Holguin the hero for St. Rita
After spending summer in Cincy, first baseman returns, hits walk-off HR over Mount Carmel
Before coronavirus became a household word all over the world, St. Rita’s Al Holguin had planned on spending the summer of 2020 out of state.
In August 2019, Holguin accepted an offer to play baseball for the Cincinnati Spikes, a high-level select travel team. He faced some of the best players in the country after the Illinois High School Association canceled the spring season.
The senior first baseman is back in Chicago, however, and he’s happy to be playing again for St. Rita.
His teammates were even happier Thursday when Holguin hit a two-run homer over the right-center fence in the bottom of the seventh inning, sending the host Mustangs to an 8-6 Catholic Blue victory over Mount Carmel.
“This was a big home run,” Holguin said. “I think this is No. 1 up there. I was just trying to go up there, make contact and get the next hitter up there.”
That didn’t happen because Matt Rodarte, the next hitter for St. Rita, was in the middle of a mob scene ready to greet Holguin as he crossed home plate.
It clinched a fifth straight win for the Mustangs (9-4, 3-0).
“He’s a great hitter,” St. Rita coach John Nee said of Holguin. “I think his best days in baseball are ahead of him. He’s one of our leaders, and it doesn’t shock me for him to come up big in that spot.”
Holguin has committed to South Carolina Upstate, a program that won 30 of its first 40 games this season. He said his summer with the Cincinnati Spikes helped him earn a scholarship.
“I left the whole family behind to try to do what I love down there,” he said. “I missed home, but I loved it. It was an unforgettable summer. I got to meet new friends and travel around the country.”
Before Holguin’s fireworks Thursday, it was an odd game that took more than an hour to play a messy two innings, resulting in a 6-6 tie with just two of the dozen runs being earned.
After that, there were zeroes on the board for the next 4 ½ innings before Tommy Atkinson was hit by a pitch. One batter later, Holguin came through with his walk-off homer.
Bobby Atkinson also hit a two-run homer in the first inning for St. Rita.
Senior pitcher Brandon Norred threw five shutout innings in relief, making his first appearance on the mound since suffering a concussion in the final two minutes of the Mustangs’ last football game of the spring.
“My main job was just to go in there and throw strikes,” Norred said. “My defense had my back. I felt great. My three pitches were working — my fastball, curveball and slider.
“But it was all my defense. Bryce Buday made some big plays (at third base). The outfielders made plays. It wasn’t all me.”
Julien Hachem hit a bases-loaded single to drive in three runs, giving Mount Carmel (10-5, 0-3) a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Jorgie Vazquez added two hits and Austin Mallee scored two runs.
Starting pitcher Elias Hachem threw 5 ⅔ innings and gave up six runs, two earned.
The game represented the middle of a stretch where St. Rita was scheduled to play seven games in seven days. The Mustangs, though, are not complaining about the workload.
“It’s great to be out there with these guys,” Holguin said. “Especially after not playing a season last year.”