Four-Run First Sparks Sagemont to 5-2 Win Over Westminster Academy

Knowing when to run and taking that extra base often can be the difference between winning and losing in a tightly contested district baseball game.

Sagemont made enough of those correct decisions with some heads-up baserunning in a pivotal four-run first inning and relief pitcher Junior Bahder came on to provide necessary stops when needed as Sagemont defeated host Westminster Academy 5-2 in a District 3A-14 game at the Westminster Academy Sports Complex on Thursday.

Freshman second baseman Chris Iacano and senior shortstop David Vasquez were instrumental in the first two innings in which Sagemont (2-2 overall, 2-0 District 14-3) scored all five of their runs.

Iacano, starting in the leadoff position for the first time, made the most of it. He drew two walks, singled, stole a base and scored twice. Iacano was batting first in place of usual leadoff man Brihm Martinez, who injured his elbow after landing awkwardly on his right shoulder before the season began.

“Any time I put him [Iacano] in a place to do the job, he’s done it,” said Sagemont coach Tommy Martinez. “He’s a very young kid, but he comes through. We debated about putting him at leadoff. If he sees a fast ball, he swings at it. He keeps it very simple and that’s what makes Chris…Chris.”

As for Vasquez, Martinez looks to him as a reliable source to reach base on a consistent basis.

“I expect those hits as he is a senior,” Martinez added. “He knows when he has to hit the ball or not.”

Iacano and Vasquez combined to reach base in seven of eight plate appearances from the top two spots in the lineup.

On the mound, junior right handed pitcher Brian McCarthy (1-1) started and went three innings and allowed a run on four hits and struck out three.

Junior Bahder came on in relief and worked the final four innings. He appeared to be his best once he got himself into trouble. Keeping his poise, he stranded seven runners on base and struck out six.

“We’re been working hard with him for some time,” Martinez said of Bahder. “Just for the maturity, coming in and throwing strikes. What he’s done in the last two years, he’s really turned around a great deal. He focuses more on the strikes. He was able to mix it up with the curve ball and change up. He stuck with it.”

When asked if he expected to be pitching in relief, Bahder shrugged his shoulders and smiled.

“It’s whatever happens,” Bahder said. “It’s nice [that I was able pitch well]. I was able to get two guys looking on strikeouts with my curveball. It’s a good win. We got to keep it going.”

As for Westminster Academy, it scrapped its way back into the game by scratching a run in the third and fourth innings.

Junior second baseman Daniel D’Onofrio kept Westminster (3-2, 0-1) in the game with his play both at the plate and on the mound. He went 3-for-4 with a double, a pair of singles and a RBI that drove home first baseman Thomas Messer. In relief, he pitched three and two-thirds innings and struck out six. He allowed no runs on two hits and walked just one.

Senior Will Buschmann went 1-for-3 with a double, run scored and a walk. He also entered to pitch the last two scoreless innings and struck out three.

“We had our opportunities, but we certainly did not take advantage of them,” said Westminster Academy coach Nick James. “We felt like we were in the game the whole time, but we just couldn’t get a good hit at the right time.”

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