Bulldogs blast Pirates 13-6

The two teams split their series last season.

By Ray Boone
| 11:05 p.m. February 28, 2020

FPC's Tate Underberg walks back to first base against the Pirates. Photo by Ray Boone

FPC's Tate Underberg daps coach Pete Celestino after making it to first base. Photo by Ray Boone

Bulldogs coach Anthony Campanella watches his team compete against Matanzas. Photo by Ray Boone

The Bulldogs' Noah Trawick runs for third base. Photo by Ray Boone

Matanzas' Sean Sparling throws a pitch against FPC. Photo by Ray Boone

FPC's Zachary Wolpert runs for home plate. Photo by Ray Boone

FPC's Zachary Wolpert high fives teammate Matt Arnold (No. 7) at home plate. Photo by Ray Boone

The Pirates meet on the mound during their game against FPC. Photo by Ray Boone

FPC's Brady Araujo throws a pitch against Matanzas. Photo by Ray Boone

Matanzas' Kyle Perry runs for second base. Photo by Ray Boone

A Pirates player slides back into first base. Photo by Ray Boone

A Pirates player prepares to run to third base. Photo by Ray Boone

Matanzas' Sean Sparling swings at a pitch against FPC. Photo by Ray Boone

Matanzas' rounds third base against the Bulldogs. Photo by Ray Boone

The Pirates' dugout celebrates after scoring a run. Photo by Ray Boone

The Bulldogs' Ben Spiller eyes home against Matanzas. Photo by Ray Boone

FPC's Ben Spiller head for home plate against Matanzas. Photo by Ray Boone

The Bulldogs' dugout celebrates after scoring a run. Photo by Ray Boone

Photo by Ray Boone

Palm Coast Observer
Sports

Flagler Palm Coast’s baseball team had periodic struggles at the mound early in their matchup against crosstown rival Matanzas the night of Friday, Feb. 28, at Matanzas High School.

But then Bulldogs’ bats got hot.

After the Bulldogs and Pirates were tied 5-5 after three innings, the Bulldogs scored five runs in the top of the fourth inning and tacked on three more fifth inning.

“It wasn’t our best game,” FPC junior first baseman/pitcher Noah Trawick said. “We found the bats a few times and took advantage of a few of their mistakes.”

After five runs in the opening two frames, the Pirates mustered one run the rest of the game — in the sixth inning. The Bulldogs won 13-6.

“It’s been our mantra for two weeks,” Pirates head coach Jim Perry said. “Self-inflicted wounds.”

For Bulldogs senior infielder/pitcher Joseph Alvarado, it was his first time playing against the Pirates. Alvarado played for Matanzas the past three seasons before transferring to FPC.

“I feel good about this team,” he said. “We’re getting the job done.”

In addition, it was Anthony Campanella’s first matchup against the Pirates in his first season as head coach of the Bulldogs. Campanella previously spent 24 years at Seabreeze.

“It’s a bit of a change, but I’m enjoying the atmosphere,” he said. “I think I’m bringing a lot of good energy to our team. We’re having fun. Winning definitely helps with that.”