Churchville-Chili vs Webster Thomas: Game Recap

Ben Martin finished the day 3-for-3 and knocked in the eventual game-winning run as the No. 9 seed Churchville-Chili Saints defeated the No. 8 seed Webster-Thomas Titans, 2-0 in Section V Class AA first round action. Martin scored Scott Neu from second as Churchville-Chili won a sectional game for the first time since a similar opening round win in 2013. 

The Value of 90 Feet

Martin's game-winner was made possible when Neu executed a basic yet one of the more overlooked expectations: the senior ran out a fly ball. Neu led the fifth inning with a bloop hit to shallow center field that looked destined for a glove. Instead the ball found a patch of grass among three Webster-Thomas fielders including the second baseman and shortstop. With the bag vacated, Neu scampered in with a leadoff double. 

"We talk all year about trying to get that extra 90 feet," Churchville-Chili coach Jake Dennstedt said. "There's no better example than a little Bermuda Triangle double...That's a heads-up play by a senior."

High School Houdinis

Churchville-Chili's Billy Sanborn and Webster-Thomas's Ryan Marketell locked horns in this pitcher's duel. The senior starters combined to strand 11 runners through the first three innings. Sanborn (a Jefferson CC commit) struck out six over six shutout innings. He escaped a two-on, one-out jam in the first with a punch out and ground ball.  

Marketell, a Monroe CC commit and No. 95 In New York's 2016 class, showed his sleight of hand when he worked out of a bases loaded, no-out situation in the second. The 6-5 right-hander got a strike out looking before a double play ended the inning. 

Discretion Is The Better Part Of Valor

With runners on first and third and two outs in the third, Webster Thomas tried to draw Sanborn into a rundown situation to score the run. The Churchville-Chili hurler opted for defensive indifference. Instead of the Titans scoring a run before the final out of the inning or worse yet an error leading to more runs, Sanborn left runners on second and third with a routine pop up. 

Raw Talent

Christian Montanez and Jayson Wallace are two names to remember.  The Churchville-Chili juniors are rough around the edges in the field but possess individual skill sets which can be developed. The anticipation was palpable when Montanez stepped to the plate with a runner on in the fifth.  He took an inside fastball from Marketell to the warning track in center. Wallace finished with a hit and two walks. The starting quarterback on the school's football team, Wallace dug out a low and inside fastball for a single to lead the seventh. 

Moving On

Churchville-Chili earned a date with No. 1 seed East High in the quarter-finals. Churchville-Chili last won a sectional title in 2009.