Bulldogs 2022 Baseball Season Comes to a Close

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Colton Bueter

Bulldog baseball players (l to r) Dylan Khan, Wade Edema, Lucas Scineca, David Mayorga, Tyler Ochs, and Luke Valenchis. pose for a goofy photo op during Senior Night 2022. All of the players, except for Ochs and Scineca, have played for the team since their freshman year.

Alison Smith, Editor

Last year, SBHS Baseball dominated their season by winning the district playoffs. This year, they weren’t so lucky, on date South Broward Bulldogs lost the district playoff game against Mater Academy Charter’s lions 8-4.  The Bulldogs went into the playoff game with three home games under their belt. On Tuesday, April 26th, the Bulldogs handedly beat Coral Springs with a score of 5-3 in their final home game of the season. It was the third home game win in a row for the Bulldogs. Previously they beat Coconut Creek 15-1 and Hollywood Hills 13-0. During the game against the Cougars, the guest team didn’t stand a chance against the Bulldogs’ solid offense and defense throughout the game.  

During the game against the Cougars, the guest team didn’t stand a chance against the Bulldogs’ solid offense and defense throughout the game. The Bulldog pitching lineup racked up a total of 14 strikeouts, eight of them came off the fiery arm of starting pitcher Quinn Kustin. 

“I was full of energy,” said pitcher Kustin.” I could feel my teammates cheering me on.” 

SBHS catcher Ryan Vasquez set one over the fence in left field, his third this season, and the only one of the Coconut Creek game. He said he felt “amazing” afterward and had no doubt they would win.  

Yeah, I think we have this in the bag right now,” said Ryan.

On Monday 18th, the week after, had been senior night, when they had played Hollywood hills. David Mayorga, who was the starting pitcher, “pitched really well” according to his fellow senior teammates. 

 “The emotions that night were, ‘let’s mess this team up,’” said David Mayorga.  

All of the seniors said they were sad to part with the team that had grown to become family to them. And some broke boundaries of their own. Senior Luke Valenchis hit one of the best hits 

 since his freshman year. 

“That was the first time I hit a triple in high school baseball,” said Valenchis. 

Senior’s names were announced as they walked through an arch of baseball bats held up by their underclassmen. Seniors flanked with significant women in their life, whether it be their grandmothers, mothers, or girlfriend. 

“It was good, a lot of anxiety,” said Dylan Khan. 

Over the past three years, the baseball team seniors had seen senior nights come and go, but once they experienced it for themselves, it was a whole new ballgame. 

“You know, it’s weird, because you see Senior night all the time. But once you’re in it, it’s different,” said pitcher and third baseman David Mayorga. 

While the team didn’t win district playoffs this year, they still have the upcoming baseball season of 2024 to climb the ranks once again and be number one.