Derek Salvatore take center stage in Johnston baseball's extra-inning win over Westerly
JOHNSTON — Derek Salvatore has no choice on the baseball diamond.
The senior who would prefer to blend in with his teammates on the basketball court was the center of attention Tuesday night. His pitching helped carry Johnston into the top of the eighth inning — his bat walked it off in the bottom half against the defending Division II champions.
Westerly fell for the second straight year at Johnston Memorial Park. The Bulldogs liked how it turned out last June — a first league title in three decades. But this occasion belonged to the Panthers yet again, a 3-2 thriller in a lone extra frame.
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“You want to have these games early,” Johnston coach Joe Acciardo said. “We don’t want them often — you've got to keep winning. But it’s nice to win in that situation.”
Salvatore came to the plate for the final time with one out and men at the corners. Manny Rios moved up to second base and Salvatore spoiled a couple foul balls before straightening one out. His looper to shallow right fell just inside the line, and Martins raced home from third after drawing a one-out walk.
Dean Paris flips to Dylan Martins covering and Johnston retires the go-ahead Westerly run in the eighth. It remains 2-2.
No decision for Derek Salvatore. He worked into the eighth. Martins strands two inherited runners. pic.twitter.com/ftwb5GoF3l— Bill Koch (@BillKoch25) April 5, 2023
“I just went up there to swing the bat and see what I could do,” Salvatore said. “It ended up working out.”
Credit the veteran for his modesty – Salvatore’s fingerprints were all over this one. Johnston lost a 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth and tied it at 2-2 when Martins cracked a solo homer to left-center in the bottom half. He was awarded the win in relief, but it was Salvatore who recorded the first 21 outs and knocked home the deciding run.
“Derek’s one of my best friends,” Martins said. “We’ve been playing forever, basically. Knowing how hard he tries when he’s pitching, it was a great thing to back him up and get him some run support to tie the game.”
The Panthers put together a division champion and state tournament qualifier on the hardwood over the winter – Salvatore was its star in the backcourt among several classmates. He struck out 12 in this one but benefited from double plays in the top of the first, top of the fourth and top of the fifth. Johnston saved its most alert defense for the top of the eighth when Martins delivered high to the plate with the bases loaded – catcher Dean Paris scrambled toward the backstop to set up a 2-1 putout.
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“Having this close of a game and that big of an impact for just one play – I definitely think that was very early,” Martins said. “Most of the time we don’t get that until the middle of the season.”
Steven Finegan lined an RBI double to the corner in left to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth. The Bulldogs hit back immediately in the top of the sixth on an infield error and a sacrifice fly to right by Jack Tenuta, taking a 2-1 advantage. That lasted all of two batters in the bottom half, as Martins went deep for the second consecutive home opener.
“I felt it off the bat – ‘This is either a double in the gap or it’s out,’” Martins said. “I heard my first base coach (Paul Robitaille) saying, ‘Get out, ball.’”
Johnston managed just four hits and didn’t show much in the way of bullpen depth. Tenuta was done after four innings and Noah Burdick stranded the potential winning run at second with a strikeout ending the bottom of the seventh. The Panthers were limited in the preseason by a series of rainouts and a quick turnaround for winter sports participants who stayed alive deep into their respective playoffs.
“All the little decisions you’re trying to juggle – you hope you don’t make a mistake,” Acciardo said. “But if the pitcher keeps it down and you get a few hits here and there it’s a good feeling.
“I’m happy. They’re a good bunch of kids.”
Johnston 3, Westerly 2 (8 innings)
Westerly 000 002 00 – 2 5 0
Johnston 000 011 01 – 3 4 1
Jack Tenuta, Noah Burdick (5) and Travis Costa. Derek Salvatore, Dylan Martins (8) and Dean Paris. HR – Martins (J).
bkoch@providencejournal.com
On Twitter: @BillKoch25
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Derek Salvatore pitches, hits Johnston baseball to extra-inning win
