Somerset Academy Goes Batty In Win Over Palmer Trinity

Somerset Academy capitalized on a 13-hit performance as it defeated Palmer Trinity 10-2 on Wednesday.

Brandon Melendez got things started for the Panthers in the first inning, bringing in Brandon Acevedo on an RBI triple before scoring on Chris Medina’s single to left field.

“It was a curve ball outside, and I was just trying to bring my teammate in,” Medina said. “I went for the pitch and put it between the third baseman and the shortstop.”

Medina finished the game with two more singles to help his team secure victory.

The Panthers’ early lead only grew larger as Luis Santana and Etienne Latour each had a double and an RBI to give Somerset a 5-0 lead through the third.

Though the Panthers banged out 13 hits, they also left 10 runners on base.

“Coming into the season, (batting) was and I still think is our weakness,” Garcia said, “but we’ve started out the year with pretty good batting one through nine.”

Although the upperclassman were making the noise, freshman John Ham quietly finished 3-for-4 with two singles and a double. Panthers pitcher Casey Garcia collected the win, pitching to only 15 batters in five innings. He allowed one hit and walked just two.

Regardless of the score, Palmer Trinity’s coach Don Harvey understands his raw club will mature quick and in time will develop into a competitive team.

“We still have a young team, and it got away from us early,” Harvey said. “We’re going to have growing pains, but while we’re young, we’re not inexperienced. We’ll take some lumps, but we’re going to be a competitive team.”

Although Palmer Trinity may be young, talent is far from scarce. Eighth-grade sensation Gio Soto brought in sophomore Dustin Phillip with a two-run homer in the sixth to give the Falcons their only two runs of the day. The Falcons started two eighth-graders: Soto at shortstop and Blake Miller at second base. The roster includes eight freshman and sophomores, and five juniors and seniors.

Sophomore Julian Stark started the game for the Falcons and recorded five strikeouts in four innings but got the loss and was relieved by senior Sam Berks to start the fifth.

Harvey was able to stay optimistic and expects his team to rebound.

“We’re going to win games,” Harvey said. “We’re a much better team than we were last year. We just got to learn how to win and how to keep the games under control. I think we’ll figure it out as we go.”

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