American Heritage and Atlantic move up opening night showdown

Friday, August 17, 2012
by Matt Porter

The first Friday night of the 2012 high school football season has become a little less crowded.

Defending state champion American Heritage's home game against rival Atlantic has been moved from Friday, Aug. 31 to Aug. 30, Heritage coaches confirmed.

It is expected the game will be part of ESPN 760-AM's Thursday night broadcast schedule, which has not been released.

The Delray Beach battle was one of several highly anticipated games to be played that Friday, including Glades Central at Dwyer, Seminole Ridge at Palm Beach Central and West Boca Raton at Boca Raton.

Baseball: Four local standout juniors committed to Palm Beach State, head coach Kyle Forbes said.

Royal Palm Beach right-hander Justin Lauginiger, Palm Beach Gardens righties Joey Boyd and Riley Colbath, and Trinity Christian's Franco Guardascione hope to play for the Panthers.

"This is a great start to our recruiting class this year," Forbes said. "All four of these players are difference-makers."

Boyd, a first-team Post All-Area selection, was the ace of a Gardens club that reached the Class 8A state semifinals. He'll have help this spring from Colbath, who was slowed by injuries as a junior.

Lauginiger, also a first-team All-Area choice, pitched Royal Palm to a District 13-7A title and its most successful season in several years. He didn't allow an earned run for most of the year and finished 10-1 with a 1.01 ERA and 79 strikeouts.

Guardascione is a strong-armed, 6-foot-1 third baseman and catcher.

Palm Beach State (35-14) lost in the finals of the Florida College System Activities Association Region 8 tournament, the state's junior college championship.