Marjory Stoneman Douglas Baseball Advances to Regional Final; Former State Champ Joins The SEC

by Matt Rothman May 10, 2024

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Marjory Stoneman Douglas Baseball Advances to Regional Final; Former State Champ Joins The SEC

Erick Torres and Gavin Gargiulo. {Vale Sandoval}

The Marjory Stoneman Douglas baseball team advanced to the Regional final four for the fourth consecutive year after defeating Boca Raton Community High School on Friday. Additionally, a former player made a commitment.

In a rematch of the District Final, the Eagles, who won 5-1, beat Boca Raton 14-1, highlighted by a five-run first inning after a three-run triple by Bennett Gary. Nick Diaz and Erick Torress also had RBIs in the opening frame.

The Eagles scored nine in the second inning, with Devin Fitz-Gerald and Torres recording triples. Torres drove in three while Fitz-Gerald knocked in two. Rylan Lujo, Niko Benestad, and Gio Rojas also plated runs. Gavin Gargiulo held the Bobcats to one hit in three innings. Breylynn Courtney and Brayden McClsuskey tossed the final two innings.

Next, MSD will play West Broward High School in the final on Monday, May 13, at 7 p.m. The Bobcats are 23-5-1 this year and won a District Championship over Western High School. They then beat J.P Taravella and Christopher Columbus High School in Regionals but lost 12-0 against MSD in the BCAA Championship earlier this season.

Gio Rojas and Gavin Gargiulo. {Vale Sandoval}

MSD graduate and two-time State Champion Chris Arroyo is also committed to the University of Virginia. A 2022 graduate from MSD, Arroyo played his first year of college baseball at the University of Florida before transferring to Pasco Hernando State College.

In high school, Arroyo was a two-way star who hit .328 with eight home runs and 35 RBIs. He was also 19-1 on the mound with an era of .99. While playing with the Gators, Arroyo pitched in seven games out of the bullpen and had one win before hitting the transfer portal.

In his one season at the Junior College level, he was the FCSAA Division II Player of the Year as a designated hitter after hitting .403 with 19 home runs and 52 RBIs. He also won five games as a pitcher with an era of 3.53.

Chris Arroyo. {Jake Stephens}

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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.