Thu Sep 19 05:07:00 UTC 2024: ## Palm Beach Cardinals Win Florida State League Championship After Rain-Delayed Thriller

**Jupiter, FL** – The Palm Beach Cardinals, the St. Louis Cardinals’ Class Low-A affiliate, have claimed the Florida State League championship after a thrilling 6-4 victory over the Lakeland Flying Tigers. The game, delayed for over two hours due to rain, saw the Cardinals’ 2024 draft class play a crucial role in securing the title.

The game remained tied 3-3 entering the seventh inning before Bryce Madron delivered a go-ahead RBI double, bringing in Ryan Campos and advancing Jon Jon Gazdar to third. JJ Wetherholt, the Cardinals’ top pick in this year’s draft, then launched a triple to center field, scoring Gazdar and Madron to extend Palm Beach’s lead.

While the Cardinals’ bats ignited for six runs, their pitching staff held Lakeland to just three runs after starter Chen-Wei Lin’s outing was cut short by the rain delay.

Nolan Sparks, the Cardinals’ 13th-round draft pick, pitched 2 2/3 innings in relief, earning the win. Sparks allowed just one run and struck out five batters, including two after allowing a leadoff homer to Jack Penney in the eighth inning. Luis Gastelum came on to finish the game, retiring the side in order in the ninth.

This is Palm Beach’s third overall Florida State League title and their second individual championship win. The team was previously named co-champions in 2017 alongside Dunedin after Hurricane Irma forced the cancellation of the championship series.

“It’s a fantastic feeling,” said Sparks, reflecting on the win. “Everyone we play with is competing for the same dream – to play in the big leagues. It’s all that hard work paying off and really showing out on the field.”

The win marks a fitting end to a season that saw Palm Beach achieve a franchise-best 83-47 record. The Cardinals will now look towards the future, with their young players ready to take the next step in their development.

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