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Callahan, Franklin Towne Charter win first Public League baseball title

Sometimes even superheroes need pep talks. That's why Franklin Towne Charter sophomore catcher Jason Santiago walked out to the mound in the seventh inning of the Public League championship game Tuesday night at Campbell's Field.

Franklin Towne Charter pitcher Steve Callahan celebrates with teammates after winning the Public League final. (Tom Gralish/Staff Photographer)
Franklin Towne Charter pitcher Steve Callahan celebrates with teammates after winning the Public League final. (Tom Gralish/Staff Photographer)Read more

Sometimes even superheroes need pep talks.

That's why Franklin Towne Charter sophomore catcher Jason Santiago walked out to the mound in the seventh inning of the Public League championship game Tuesday night at Campbell's Field.

His senior ace was one strike away from making history, and Santiago had a question for him.

"I asked him, 'How do you want to be remembered?' " Santiago recalled.

Steve Callahan didn't need to hear much else.

With a man on first and the Coyotes clinging to a 9-7 lead, Callahan's next pitch got Giovanni Ortega to line out, and the Coyotes became the first charter school to win the Public League title.

In a sloppy game with a combined nine errors, Franklin Towne prevailed despite being outhit, 13-6.

"It just feels so good, especially for the seniors," said a teary Callahan, his jersey top unbuttoned to reveal a Batman T-shirt. "Me, Phil Gilchrist, and Fred Courduff, we've been waiting a long time for this."

Callahan, who threw 130 pitches, started wearing the Dark Knight shirt in the middle of this season, but only after he felt the Superman one he had worn since freshman year had lost some of its mojo.

"We were playing with a bad vibe, and I didn't like it so I just wanted to get a new look and a new vibe in our dugout," he said. "It's worked ever since, and the guys love it."

The vibe soured for Franklin Towne on Tuesday in the fourth inning, when Olney posted four runs, highlighted by an Eddie Morillo two-run single.

The Coyotes, however, countered with a five-spot in the fifth, capped by a bases-loaded, three-run double by Cristian Diaz, who had four RBIs.

Callahan, who struck out five, walked four, and gave up seven earned runs, was quick with praise for his teammates.

"For all these seniors, it's all we talked about this offseason," he said. "And all the work we put in it just feels so good right now. I can't even really take it in because it was my last shot at glory and I did it; we did it. My team picked me up. I didn't pitch as well as I should."

After Olney rallied to tie the game at six in the fifth, a costly two-out fielding error gave the Coyotes a 7-6 edge.

The Trojans tied the game again at seven in the bottom half.

Olney was led by Morillo's three RBIs. Christian Santos, Oscar Sanchez, Jeffrey Deleon, Joseph Gomez, and Shawn Vega each had two hits.

Despite hot hitting, fielding errors hurt. Both Coyote runs in the seventh came off miscues.

For Callahan, who had previously lost three consecutive Public League title games, victory was sweet nonetheless.

"It's just a great feeling," he said. "For finishing out my baseball career, it just feels so good to finally win."

Franklin Towne Charter 100 051 2 - 9 6 5

Olney 001 411 0 - 7 13 4

WP: Steve Callahan. LP: Joseph Gomez. 2B: O-Cristian Diaz.

@AceCarterINQ