RIVIERA BEACH — Suncoast pitcher Brady Benevides thrives in the spotlight but he also shares the stage with a talented supporting cast.

Tossing yet another five shutout innings in what would end up a 2-1 victory over Boca Raton, Benevides continues to build a case for top pitcher recognition in Palm Beach County.

But while the junior hurler is a central cog in the Suncoast machine, the other moving parts are quietly — and effectively — getting the job done.

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“I really credit my success to everybody else,” Benevides said. “Being able to trust our guys behind me, it really allows me to pitch with confidence and not pitch scared at all. I love being able to control the game, so it’s a great combination when you have guys behind you that you can trust.”

While Benevides scattered four hits across five innings in his sixth win of the season, it certainly didn’t hurt to watch his infield turn two double plays in the first four innings or see his catcher nail a runner attempting to steal second base in the fifth.

“We’re definitely a fundamental team,” shortstop Lee Ellis said. “When we have a pitcher on the mound that can get ground balls that we can turn into outs, it’s just beneficial. We definitely don’t make too many errors. If they put it on the ground, we’re going to make the play.”

The relationship between Benevides and his defense starts as any would expect: between pitcher and catcher.

And that’s a friendship that goes back quite a bit. How fitting, indeed, that they should share a first name.

“I’ve played with him since I was 11, 12, somewhere around there,” Benevides said. “We’ve always been really good friends, even before high school. I’ve thrown bullpens to him since I was 13. And I feel like I always trust him when I’m out there, and I know he’s going to throw guys out for me.”

That catcher, Brady King, also pitches and sees time at third base — so he knows what it takes to put together an effective defense.

“I think we just make plays when they need to be made,” King said. “We have a really great pitching staff and they just know how to get outs. Our infield knows how to work. We don’t make many errors. And it’s a matter of trust.”

As King said, the Chargers don’t make many errors in the field — eight different players have a perfect fielding percentage.

And that, just as much as timely hitting and stud pitching, has become part of Suncoast baseball’s identity every time they take the field.

“There’s three facets of the game,” head coach Jimmy Beno said. “Defense, offense, pitching. And I think we pride ourselves this year on defense and pitching. Defensively, it’s a special group. They’ve been playing together for a long time. I put them in as freshmen and they never came out.”

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Suncoast baseball's defensive identity on display in win over Boca