Monarch High School Baseball. {Jake Stephens}
By: Matt Rothman
Monarch High School started its season in dominant fashion, with the baseball and softball teams picking up wins.
The softball team slugged its way to a big win in their first two games, outscoring their opponents 40-0. The Knights hit three home runs during their 22-0 win against Coral Springs High School. Mia Macaione went deep twice and knocked in eight runs, while Sara Connor hit one and knocked in five. Faith Linderman also homered and drove in two. Gabriela Pearson and Krystal Knight also knocked in runs, with Macaione and Elena Ramirez pitching three scoreless innings and striking out seven.
Monarch then won 18-0 against Piper, with Connor driving in five runs. Linderman knocked in four, while Ramirez had two RBIs. Emily Phipps, Krystal Knight, and Savanah Curtis all drove in runs. Macaione and Ramirez combined for a three-inning no-hitter, striking out seven.
The baseball team won 18-1 against Piper, with Alejandro Cruanas hitting a home run and driving in three RBIs. Jael Hernandez also knocked in three, with Adriel Gonzalez, Diego Rojas, and Kyle Jensen playing two, with Dominic Guzman, Jacob Tullier, and Jerome Shepherd having one.
Anthony Mercado recorded the win, pitching two innings, while Juan Londano and Danny Ophime came in relief, with all three pitchers striking out three.
Hernandez also announced his commitment to St. Leo University in Florida. He credits his parents and coaches for helping him get to this point. Hernandez has played on the varsity baseball team for two years and is coming off a season where he knocked in seven runs while the team went 13-9-1 before falling to Marjory Stoneman Douglas in the postseason.
Monarch is set to play St. Thomas Aquinas High School in their next game on Friday, February 23, at 6:30 p.m. before a rematch against Marjory Stoneman Douglas on Monday, February 26, at 6:30 p.m.
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