DOUBLE PLAY
Aiming for more extra-base hits, Santaguida gets right to it in Crown Point’s opener
Making contact is nice, but Eric Santaguida doesn’t intend to settle for that this season.
The Crown Point senior lived in the weight room in the offseason, aiming to turn more of his singles into extra-base hits.
“I’ve always been known as a contact hitter with a high average,” he said. “This year I’m looking to get a little more power in there.”
Santaguida took a step in that direction Friday night, going 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored during Crown Point’s 7-2 victory over Griffith at home in the season opener for each team.
From his cleanup spot, the Western Carolina recruit singled and scored in his initial at-bat, part of a four-run first inning for Crown Point, which led 6-0 after two innings and didn’t look back.
Santaguida’s double came in the fourth.
“I only had two doubles last year, and I already got one in the first game,” he said. “So the work’s already paying off.”
Santaguida, an outfielder and pitcher, will see plenty of time on the mound for Crown Point, although those outings will test the torn labrum in his right shoulder. He didn’t seem bothered, though, saying, “I’ll deal with the pain.”
But it was all smiles for Santaguida on Friday, indicative of his more relaxed demeanor this spring.
“Last year, being a junior, it felt more serious — that I had to prove myself,” he said. “Now that I’m a senior, it’s more about having fun. I just went up there and enjoyed myself.”
Crown Point coach Steve Strayer was happy with his players’ collective offensive effort against Griffith, especially with their approach at the plate.
“We got up there and competed,” he said. “Last year it took us awhile to get into that mode. But we got in there and battled right away, so I was happy with that.”
The top of the Crown Point order wasn’t the only part battling at the plate, either. Matt Corona, the No. 9 hitter, reached base in every plate appearance. He had a hit and two walks.
Like Santaguida, Corona attributed that early success to his offseason work, which was largely spent in hitting cages.
“I was working on getting my hands and the barrel through the zone,” he said.
Although his power numbers might not match Santaguida’s by the end of the season, Corona smirked as he said, “I’ve still got a little power too.”
The offense provided by players like Santaguida and Corona was more than enough for Crown Point, as Indiana Wesleyan recruit Gabe Stout didn’t allow a hit in his three innings of work and struck out seven.
St. Xavier recruit Chris Bachman and Ryan Hannan split the last four innings on the mound, keeping the Panthers at bay.
Griffith’s two runs came in the seventh inning after walks to Kyle Atkinson and Jason Jovanovich.
Despite the result, Griffith coach Brian Jennings came away with plenty of positives.
“We opened up against a very good baseball team, and there’s a reason for that: We want to face good competition early in the season,” he said. “For it being our third time on the field and our first time seeing live pitching … it’s a game in April, and we’re better today than we were yesterday.”