Bottom Of The Order Powers University School To Win Over Chaminade

The University School baseball team got an impactful performance from a couple hitters in the bottom third of its lineup and Andrew Denis supplied an effective, workmanlike start on the mound as the Suns earned a 7-2 district victory at Chaminade-Madonna.

The Suns (2-0) were able to deliver a little payback by defeating Lions starting pitching Chris Flores, who had stymied University School in two starts last season.

“He [Flores] pitched well, but our guys battled a little better than they did last season,” University School coach Rich Hofman said. “A little more mature this year.”

Hitting from the seventh batting spot in the lineup, senior second baseman Charlie Gomez went 3-for-3 with a double, two singles, a sacrifice bunt, an RBI and a run.

In the field, Gomez saved a potential hit from reaching the outfield grass when he made an outstretched dive to his right to make the catch. In the third and sixth innings, Gomez was also a part of 5-4-3 and 6-4-3 double plays.

Sophomore Danny Epstein made the most of his first start by going 4-for-4 with four singles, including a bunt, two runs and a RBI.

“He went 4-for-4 in the nine hole, so what more can a guy want?” Hofman said of Epstein. “He came up big for us today and did a great job.”

The game had begun as more of a pitchers’ duel between Flores and Denis. At the end of five innings, the score was tied at 1, and the teams had combined to leave nine runners on base.

Denis (1-0) worked five-plus innings, allowed just two runs on three hits and walked four.

“He’s got such a heart, and he’s such a tough competitor,” Hofman said. “He’s just a battler.”

Things turned in the Suns’ favor in the top of the sixth inning when it sent 10 batters to the plate and scored four runs on five hits with a walk and a hit-by-pitch.

J.J. Cormier started it with a walk, Denis had a base hit and then Gomez laced a RBI single to make it 2-1.

After a groundout, Epstein came through with an RBI single. Left-handed hitter Diego Perez singled in another run, sophomore Brendan McKendry was hit by a pitch and shortstop Sebastian Diaz drilled an RBI single.

“I’ve seen Chris Flores three, four times already,” Gomez said. “I got a low-and-outside fastball and put it down the right-field line. He’s got a great curve ball and he’s a real good pitcher. I finally got to him after two years. It was one of my best performance that I’ve ever had. It was a big district game, and I was pumped up before the game. It really brings up our spirit because we haven’t beaten Chaminade in two years. I think this is going to pump us up for the rest of the season.”

For the Lions (2-1), Flores went five innings and allowed two runs on six hits, struck out five and walked two.

Third baseman Kevin Nader went 1-for-2 with a single and a hit-by-pitch. He scored twice off the bat of designated hitter Julian Pino. Pino had a sacrifice fly to right field in the fourth and then delivered an RBI single in the sixth inning. Leadoff hitter and shortstop Luis Guillorme went 2-for-2 with a pair of singles and two walks.

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