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Around the Horn with...Chris Sartori, Central Catholic Baseball

Sunday, May, 18 By James Healey
Staff writer

In limited playing time last year, Central Catholic's Chris Sartori had four hits in 16 at-bats. This year, in 14 games, he's hitting a nifty .439, going 18 for 41.

It was just a year and a half ago that the Andover resident was taking a seat in his first car. The price was right. He won the 1999 Bravada SUV from his school, which was being raffled off in a fund-raiser.

Sartori put his keys away and took some time out to go around the horn.

What made you choose Central Catholic over Andover High?

"My brother went to Central Catholic and he really liked it. I visited the school and decided that I liked it as well. I did leave some friends at Andover High, but I made more at Central. Everything has turned out for the best for me here."

How is the season going so far?

"We have done extremely well with a 12-2 record so far and we have played great as a team. We have great pitching, great defense, and timely hitting. We have been successful so far and hopefully we keep it going."

What can you say about your personal improvement this season?

"Last year I played behind Greg Holmes at first base and he was one of the best players on the team. I got into games as much as I could, but he was the starter and did a good job so I had no complaints. I took the starting role this year and have tried to do my best. Every at bat I tune into each pitch and try to make contact. I also did a lot this offseason. I lifted at a gym, ran a lot, took at-bats twice a week, fielded, and threw as much as I could."

What is coach Marc Pelletier like on and off the field?

"He is an intense coach, but he knows his stuff, since he has been coaching for 20-plus years. He does a good job keeping us together and not teaching us to look at the stats. He is the gym teacher at the school, so if you have a question, you can go down to the gym and talk to him. I have talked to him more this year than last. I have communicated with him better and we have a good relationship. We like to talk about the game and strategy with each other."

What is it like to have your father coach you in Legion ball?

"I play on the Lawrence Post 15 team during the summer. I have played under my dad since Little League. We have a good relationship. He has taught me that when the hat is on, he is the coach and when the hat comes off, he is dad. On the field I see him as a coach. He is all about positive reinforcement. He is always there to help and get you through things. He is one of the best coaches to have."

Do you like playing in the spring with the school or the summer for your dad?

"Playing in the summer, it's a different team. When I play for Central, it only Central kids. When I play in the summer, it is a Central and Lawrence mix on the team. It is good to play with other kids during the summer and the competition is different, but I enjoy playing on both the same."

What was it like to win a car?

"It was shocking and I obviously wasn't expecting to win. When they announced my name I couldn't believe I had just won. Once I saw the car I realized I had just won a new car."

What was it for?

"Central Catholic does a charity each year to raise money for the school. If you bring in enough money you get tickets for prize raffles. One of the tickets was for the car. I am unsure on how much money I raised or how many tickets I had, but I definitely had enough in to win the car. When I won, it was the first year they had raffled off the car."

How are you doing in school?

"I get A's and B's and have a 3.7 GPA. I have always done well in the classroom and hopefully continue to do so in the future. I am probably around 100 out of 320 in the class rank. All four years I have been on the honor or high honor roll."

Any plans for college?

"I will be attending Bentley College. It was between Bentley, my first choice, and Saint Anselm. I will be a business major, maybe management. I will try out for the baseball team at Bentley."

Favorite food, TV show, movie, athlete?

"Food: Chicken Parmesan; TV show: SportsCenter; movie: Anchorman; athlete: Ryan Howard."