Aurora – Regis cleanup hitter Tito Martinez has a handshake that can crush rocks and a swing of the bat that can destroy opponents.
Martinez drove in nine runs Wednesday, including a grand slam in the bottom of the sixth inning, to power the Raiders to a 16-3 victory over Range- view in a six-inning Class 5A Continental League baseball game at Regis.
“I’m swinging a hot bat right now,’ Martinez said. “When I go up to the plate I’m looking for certain pitches, and I am going to make them pitch it to me.’
The Naval Academy appointee fell a single short of hitting for the cycle for the second time this season, and the home run was his fifth in six games.
Regis (9-5, 7-3 league) clinched a playoff spot with the victory, while Rangeview (7-6, 4-4) probably needs to win its last three league games to continue playing beyond the regular season.
“We are looking at a three-game season now,’ Rangeview coach Mike Hamilton said.
Regis had every facet of its game working. After Anthony Floro and Chad Lomas reached base on singles in the bottom of the first inning, Martinez crushed a two-RBI triple to right-center field to start the scoring. An error at first base allowed a third run to score, and Regis pitcher Andrew Scheid had a comfortable lead to work with.
“It feels like everything is coming together. We hit the ball well and finished the game off in a big way,’ Scheid said.
Scheid struck out 10 and scattered five hits in his complete-game performance. He also got things started in the six-run third inning with a double to left field. Shortstop Blake Davis followed Scheid with an RBI single, and Brandon Schrupp matched his effort.
Four batters later, the bases were loaded and Martinez returned to the plate.
His double to left field cleared the bases and gave Regis a 9-0 lead when it started to pour.
Rangeview finally got to Scheid in the fourth inning, when a walk and back-to-back singles put two runs on the board for the visitors. But Scheid appeared unfazed and cruised through the fifth inning by throwing just six pitches.
Every Regis starter but one got at least one hit, and all but two scored a run.
Rangeview 000 201 – 3 5 2
Regis 306 106 – 16 14 0
Rangeview – Heitman p 2-0-0-0, Ferrel ss 3-2-1-0, Oldfield 3-1-2-0, Smith cf 3-0-1-2, Porter 1-0-0-0, Lautzenheiser dh 3-0-0-0, Hohl lf 2-0-0-0, Roche rf 2-0-0-0, Diaz 3b 2 0-0-0, Letofsky p 1-0-0-0, Olhauser dh 2-0-1-1. Totals 24-3-5-3.
Regis – Floro cf 2-2-1-0, Lomas dh 4-2-1-3, Arbayo rf 3-2-1-0, Martinez c 4-1-3-9, Tedesco 3b 4-0-0-0, Scheid p 3-0-1-0, Davis ss 3-2-2-1, Runyan 1b 3-1-1-0, Schrupp lf 2-1-2-0, Stearnes dh 1-2-1-1, Flynn dh 1-2-1-0, Nogami dh 1-1-0-0. Totals 31-16-14-14.
E – Porter 2. LOB – Rangeview 3, Regis 9. SAC – Schrupp, Lomas, Scheid. SB – Schrupp. 2B – Scheid, Martinez, Arbayo. 3B – Porter; Martinez. HR – Martinez, grand slam in 6th.
Batteries – Heitman, Letofsky (3) and Oldfield; Scheid and Martinez. W – Scheid (2-4). L – Heitman (2-2). WP – Heitman. HBP – Nogami (by Letofsky), Arbayo (by Letofsky).
