By: Josh Stevens

While fireworks are usually saved for July 4th, July 4th weekend provided plenty of fireworks at Sable Pines Park, as the Palm Beach Diamond Ducks and West Palm Beach Knights split a Doubleheader on Saturday. 

The first game of the Doubleheader, a 4-2 win for the Diamond Ducks, was won in the same way that most of their wins come from, which is a pitcher's duel. 

Darius Robinson (North Carolina AT) got the start for the Diamond Ducks. Robinson had a very strong start, as he started his outing with four hitless innings. However, Robinson ran into trouble in the fifth, as he gave up two runs and left with the bases loaded and nobody out 

Enter reliever Kaden Peterson (American International). Peterson stranded all three runners in the bases loaded no outs situation to keep the Diamond Ducks lead at two. He wasn’t done there, as Peterson went two more hitless innings in order to lock down the save, striking out four in the process.

“I came in a big spot, but was just looking to get ahead in the count” quoted Peterson. “I was able to do that with my fastball and then finish the at-bats with my offspeed. “

While runs were hard to come by, the Diamond Ducks were led by outfielder Connor Massimini (East Texas Baptist). Massimini reached base on all three at-bats in Game One, going 2-2 with an RBI single to give the Diamond Ducks a lead that they wouldn’t relinquish. 

“I got a lot of offspeed pitches early, and was able to get ahead in the count in my at-bats” exclaimed Massimini. “That allowed me to get a lot of fastballs which I was able to get hits on.”

While the Knights got a solid start from Riley Barker (St. Augustine), their offense only got four hits, which gave Barker the loss on the day. 

Game Two, a 9-6 Knights win, had a much different feel than Game One. Right away, the hitters were hot, as five runs were put up in the first inning alone. 

An RBI base hit by Juhlien Gonzalez (Dyersburg State) in the top of the first set the tone for the offensive output that was shown in the second game. From there, both teams were on fire offensively.

The Knights were led by third baseman Nate Selmont (Kent State), who reached base in every single at-bat, including two hits. 

“I’m good friends with our first base coach, so I really wanted to go see him in every at-bat” quoted Selmont. While that’s an unusual method of motivation to get on base, it obviously works for the Knight's third baseman. 

The Diamond Ducks got incredible output from their number two and three hitters in the lineup, as Anthony Labita (Pace) and Dean ONeill (Maine) combined for five hits and three RBIs. However, production was lacking from the rest of the Ducks, as the other guys in the lineup only managed one hit. 

While the pitching wasn’t up to either team’s standards in Game Two, the track record for each team suggests that each pitcher will be back with a better outing in the near future. 

The Double Header split puts the West Palm Beach Knights at 6-12 on the season. While there is still more than enough time to make up ground in a jumbled South Division, the Knights know that they have to have more offensive performances as they did in Game Two. 

“I really liked how our guys made key adjustments at the plate in the second game,” said Knights head coach Sam Martin. “We weren’t looking to elevate and celebrate as much, and instead were working the count and hitting line drives all over the field.”

After Saturday, the Palm Beach Diamond Ducks sit at 11-10, as they’ve been hovering around .500 all year. Their focus on pitching and defense will make them a dangerous team down the stretch and into the playoffs.

“We made a lot of big pitches and plays in the first game that we weren’t able to do in the second game,” said Diamond Ducks coach Tal Erel. “That was the key difference. “

Saturday’s double header was one of the first double headers that wasn’t shortened by rain, and it gave us two very competitive games that should be indicative of the games seen down the stretch of the SFCBL season.