"What's up man? You saving your home runs for Saladino?"
That's the question I jokingly asked Robby Martin on Saturday afternoon before Jefferson's matchup with Chamberlain.
I didn't think he'd actually go out there and hit a ball that still hasn't come down yet.
The Jefferson center fielder hit a solo blast in the 3rd, reached on an error and scored a run in the 1st, singled in the 5th and came on for the save in the 7th as the Dragons held on for a 6-5 victory on Saturday night in the final game of the 1st day of the Saladino Tournament at Jefferson High School.
"We can count on him whenever we need a big hit or need him to come in and throw on the mound," Coach Juan Fontela said. "He's just an outstanding player."
The Dragons picked up three runs in the 1st to give starter Jack Rodriguez a nice cushion to start the game. Rodriguez went three scoreless without giving up a hit and struck out five.
Jefferson was up 6-2 in the 7th, but Chamberlain did not give up.
After Mo Hanley plated a run with a groundout and a runner came in on an error, Marquis Philon hit a shot to left-center that brought Darryl Mitchell in to score and bring the Chiefs within one.
Martin was then summoned to the hill and threw three straight fastballs for strikes to end the game.
Regardless of the outcome and the fall to an 0-9 record, Chamberlain Coach Jason Smith can definitely take some positives from this game.
"They don't know the word 'quit'," Smith says. "I couldn't be more proud of them."
Don't worry Coach, you're not the only one.
WHAT'S NEXT
Jefferson will face Steinbrenner at 7pm on Monday 3/13
Chamberlain will face East Bay at 4pm on Monday 3/13