in the fourth inning. While they didn’t have a ball hit like Labita’s, they again capitalized on smart base running and suspect defense by the Diamond Ducks, with two passed balls in the inning leading to runs. 

However, both relievers were dominant out of the bullpen. Gavin Kinsworthy (Fontbonne University) worked three scoreless innings in the losing effort for the Diamond Ducks, striking out six along the way.

However, the standout performance of the first game was by Snappers closer Andre Greene. The senior out of Arkansas Pine Bluff shut down any chance of a comeback by the Diamond Ducks, as he worked three hitless (and scoreless) innings while striking out six. 

“I always try to work down in the zone and get ahead early in the count”, Greene exclaimed about his save. “I was able to do both today and then finish the job with my offspeed.”

Greene’s save locked down game one for the Snappers, but the action was nowhere near finished at Sable Pines Park.

The second game between these two teams ended after five innings due to inclement weather, but not before the Diamond Ducks were able to race out to a lead. 

The third inning was the big inning for the Diamond Ducks. With two outs in the inning, two runs came in after a sharply hit ground ball by shortstop Rolando Lujo (Erskine) led to an error. This would prove to be extremely costly, as center fielder Josh Miller (Pace) laced a line drive into the center on the very next pitch, chasing in two more runs and giving the Diamond Ducks a commanding 5-0 lead. 

“It was a big moment, so I went up there wanting to jump on a fastball” exclaimed Miller. “Thankfully, I was able to get a fastball and put a good swing on it.”

Miller also showed his two-way skills earlier in the game, as he made an incredible diving catch in center field that saved multiple runs from scoring.

The five-run lead would be more than enough for Ducks starter Michael Fortes (Dayton). Fortes worked through four scoreless innings before putting the first two guys on in the fifth inning.  

Fortes would have been given an opportunity to get out of the inning, but lightning in the area led to an hour long rain delay at Sable Pines Park. 

This marked the end of the day for Fortes, as Anthony Apollaro (Pace) entered after the rain delay. Apollaro was greeted with a two-run double by University of Chicago’s Brian Cordero, but got through the rest of the inning unscathed. 

After a scoreless bottom of the fifth, the rain and lightning had picked up again, causing both coaches to agree to call the game, giving the Diamond Ducks a 5-2 win in game 2. 

This double-header puts the Diamond Ducks at 3-4, where they are still in the middle of the North Division. “I liked our pitching in both games today,” said manager Tal Erel. “The difference between game one and game two is that our defense was sound in the second game, as it cost us a win in our first game.”

Meanwhile, the West Boca Snappers sit at 3-3 after Friday, which also places them in the middle of the North Division. “It sucks to have our game rained out and stop our momentum, but I’m happy with the result of our two games” quoted Snappers manager Ryan Lamb. “We had timely hitting in both games, but our defense let us down in game two.”

After an exciting day of baseball on Friday, the North division is still as muddled as it was the day before. Both the Snappers and Diamond Ducks have a good chance as anyone of coming out victorious in that division.