Pa. boys: Castillo, Rodriguez lead Esperanza over Prep Charter
Esperanza baseball coach Kyle Riley wanted to instill a championship feel at the beginning of the season. So after every game, the longtime Franklin Towne Charter coach names two "champions."
Esperanza baseball coach Kyle Riley wanted to instill a championship feel at the beginning of the season.
So after every game, the longtime Franklin Towne Charter coach names two "champions."
The coach presents two standouts a replica belt: a WWE world heavyweight championship and a WWE intercontinental championship.
After a 15-4 rout at Public League rival Prep Charter on Friday, Guillermo Castillo was crowned the world heavyweight champion and John Rodriguez was given the lesser intercontinental title.
Rodriguez, a junior varsity call-up, traded his belt with Castillo because it was newer.
"The idea of the championship belts came from my days at Franklin Towne," Riley said. "My former player, Steve Callahan, started giving out a Superman cape to the guy he thought had the best game. I kind of got the idea from him."
Castillo earned his belt after tossing 32/3 solid innings of relief. Rodriguez was given his title after a 2-for-3 day at the plate and stellar defense in centerfield.
The win improved Esperanza to 5-2. Last season, the Toros won only four games.
"The guys are continuing to buy into our system," the second-year Esperanza coach said. "We operate on the idea that sound pitching and good defense wins games and we are about playing for the team and not stats."
Sauriel Soto started the game and pitched 31/3 innings. The senior went 2 for 4 with three RBIs. Freshman Justin Toledo scored four runs.
They were making their bids for a championship.
In other Division A action:
Ishmael Bracy went the distance in host Washington's 5-4 win over GAMP. Bracy stuck out seven in a complete-game effort, and he also had three hits and scored twice.
Public League Division B. Daniel Martinez went 3 for 4 with a double and two RBIs to lead Mastbaum to a 8-5 victory at Engineering and Science.
Edison's Freddie Martinez improved to 3-0 with a 16-5 win at Boys' Latin. Martinez threw six innings and struck out 12.
Principe Encarnacion had a pair of doubles and five RBIs to power Kensington in a 13-0 win at Furness.
Friends Schools. Alec Andrews threw a no-hitter in Friends' Central's 11-0 victory at Westtown. Max Auerbach went 2 for 3 with a double and two RBIs.
Zach Drechsel threw a complete game and stuck out four batters to pace Germantown Friends to a 6-1 win over visiting Academy of the New Church.
Chuck Ryan went 2 for 3 with a triple in George School's 5-3 win over visiting Abington Friends.
Lacrosse
Andrew Arth had five goals and two assists to lead George School in a 13-3 nonleague win over visiting Valley Forge Military Academy.
Alec Palmiotti had four goals.
@MarkWhited215