By JAMES HADNOT
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — From the first pitch, Syracuse Salt Cats utility man, Joe Anselmi (Manhatanville College), was locked in. His first swing of the bat was a 400+ feet home run to dead center.
“It’s actually funny, today was the first time I have worked out in two weeks. So we’re gonna credit the extra bench press that I got in today,” said Anselmi.
Anselmi finished the day 3-for-4 with a double, home run, and two RBI including an insurance run late in the Salt Cats, 5-2 victory over the Syracuse Jr. Chiefs in New York Collegiate Baseball League action, Tuesday night.
“My main objective into every at bat isn’t necessarily to get a hit,” said Anselmi. “I’m trying to hunt go pitches and find barrel and fortunately that’s what I did today.”
Anselmi was Syracuse’s only offense for until the seventh inning. After his home run took the lead in the bottom of the second inning, the Jr. Chiefs scraped together one run in the third and sixth innings. The first, a John Militano (Salve Regina University) RBI double which tied the score at 1-1. Then, in the sixth Zachary Smith (Salve Regina University) broke the tie with a RBI single.
The late game rally began in the bottom of the seventh when Joshua Rodriguez (SUNY Institute of Technology) single-handedly manufactured the tying run. Rodriguez reached on a single, stole second and third, then advanced home on a wild pitch.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Salt Cats score the deciding the runs before the Jr. Chiefs could even ring up one out. After a walk, Shannon Baker (IPFW) laid down a bunt and reached second on an error. Johnny Knight IV (Walsh University) brought in the go ahead runs with a two RBI triple. Joe Anselmi scored Knight on an RBI double.
“It’s the guys in the middle. They have been doing it all year,” said Syracuse Salt Cats Manager, Mike Martinez.
With the win, the Salt Cats move to (12-8) on the season just a half game behind the Jr. Chiefs (15-9) for second place in the Eastern Division.
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