By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Michael Sardou scattered three hits and one walk over five scoreless innings, and the Churchville-Chili offense scored five times in the first inning in a 9-4 victory over Hilton in Section V Baseball action at Greece Olympia High School on Sunday.
Sardou struck out six and improved to 2-1 on the season as the Saints (8-2) won their fifth straight game.
The senior right-hander faced 22 batters and used an efficient 73 pitches to get into the third time through the Hilton lineup.
“It’s very important for him to do that and gain that confidence,” said first-year Churchville head coach Bob Rule. “Going forward, sectional time, he’s going to be in those spots where he has to go three times through the lineup and give us everything he has.”
Sardou retired six of the first seven batters faced and left the bases loaded in the third. He worked around an error in the fifth and left two more runners on base in that frame.
“It’s important for him to get ahead in the count with his fastball and then working backwards from there,” Rule said. “He’s been very good at keeping guys off-balance with his off-speed stuff.”
The outing was his second-longest of the season – having thrown six innings while the team was in Florida during their recent Spring Break trip.
“I was mixing in different pitches for their third time through the order,” he said. “A lot of off-speed the second time through. A lot of change-up. Two-seam, anything to get them off-balance.”
Churchville sent nine to the plate in the first inning.
Braedon Reina reached on a walk to lead the inning. Parker Farnham singled, and Sardou followed with a double to give the Saints a lead they did not surrender.
An RBI fielder’s choice from James Derleth added to the lead. One out later, Evan Putney made it a 4-0 game with a two-run double. Lucas Karelus capped the inning with an RBI single.
“Having a lead, it’s awesome to go back out there and pitch,” said Sardou who is committed to play at MCC next season. “Knowing that my defense is going to make plays for me.”
Sardou finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and then run scored. Putney went 3-for-3 with two doubles and two runs scored. Farnham was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Karelus had two hits and three RBI. Reina walked twice and scored twice. Bobby Rule had one hit.
C-C’s last loss came to Shawnee High School out of New Jersey.
Hilton (5-5) sent nine to the plate in a four-run seventh. Sam Hogan led the Cadets at the plate going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Andrew Lenhard drove in a run with a single and later scored. Johnny Bianchi walked and scored. Steven Kraus singled and scored. James Hargarther also crossed home.
Ryan Wahl, Kaden Yapjoco and Kallin Whelehan had a single apiece for the Cadets.
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