Baseball | 2/13/2020 12:00:00 PM

MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – The Barry Buccaneers, off to the best start in school history, host the Yellow Jackets of American International College in a three-game set at Feinbloom Field this weekend. 

The Bucs (7-0) are ranked 10th in the NCBWA pre-season South Region poll. The Yellow Jackets, picked sixth in the Southwest Division of the Northeast-10, are opening the season.

Barry posted outstanding pitching numbers last weekend. All three starters picked up wins and did not allow an earned run. Frank II Gonzalez was the star, however, going six shutout innings, on two hits and no walks, and striking out six. He was named the SSC Pitcher of the Week. Offensively, Andrew Rapoza was the catalyst from his leadoff slot, batting .600 with a double, two homers and five runs scored. He also drew four walks against no strikeouts for a .714 on-base percentage. Ariel Diaz hit .528 and lead the team with seven hits.

The Yellow Jackets, who finished 19-24 last season and 8-10 in the NE-10, are led by a pair of players who made the NE-10 All-Rookie Team, shortstop Cam DeFeo and left-handed pitcher Jay Chiapetta. Defeo started in 40 games in his first season as a Yellow Jacket, batting .278, second on the team. He also finished third with two home runs and scored 22 runs on the season. Chiappetta appeared in eight games as a pitcher for AIC during the 2019 season. On the mound, he pitched 32.2 innings, striking out 17 batters and walking seven with a 4.68 ERA on the year.

If you would like to keep up with all the action from the series, but can't make it out to the field, follow the links below:

Inside the Matchup:

Series record: Barry leads 7-0
Season records: Barry 7-0, 0-0 SSC; AIC 0-0, 0-0 NE-10
In Miami Shores: Barry leads 7-0