Complex tops Central in baseball opener
Published: February 2, 2012
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The high school baseball season is officially under way, and Raymond Sankitts wasted little time getting things started for the St. Croix Educational Complex squad.
Sankitts sparked his team's offense with a 2-run double in the first inning, while Jamari White went 2-for-2 and drove in two more runs to lead the Barracudas to a 6-3 victory over Central High in the opening game of the St. Croix IAA varsity season on Wednesday.
Complex opened a 4-0 lead, and with a strong defense behind him, winning pitcher Ian Lewis, a lefty, threw a scoreless sixth inning to seal the victory.
"It was just the first game, so we have a long way to go," said Barracudas coach Ellerton Maynard, whose team will meet the Caribs again on Wednesday at D.C. Canegata Ballpark. "We're still meshing together as a team. At the same time, I'm expecting some big things."
Sean Mantos finished with a hit and an RBI for Complex. Leadoff hitter Ajani Dowdy also contributed to the Barracudas' 7-hit attack.
Central scored after Emanuel Martinez hit an RBI-double in the third, but Complex answered right back when White drove in Dalton Benjamin with a single to open a 5-1 lead for the Barracudas. Benjamin scored twice in the game.
"We have some guys who can play, and they are constantly trying to improve," Maynard said. "We got a solid performance from our pitcher tonight, and the offense did what it had to do."
Lakish Plante went 3-for-3 for the Caribs and was a home run shy of hitting for the cycle. He scored on a Tafari Carter double to trim the Barracudas' lead to 5-3 in the fifth, but that was the end of Central's rally.
Daniel Franco added a hit for Central, who had Ashante Lawrence on the mound.
"It was a good start for both teams, and we're looking forward to another competitive season," St. Croix IAA baseball commissioner Morgan Quigley said.
No games in St. Thomas-St. John District
Ivanna Eudora Kean and Charlotte Amalie High School were scheduled to take the field at Lionel Roberts Stadium on Wednesday, but the district varsity season opener was again delayed.
"I've talked with the coaches and they said they are not ready, so we have to give them more time," St. Thomas-St. John IAA baseball commissioner Steve Parris said Wednesday afternoon. "So there will be no varsity baseball on St. Thomas until Monday."
The varsity schedule has been released three times since December without a single pitch being thrown. An inter-island doubleheader was scheduled to be held last weekend on St. Thomas, but that was postponed and rainy weather altered the schedule two weeks ago.
"There's been some travel issues and other conflicts, so we're trying to work it out," Parris said.
Monday's game between CAHS and Kean High will start at 6 p.m. at Lionel Roberts. The St. Croix varsity teams are scheduled to visit St. Thomas on Feb. 9 and 10.
- Contact sports writer Aaron Gray at 714-9102 or email agray@dailynews.vi.
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