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Champions Again: Marjory Stoneman Douglas Baseball Wins 2nd State Championship in 6 Years

by Matt Rothman May 22, 2021

by Matt Rothman May 22, 2021 35 views

2021 State Champions, Marjory Stoneman Douglas Baseball {MSD Athletics}

By: Matt Rothman.

For the second time in six years, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas baseball team won the State Championship following their win over Spruce Creek High School Saturday afternoon in Fort Myers.

The Eagles last won in 2016, when they defeated Christoper Columbus High School. This year, MSD had the chance to play Columbus in the State Semifinals, winning 3-2 after success in the District and Regional Championship.

This was the 28th win for the Eagles this season — the most in school history.

On the mound was Christian Arroyo, who pitched one of his best games with MSD. Not only did he throw 5.2 innings allowing one run, but he also drove in the team’s first run of the game with a sacrifice fly.

Arroyo then drove in the game-winning run with a single to score Jake Clemente in the sixth. The Eagles then added three huge insurance runs as Rolando Lujo knocked in a run. Right after, Arroyo came around to score on a passed ball, and then Niko Benestad drove in another run to make it 5-1.

Sam Beir ended up the winning pitcher as he recorded an out in the sixth and then three more in the seventh to close the game.

‘22 Sammy Beir gets it done on back to back days as he closes the door with a strikeout to give @SDEagleBaseball the FHSAA 7A State Championship! #PGHS pic.twitter.com/ByAFIESwtm
— Perfect Game Florida (@Florida_PG) May 22, 2021

Saturday’s game was also the final one for several seniors in Rolando Lujo, Conticello, Von Smeltzer, Aiden Williams, Chris McKenna, Tyler Novik, Connor Hagen, Aiden Minott, and Kyle Morse as they are going out as State Champions.

Still, the Eagles will return a talented group of players to their team in 2022. MSD has their top four pitchers set to come back as well as six of their nine starting position players.

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Author Profile

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.