By JAMES HADNOT
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — A blob of white jerseys engulfed Christian Sanchez (Ave Maria University) five steps off first base in foul territory. He had just ripped a ball out of the reach of Rome’s shortstop.
“It was awesome, it was like a party. You got your brothers around you, jumping, happy, because we just won a big game,” said Syracuse Salt Cats Infielder, Christian Sanchez.
Sanchez and the squad celebrated the infielder’s walk-off single which pushed the Salt Cats ahead of the Generals for a final score of 6-5 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at Onondaga Community College (OCC), Thursday night.
“He’s got a lot of baseball blood,” said Salt Cats manager Mike Martinez. “He’s gonna be there at the end, and he’s gonna be right up there on top as one of the best guys.”
The infielder’s single brought home Christian Rishel (East Stroudsburg University) who led off the bottom of the ninth with a triple. Rishel was smacking the ball all over the complex, racking up three hits, all triples.
The designated hitter’s dominance at the plate was part of a 12-hit outpouring by the home team. Shannon Baker (Indiana University-Purdue University) did well from the plate, going 2-for-3 with a triple, double and an RBI. Also, Brandon Corneilus (Rutgers University-Camden) went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a stolen base.
“That’s what this line up is made up with,” Martinez added. “Guys that can hit with gap power and move guys around.”
These hits were almost for not, as Rome rallied in the later stages. After Syracuse went up 5-0, the Generals marched back scoring two runs in the sixth on a Ricky Sisto (Miami University) two-run double. Then, in the seventh inning Nate Chase (Niagara County Community College) and Marc DiLeo (Mercyhurst College) drove in runs before the game was tied on an error.
In the end, Sanchez was the hero for the home team.
“The next pitch, I wanted to go all out on it,” Sanchez commented. “Once I saw it cut across the shortstop’s hand I just knew it happened, finally.”
The Salt Cats take on their intra-town rival Syracuse Jr. Chiefs, Friday night. A 7 p.m. first pitch is scheduled at OCC. Rome hosts the Sherrill Silversmiths, Friday night. A 7:05 start is slated at Delutis Field.
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