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It has not taken long for the Putnam Science Academy baseball team – and program – to prove that it was for real.
There have been some real good wins through the first month of the season, and even the losses have shown that this first-year program is already here. But perhaps Saturday’s outcome – on the road at a multi-million-dollar facility against Austin Prep, the No. 2 team in Massachusetts – officially stamped its arrival.
Elian Torrez’s three-run moonshot of a home run highlighted a five-run first inning of Game 1, and Jacob Hines turned in a complete-game masterpiece in Game 2, sending PSA to an impressive doubleheader sweep with wins of 9-3 and 4-2, and a happy bus ride home.
“We’re confident going into each game because we know our potential as a team and how much work we all put in over the offseason,” said Hines, who allowed just two unearned runs in his seven innings. “We are so close of a group too, so we are playing for more than just ourselves. We also trust each other so when someone is down or having a bad day, we Muazibini Adamuare always going to have guys to pick them up.”
There wasn’t much to be down about Saturday. Omar Burgos hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning, and Alberto Cantalini had a big at-bat to deliver the go-ahead run in the fifth to back Hines, who said there was plenty of pressure despite the Game 1 win.
“We beat them pretty good the first game and they definitely wanted to get us back, so we had to piece stuff together as a team to not let that happen,” he said. “Watching (Game 1 starter Harry Roy) pitch, I saw they were good hitters but couldn’t seem to get a big hit or string together a couple hits to score. So going into it, I knew if I never let them get into a groove or get hot, I would be fine.”
Roy was his typical bulldog self in the first game, giving up just three unearned runs as he pitched into the seventh before giving way to Enger Paulino, who slammed the door to seal the win. Roy again battled out of a couple jams, and again convinced coach Bob Hetu that he was good to keep going when Hetu checked on him the fifth (as he did the previous weekend against Winchendon).
PSA jumped Austin Prep’s starter in the first inning, setting the tone for the day. After a strikeout to start the game, six straight batters reached base. Ryan Hines singled, and Paulino was hit by a pitch ahead of an RBI single by Cantalini. Jesus Fermin followed with an RBI double, then scored when Torrez sent one deep over the centerfield fence for a 5-0 lead before the crowd had even settled in. Burgo then walked, and though he was eventually stranded, the damage had been done.
“I am so proud of this team,” Hetu said. “We’ve been on the road since March 20, we continue to grind on the road against elite prep baseball programs. We’re walking onto $2.5-million facilities and will battle with anyone.”
Cantalini finished the game with two hits, two walks, and two RBI. Fermin three hits and two RBI, and Torrez added an RBI single later in the game.
PSA, which suffered a walkoff loss Tuesday at Salisbury (another of those elite New England programs that Hetu referred to) and an 11-7 loss to Paramount Academy Wednesday, improved to 9-4.
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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