Bucs Fall to Palmetto

South Dade baseball finishes first-year under Coach Rene Ruiz, with their third consecutive district title.

An electric crowd showed up, but the on-field performance later short-circuited. 

The South Dade Senior High Buccaneers fell to the Palmetto Senior High Panthers 8-3 in the regional semifinal. 

Jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning, the Bucs felt good as they were scoring in every inning. It became the last runs they scored this season.

Both student sections became boisterous after the Panthers tied the game up in the top of the fifth, three all.

South Dade called on Pitcher Luis Urguiaga in relief and getting experience in a big moment for his team. The freshman was eventually dealt the loss after giving up three hits, four runs (three earned runs), and a walk.

The five point deficit was too much for the Bucs to climb back from at that point. They only got on base once via a David Garcia pinch-hit double for the rest of the game, striking out three times.

Starting pitcher and senior, Yamil Chavarria finished the night with a no decision after allowing four hits, two earned runs (four runs total), two walks, and no strikeouts.

Sophomore pitcher closed out the night for the Bucs in the seventh, allowing no hits, and striking out two.

Senior Willy Escala got two hits, got a run, and drove in one in for the Bucs.

South Dade Junior Kevin Cardentey went one of four from the plate but finished with an RBI.

Although the Bucs’ Senior Jorge Torres did not register a hit in the game, he did finish with an RBI.

South Dade’s Jonathan Brutti and Hasani Clarit both finished the night with runs as well.

Many wondered how South Dade would carry without long-time head coach Fred Burnside.

Under first-year Head Coach Rene Ruiz, the Buccaneers finish the season 15-13 overall, but finished with their third consecutive district title. The shoes of Burnside’s past look to fit seemingly for Ruiz.

Palmetto will go on to host Coral Gables Senior High School on May 23rd for the 9A Regional Finals for Region 4. The winner of that game will then go to the state semifinal game.