Entering the Class 4A state semifinals, North Broward Prep’s past four wins were one-run games. In Monday’s semifinal contest, the Eagles came back from an early five-run deficit to win in extra innings.
So when North Broward Prep fell behind early in Tuesday’s state title game against Citra North Marion, the Eagles were prepared. They rallied and scored seven unanswered runs to win the program’s first state title, 8-4.
“We were about to change our name from North Broward Prep to Nail Biter Prep,” catcher Dylan Runsdorf said. “It was so awesome, and with this group of guys, it’s just something that we were able to do. We almost got accustomed to it, and I’m so glad we did get accustomed to it because when we fell in these situations where we’re down or it’s a close game … I knew we were going to win the game.”
The Eagles struggled early in the game. Sophomore starter Jacob Gomberg had trouble locating his pitches, walking four batters in the first inning. North Marion capitalized and scored two runs in the first inning and two more in the third.
Coach Brian Campbell put freshman Riley Luft into the game to try to stem the damage, and Luft stepped up. He pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings, giving up only one hit and one walk while striking out five.
“No doubt in my mind; when he came in, I knew it was game,” Runsdorf said. “I knew we were going to come back. We came back by five last night, so four was nothing. He came in, and he’s a special player. He’s going to go a long way. He’s going to go to a really good school, and I knew we had it when he came in.”
The Eagles started chipping away at the deficit. Runsdorf drove in North Broward Prep’s first run with a groundout after Gian De Castro tripled in the second inning. They added two more runs in the third inning on a single by Ty Richman and an error.
North Broward Prep broke through for good in the fifth inning. Junior Yoel Tejada Jr. led off the inning with a hard-hit double, senior Josh Steidl walked and Richman singled, loading the bases with no outs. De Castro singled to tie the game, and Luft drew a bases-loaded walk to give the Eagles a lead. Runsdorf broke the game open with a two-run error that got past the North Marion third baseman, and North Broward Prep added one last run with heads-up baserunning before the inning ended.
“They’ve been battle-tested,” Campbell said. “No matter the situation, if it’s a one-run game or not— they believe they can win. I think being in those situations before, it doesn’t faze them at that point. It’s nothing to them.”
Tejada, who was 3 for 3 on Tuesday, is one of several key players returning players next season, and he has confidence in his team’s ability to win the program’s second title next year.
“I really like our team,” Tejada said. “We’re losing like five or six seniors, but we’re a really good team. Our energy is still there. We play as a team. We have really good chemistry, and I have a lot of confidence for next year.”
