Two Valley Teams Find Florida Keys, Keep on Winning : Saugus Earns Shutout, Respect

ORLANDO, Fla. —  Saugus High may be surprising some teams in the Colonial Baseball Classic, but not Saugus Coach Doug Worley.

“We’re a good ballclub,” he said. “We don’t like to talk about other ballclubs. We just want to play.”

For the second time in as many games, Saugus (9-2) played well enough to win, defeating Waltrip (Tex.), 8-0, Wednesday to advance to today’s semifinal round against Chatsworth at Colonial High.

But if you believe tournament gossip, the Centurions are one of the weaker of the 16 teams in the field.

Catcher Jared Snyder and third baseman Tom Dodson both said that they have heard rumors. Word even reached Waltrip Coach Kenny Humphreys before Wednesday’s game.

“I’ve heard that they’re an average team that becomes a good team with that big kid on the mound,” Humphreys said.

Saugus’ “big kid,” 6-5 junior right-hander Roger Salkeld had an average game, at least by his standards. Salkeld (4-1) had eight strikeouts and six walks while pitching a two-hitter in a game called after five innings because of an eight-run rule.

Salkeld struggled with his control early, as he did last week against Canyon, but picked up momentum. He had only two strikeouts after three innings but struck out the side in the fourth and fifth. Salkeld struck out seven of the last nine batters he faced, including the final five.

But Saugus’ offense, which produced nine hits in the game, including four in a five-run second inning, was above average.

“We outplayed them and we outhustled them,” Snyder said. “And we out-enthusiasmed them. I’ve heard this stuff that Saugus is just a roll-over team that shouldn’t be in the tournament. Today, we could have beaten anybody.”

Snyder was 2 for 3 and scored a run. Dodson, who was 1 for 3, doubled to lead off the second and later scored on a single by Salkeld.

“We’ve been getting up as a team,” Dodson said.

Trevor Rice, who followed Dodson with a walk, advanced to second on Salkeld’s single. Mike Osment followed with a walk to load the bases and Rice came home on a balk by Waltrip pitcher Brent Hirsch.

Tom Burges greeted reliever Mike Hansen with a single that got past left fielder Richard Davilla, allowing Salkeld and Osment to score and Burges to advance to second. Darrell Davis then singled to score Burges.

Saugus added two runs in the third and another in the fifth when Rice scored on a wild pitch by reliever Joe Garcia.

“I like the way I played,” said Salkeld, who also was 2 for 3, including a double. “I hit well and I got out of it in the fifth.”

Said Worley: “That can only help us.”

Salkeld said he would be ready to pitch Saturday should Saugus reach the championship game. Worley said that right-hander Jeff Bodeau, who defeated Columbus (Ga.), 7-4, Monday, will start against Chatsworth.