Battle of State Champions Face-Off In Early Season Matchup: College Stars Shine

by Matt Rothman February 19, 2025

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Battle of State Champions Face-Off In Early Season Matchup: College Stars Shine 1

Michael Ossenfort. {954 Preps}

Tuesday night produced a game between two of the top baseball teams in the country with Marjory Stoneman Douglas and North Broward Prep.

The game featured a pair of teams that have combined to win seven State Championships in the last four years. Along with the MSD players from Parkland, NBP had its own set of local kids, but it was a victory for Todd Fitz-Gerald’s club.

The Eagles, coming off only their first loss of the season against North Classical Academy, recorded a 6-2 win. MSD had their ace on the mound, Gio Rojas, and he shined, with 11 of his 12 outs coming by strikeout.

Michael Ossenfort, whose brother Matt Ossenfort had a historic season for the Eagles in 2022, played collegiate with Vanderbilt and now NC State, drove in five runs for MSD after Bennett Gary knocked in a run in the first inning.

“We are glad to have him back in the lineup against a very good NBP team,” Fitz Gerald said. “Always fun to play this game against a very good friend in Brian Campbell.”

Breylynn Courtney pitched in relief for MSD and tossed three scoreless innings. Parkland’s own Jack Rostock also pitched for NBP after Logan Bristol made the start, while Josiah Harlem knocked in two as NBP fell to 3-1 this year.

MSD is 2-1 this year and will play Western High School in their next game on Thursday, February 20, at 6 p.m. The Wildcats come into the game with a 4-0 record after winning 19 games last year and reaching Regionals. NBP will travel to Cardinal Newman High School for their next game on Thursday, February 20, at 6:30 p.m. The Crusaders tied their first game but have won their last three games.

The Eagles also had former players Matt Ossenfort, Dillon Moquin, and Chris Arroyo, each of whom hit home runs in college, with Arroyo homering in his hometown of Puerto Rico. Jake Clemente pitched for the Florida Gators in their second game and earned the win with six strong innings, setting a career-high in strikeouts with eight, while Rylan Lujo and Sanitgao Ordonez had hits for their new team. Alex Rodriguez made his college debut for the University of Central Florida.

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Matt Rothman

Matt Rothman is a 2018 graduate from Florida Gulf Coast University receiving his bachelor’s degree in journalism and then graduated from the University of Florida as a graduate student. He also works for the Mohave Valley Daily News in Bullhead City, Arizona covering high school sports.