Laos Books

ROYAL PALM BEACH While Wednesday’s 15-2, six-inning win over Royal Palm Beach is encouraging, Palm Beach Central knows it will face tougher tests in the upcoming District 9-6A playoffs. It’s a bracket stacked with aces, and since the Broncos are missing theirs, they need their offense more than ever.

“Earlier in the year, we weren’t giving our pitchers a lot of support,” Palm Beach Central coach Scott Benedict said. “That’s more important than ever now.”

Aside from ace lefty and designated hitter Bobby Poyner, who will have shoulder surgery today in Ft. Lauderdale, the Broncos (16-7) were without starting catcher Hunter Morey (illness) and third baseman Ian Hagenmiller, serving a two-game suspension after he was ejected from last week’s win over Seminole Ridge.

No matter. Second baseman Joey Stark (3-for-5, 5 RBI) drove in runs in four plate appearances, and left fielder John Magner (2-5, 4 RBI) hit a three-run homer in the sixth that put the mercy rule in effect.

A seven-run third inning put the Broncos ahead 10-0, but Royal Palm (9-12) scored two runs without a hit in the bottom of the fifth. Two walks, a balk, a sac fly and a run-scoring error extended the game before Central scored five in the sixth and shut the door.

Royal Palm sophomore Jordan Lauginiger (2 IP, 6 ER) and freshman lefty Jackson Scofield (3 1/3, 9 ER, 6 K) were hit hard.

“Our young pitchers didn’t make the pitches they needed to make, and they made us pay every time we missed,” Royal Palm coach Brian Joros said.

Broncos right-hander Mitch Blakeney (4-2) went three hitless innings before lefty Lance Stiles pitched the final three frames, allowing one hit and two runs. Wildcats left fielder Christian Benhart singled in the bottom of the sixth for his team’s only hit.