Baseball: Dwyer’s Max Abrams overcomes slump to stump Benjamin
PALM BEACH GARDENS — The bragging rights in the battle of the backyard remain with Dwyer baseball.
The Panthers made the short trek from their diamond and across Central Boulevard to neighboring Benjamin for a 7-2 defeat of the Buccaneers (10-5).
Was it last year’s walk-off thriller? Not quite. But it was an exciting statement win for last spring’s returning region runners-up, and a good sign that this could be the year that Dwyer (11-4) bridges the gap to the final four of Class 6A.
“It’s always fun to play Benjamin. They’re like our little rival,” Dwyer senior Kody Morgan said on Tuesday.
The starting pitcher’s only complaint was having to stare straight into the afternoon sun for a couple of hours.
Morgan manned the mound for four innings, allowing four hits, one run, and three walks with two strikeouts, supported by a stellar defense and bats that racked up 12 hits.
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“My change-up was working and I was throwing it everywhere I could and it was getting me outs,” Morgan said. A fastball topping out at 92 mph helped the USF signee, too.
“He’s a dog on the mound. Everyone knows it. He did really good,” junior catcher Max Abrams said.
Panthers catcher overcomes slump to seal the win
Abrams proved to be the game-changer on offense with three RBIs on two hits, including a two-run double to bring home Dawson Thrush and Colin Haggerty for the first runs of the game in the top of the second inning.
Senior center fielder and Ole Miss commit Jackson Miller added one run on a team-best three hits and two RBIs, sure to show off in front of the Benjamin dugout he roamed as a Buc last spring before transferring in the offseason.
Everyone was proud to see him come out of a hitting slump at a clutch time. Abrams received the first shoutout and round of applause of many from Miller, Morgan, more teammates and coaches in Dwyer’s postgame meeting.
“He just wasn’t hitting that great, but now he is and it’s awesome,” Morgan said.
“I was starting slow off the season so to get those definitely boosted my confidence. It was good to get on the board first,” Abrams said.
Boca Raton on deck for Dwyer
Dwyer hopes to keep the streak alive against Boca Raton on Thursday.
“This win is great because we know they’re a good team and they have a great record,” Morgan said of the 11-4 Bobcats.
“But so does this team [Benjamin], and we just smoked them, so we’re feeling very confident."
Emilee Smarr is a sports reporter for The Palm Beach Post. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Baseball: Dwyer’s Max Abrams overcomes slump to stump Benjamin
