James Santiago pitched sparingly this season as St. Raymond’s fourth starter. He started all season as the Ravens’ first baseman, but before a late-season game against Regis he had zero big-game pitching experience.
Yet there the junior left-hander was facing top-seed Xaverian with his team’s season on the line. It didn’t phase Santiago one bit.
“It’s either go hard or go home,” he said. “I didn’t want to go home.”
With help from Santiago, the Ravens won’t be. He gave up four runs, three in the second inning, on just five hits in 6+ innings as No. 3 St. Raymond knocked Xaverian out of the CHSAA Class A baseball intersectional playoffs, 5-4, Friday at St. John’s University.
“That kid’s got a lot of heart,” said Ravens ace Ricky Eusebio, who got the save in the seventh.
Santiago rebounded from a wild second inning – he walked three batters – to earn his first playoff victory. He allowed just two runners past first base until the seventh when he walked the first two batters of the inning before coach Ron Patnosh went to Eusebio out of the bullpen to close it out. Santiago struck out five and two of them came in the sixth after allowing a one-out single to Skyler Ortiz.
“He’s not a seven-inning pitcher,” Patnosh said. “He ran out of gas, but he pitched a great game. … He’s tough. We heard they didn’t hit lefties well.”
Santiago said he’s more comfortable at first base. He’s also St. Raymond’s No. 2 hitter and a catalyst at the top of the order. He had a walk and a run scored in a four-run third inning for the Ravens (16-7). But in the field is really where he excels.
“He’s probably the best defensive first baseman I’ve ever coached,” said Patnosh, the 47th-year skipper.
But Santiago showed something in that game against Regis on May 17. He gave up just two runs on two hits and struck out seven in a complete-game performance. That victory helped St. Ray’s clinch the CHSAA Bronx/Manhattan title for the first time since 1995.
“It showed that they can have confidence in me next time,” Santiago said.
Patnosh turned to him Friday after Eusebio pitched Wednesday in a victory over Monsignor Farrell and Kevin Juarbe struggled in a loss to St. Joseph by the Sea Thursday. Xaverian (19-3) developed the reputation of not hitting lefties well after falling to Xavier’s Nick DiLeo on Wednesday in the opener and Santiago seems to have added to it. He kept Clippers hitters off balance and challenged them outside of that uncharacteristic second inning.
“He goes right after batters,” designated hitter Joe Tellez said. “Rarely do you see [many walks]. He throws a lot of strikes.”
Added catcher Jon Crucey: “We’ve played together since we were 9, so I’ve always had confidence in him. They chose the big days to put him in. He did a great, great job. His fastball was working. It moves a lot and we knew they had trouble with lefties. He had them off balance.”
And while the mound isn’t quite his comfort zone between the lines, Santiago doesn’t mind one bit. He has no preference as to whether or not he’ll throw again in these playoffs.
“It’s not up to me, it’s up to the coaches,” Santiago said. “I prefer playing first base. But I can pitch, too. If they need me, I’ll do it.”