Jon Candelier said he expects to be taken in the MLB draft in early June and had a workout recently with the Royals. But while his goal of playing professional baseball appears to be drawing closer, the Clinton senior said he is
hardly thinking about it.
“That’s not my focus right now,” the catcher said. “I just want a ring.”
And yesterday, it looked like he could very well fall short of the PSAL title. Down 5-3 to No. 18 New Utrecht
heading into the bottom of the sixth, the second-seeded Governors were actually on the verge of a stunning comeback.
Candelier led off the inning with a walk and 12 batters later, teammate Jarbe Jimenezblasted a double that
scored two runs. The runs gave Clinton a 15-5 lead and, thanks to the PSAL’s mercy rule, a second-round playoff
victory.
Candelier, who has struggled at times this season and was the designated hitter yesterday because of a balky knee,
said he wasn’t concerned about his high school career ending.
“I believe in my team,” said Candelier, who scored twice in the sixth inning. “You always have to believe.”
His coach said he wasn’t quite as optimistic.
“I thought we were ready to fall,” Bob Miller said. “I never expected . . . that.”
It’s easy to understand why Miller was at a loss for words. After all, 13 batters came to the plate in that final frame and none of them were retired. They went through three New Utrecht pitchers.
*
In other games, No. 11 Curtis upset sixth-seeded George Washington, 6-4, while defending champion and top-seeded Monroe continued to roll along, beating Brandeis, 15-2.
