Castellanos delivers for Skyhawks

Spencer Patterson

Friday, March 23, 2001 | 9:47 a.m.

The past three weeks have not been easy for Ryan Castellanos.

The day after making the cut for Silverado's varsity baseball team, the sophomore took a ball off his face while shagging flies during batting practice, knocking out his two front teeth. So while his teammates kicked off the season, Castellanos was forced to watch, waiting for the day he would get his opportunity.

Thursday, he got that chance, starting his first varsity game at third base against visiting Bishop Gorman. And when the Skyhawks needed a big hit, Castellanos came through, doubling home the winning run in a 2-1, 10-inning Silverado win.

"It was real hard (sitting out). I love baseball," said Castellanos, one of seven new starters for the defending 4A state champs. "It felt great being out there. I've never been so happy in my life."

The game began as a pitchers' duel between Silverado right-hander Dan Murray and Gorman southpaw Dan Mangiapani, with the Skyhawks (6-3) scratching out the only run through six innings on Tyler Coon's RBI single in the third.

But after Murray exited the game in the sixth, the Gaels (6-2) stayed alive in their half of the seventh. With one out, Greg Marshall's high chopper forced shortstop Casey Coon to throw to first, bringing home Brian Young.

Mangiapani, who allowed just six hits, left the game suddenly in the bottom of the seventh, holding his arm as coaches and trainers attended to him.

The Skyhawks were unable to score until the 10th, when Castellanos came through with his clutch two-out hit.

"We needed a game like this," Skyhawks coach Brian Whitaker said. "This kind of thing makes you believe in yourself."

Castellanos, Tyler Coon, Danny Esquer and Mike Welter finished with two hits apiece for the hosts, and junior Anthony Vita earned his first varsity win. Chris Ortiz went 3-for-5 to lead the Gaels.