Bensalem's Sanchez overcomes language, cultural barriers to fit in well on baseball team

BENSALEM — Richi Sanchez started attending Bensalem's off-season baseball workouts despite knowing barely any English, which was a deterrent to communicating.

But it didn't stop Sanchez, who arrived in the United States from Zulia, Venezuela, with his family in 2022 "to have a brighter future." He made the Owls' varsity as a junior and, eventually, discovered how much of a big help senior infielder Yahil Almodovar, whose ancestors are from Puerto Rico, could be by translating for Sanchez.

The combination of the bi-lingual Almodovar and Sanchez's improving English allowed him to speed up the process and eliminate some of the nervousness he had initially felt.

"It was a little weird at first (struggling to communicate with hand signals and the like), then we started to get to know him and he's a real cool dude and funny guy," said senior pitcher/left fielder Dan McShane. "He's fit in well with the team. It's worked out good."

"We kind of just welcomed him with open arms," Almodovar said. "He's friendly."

Sanchez certainly isn't complaining.

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Asked what he likes most about being on the Bensalem team, Sanchez, via Almodovar, replied, "He likes everything, (such as) his friends — practically everything."

Sanchez's favorite parts of baseball are running the bases and fielding, which were on display during Saturday's 5-1 non-conference victory over visiting Springfield-Montco.

After entering the game in the fourth inning at shortstop, Sanchez's first defensive chance was a hard-hit ball that he and Almodovar turned into a 6-4-3 double play, which brought plenty of praise from his teammates.

In the bottom of the fourth, he reached base on a fielder's choice, then scored from first base when Almodovar smacked a double to left field. Sanchez had made solid contact on a 3-1 pitch that he pulled foul, producing a bunch of "oohs" and "aahs" from his teammates on the bench.

"He brings a lot of energy, so we try to bring it for him," McShane said.

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You wouldn't know that Bensalem went 6-14 (3-13 in the Suburban One League Patriot Division) this season based on Sanchez's enthusiasm and the way he's enjoying himself.

He started some games at third base due to an injury but has spent most of the season as a defensive replacement or pinch-runner, which is fine with him.

"The guys have loved having him on the team," said Owls head coach Kurt Sowa. "They've really been great with him. He's a super-nice kid."

It's fair to wonder if the other Bensalem players have learned as much or more from Sanchez than he has taken away from them.

"I think they've learned to support each other and be good teammates," Sowa said. "They've really tried to get to know him and communicate even with the language barrier. They've really included him and Richi has really enjoyed being part of the team."

Tom Moore: tmoore@couriertimes.com; @TomMoorePhilly

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Bensalem's Sanchez making himself at home on baseball team