By: Matt Rothman
Nearly 11 months after winning their second State Championship in five years, Marjory Stoneman Douglas baseball won the National High School Invitational on Saturday.
Held in Cary, North Carolina, home of USA Baseball, the tournament was invite only and brought together 16 of the top High Schools team in the county. MSD not only won all four games but outscored their opponents 43-4, defeating D.H. Conley (North Carolina), Yucaipa (California), Orange Lutheran (California), and St. John County Day School (Florida).
“It was great to be able to play against the top teams in the country and perform the way we did,” said Head Coach Todd Fitz-Gerald. “It says a lot about our kids and shows their resiliency.”
The Eagles had a University of Florida commit, making the start in all four games. Christian Rodriguez, Chris Arroyo, Jake Clemente, and Jacob Gomberg started and pitched 16.2 innings, allowing only four runs and striking out 18. Eduardo Fuentes and Brandon White pitched in relief and did not allow a run, while Arroyo came back on Saturday to record the final four outs in the Championship Game.
Offensively, MSD scored 43 runs in the four games, with Arroyo leading the way with nine runs batted in. Rylan Lujo and Grant McDonald had six, while Clemente, Anthony, Rodriguez, Cameron Harris, Niko Benestad, and Maddox Raley recorded 21 RBIs.
With Arroyo’s performance on the mound and at the plate, he was named Most Valuable Player. Anthony and Rodriguez were also selected to the All-Tournament Team.
“It is just amazing what our family can do with our offense and staff,” Arroyo said. “Impressive to watch. [I] Could not be happier for my teammates and coaches. We are still chasing a ring, though.”
MSD improved its record to 16-2 and returns to Parkland on Wednesday, April 13, in a game against Archbishop McCarthy High School at 6:30 p.m.
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