EVESHAM (N.J.) - The Cherokee High School baseball team erased a 6-0 deficit with 10 unanswered runs to defeat district rival Shawnee, 10-6, in an Olympic Conference American Division showdown on Monday.
Danny Torres went 4-for-4 with three singles, a grand slam, and five runs batted in Cherokee's 10-6 win over Shawnee at Cherokee High School in Evesham, New Jersey on April 2, 2023. Chris Baker/D2 Sports Network
The Renegades darted out to a 6-0 lead after two and a half innings. Oskar Heino plated a run with an RBI groundout in the first inning. Josh Goulburn hit a three-run home run in the top of the second inning and Reid Uccello added a two-run shot in the top of the third inning.
Cherokee showed signs of life in the bottom of the third inning after Brett Chiesa and Danny Torres drove in three runs on a pair of singles.
The Renegades were held scoreless over the final four innings as Virginia Tech commit Brett Gable struck out seven hitters and allowed only one hit in four innings of relief work. The sophomore earned the win on the mound.
"It was like pitching in two different games," Gable said. "I come in and we're down 6-0 then the next time I take the mound we're leading 9-6. It's huge for me because I knew I could just go out there and pitch with the help of my offense."
In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Chiefs put up six runs on an RBI single from Brandon Prince, an RBI double from Brandon Petrick, and a grand slam by Torres. Torres went 4-for-4 with three singles, his go-ahead grand slam, and five runs batted in.
Jordan Henriquez also smashed a long ball in the bottom of the sixth inning to give Cherokee a four-run advantage.
Torres' day at the plate stemmed from the work he put in during the offseason. The senior wanted to leave no doubt for Cherokee coach Marc Petragnani to entrust him to be a starter after seeing limited action in a platoon role last year.
"I just wanted to help my team," Torres said. "My thought was to just put the ball in play hard somewhere and I got the job done."