Share |

Athletics

Eddie Dwyer's Corner

Eddie Dwyer was a member of The Plain Dealer's sports department for more than 36 years before retiring on Dec. 31, 2006. In his "semi-retirement," Dwyer covers Saint Ignatius' sports teams here for "Eddie Dwyer's Corner". He also writes for the Saint Ignatius Magazine.

In March 2000, Dwyer was inducted into the Ohio Prep Sports Writers Hall of Fame. During his career, he was the recipient of the Golden Deeds Award from Greater Cleveland's three major coaching associations - baseball, basketball and football. In 2007, Dwyer received the "Class Act Award" from the Cleveland Basketball Officials Association.

Spring 2010

Baseball

SAINT IGNATIUS' 2010 VARSITY BASEBALL PREVIEW

Posted on 3/25/10 at 1:25 a.m.

A MODEL OF CONSISTENCY

AFTER A RECORD-SETTING SEASON IN '09, COACH BRAD GANOR'S "BLUE COLLAR" 'CATS LOOK TO MAINTAIN A STYLE OF PLAY THAT HAS HELPED ESTABLISH A STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE ON THE DIAMOND.

By Eddie Dwyer
Copyright, March 2010

Joined by their coach, Brad Ganor, Saint Ignatius senior tri-captains Dave Gallagher, Jack McLinden and Kevin Hopkins relaxed in the Wirtz Pavilion earlier this week and talked about their program's identity.

Like many spring sports teams around the state, the accomplishments of Wildcats baseball are sometimes overlooked. And there are many reasons for that – Mother Nature playing havoc in the spring, the starting times of weekday games being between 4:15 and 4:30 p.m. and, in Saint Ignatius' case, the fact the 'Cats usually play only a handful of "home games."

This season, for example, Saint Ignatius has just four home games on its schedule and one of those, an April 15 matchup with University School, is listed as "site to be determined." After starting their spring with eight consecutive road games, the 'Cats are slated to play their first home game on April 13 against St. Vincent-St. Mary in Bohlken Park Bohlken Park is located in Fairview Park.

"I view us, for lack of a better term, as a blue-collar program," said Gallagher, whose .413 batting average, .587 slugging percentage, nine doubles, three home runs, 32 runs batted in, 32 runs scored and solid play at third base helped Saint Ignatius to a school-record third consecutive state final-four appearance last year. "Yeah, it's nice to have fans at our games, but whether we have fans or not, it's not going to stop us from going out there and doing our business. We're going to play hard whether there's five fans in the stands or 5,000."

Gallagher, who is being recruited by major-college programs, also will be part of the Wildcats' main pitching rotation this spring and is expected to play shortstop and third base. He will be joined on the varsity team this year by his brother, Colin, a junior infielder.

McLinden, a 6-foot-5 right-handed pitcher and a four-year member of the varsity, said baseball season, compared with sports that compete once a week, is more of a grind.

"You're playing five days a week,'' said McLinden, a Bucknell University recruit who was 4-0 last season with 21 strikeouts in 22.1 innings pitched. "It's not something that (fans) can be there every day of the week supporting you. But we're out there working hard and focusing on the playoffs and our ultimate goals. For us, it's as much about improving every day and making the ultimate run.

"Coach Ganor always says we have to peak at the right time."

Hopkins, one of the more pesky lead-off hitters in the area and a versatile defender who can play all of the outfield positions, has seen it from both sides as far as attendance at games is concerned..

As a standout safety and special-teams player in football, Hopkins has competed in front of crowds that usually total anywhere between 8,000 and 10,000, and some higher than that. A "small crowd" for a Saint Ignatius football game is about 6,000.

"I kind of have a different insight," said Hopkins, whose hustle and team-first approach earned him one of the baseball team's prestigious Coaches Cups last year. "All week it's practicing hard in football and the big game is either Friday night or Saturday night, and that's what everyone comes to see. In baseball, you're also practicing hard and if you're not practicing you have a game. It's usually a Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday game, and if it is on the weekend it's usually a tournament in Toledo, South Carolina or somewhere where if we get more people than our parents to come, that's great for us."

"Hoppy," as Kevin is known to his teammates and friends, supported what we alluded to earlier in the story – just call Coach Ganor and Co. the road warriors.

Saint Ignatius has made 10 big-school state final-four appearances in baseball, including six since 2000. The 'Cats were Division I state champions in spring of 2002 and were state runners-up in 2000 and 2008.

Coach Ganor, who will take a career record of 119-33 into this season, his sixth as the Wildcats' skipper, will also feature one of the premier hitters in the area in senior infielder/pitcher Mike Burke, a University of Buffalo recruit.

In helping Saint Ignatius to 25 victories in 33 games last year, the quiet, yet good natured Burke set a school record by hitting .573 with a slugging percentage of .907. He had eight doubles, a triple and 36 RBI, and said goodbye to Mr. Rawlings five times. That's home runs for you new fans.

On the mound, Burke was 3-2. He was the 'Cats' co-Offensive Player of the Year in '09, his fielding garnered him a share of the team's Defensive Player of the Year honor with Gallagher and he earned a spot on The Plain Dealer's seven-county All-Star Team.

A right-hander, Burke will be joined near the top of the rotation by McLinden, Gallagher, who is also a right-hander, and senior right-hander David Deliz, who was 4-1 last year with 22 strikeouts in 24 innings pitched.

Among the other names to remember are senior Kory Gillissie, a football standout and a .353 hitter in '09 who has exceptional wheels in center field; junior Cory Finkler, who takes over the starting duties behind the plate; junior first baseman Mike Horejsei; junior outfielders Neal Jacobs and Joe Greco; Colin Gallagher (mentioned above); junior designated hitter and football linebacker Tyler Kette; sophomore catcher Andrew Piscioneri; senior infielder Kairee Tekra, who has prevailed after being cut three previous times; senior infielder Zach Seybert; and pitchers Brian Lehto, a senior right-hander, junior right-handers Marques Pagan and Mason Halter, who are fresh off basketball season, and sophomore left-hander Zach Shockley.

"I talk to these guys a lot about the success the program has had," Coach Ganor said. "They weren't even born back in the early '90s when the team was making a final-four trip. Since I've been here (12 years overall), the slogan on all of our baseball stuff that we send out is 'Building on a Tradition of Excellence.' We're just building on top of what was already put in place. Those teams in the mid-90s were pretty good."

And so are the current Wildcats who, after setting the school mark with three consecutive trips to the final four, have the opportunity to become the first Division I baseball program in Ohio to make four consecutive final-four appearances.

"I think this year what is going to pay off in the end is that we have a great group of kids," Ganor said. "They have all bought in and are all on the same page. You know it's special playing here at Saint Ignatius. You have 160 kids try out for the program and 19 kids make the varsity team. That's pretty special and I try to remind them of that.

"No matter what they do in college or beyond, there is nothing more special than playing for Saint Ignatius High School."

SUCCESS PAYING FUTURE DIVIDENDS: A number that Coach Ganor is very proud of, and should be, is that through his first five years as the Wildcats' skipper, the program has produced 27 college baseball scholarships. And more will be coming this season.

TALL ORDER: It might be safe to say there isn't a taller pitching staff in Ohio than the one Saint Ignatius will throw at you this season. No, there isn't a 6-10 Randy Johnson look a like. But how about 6-7 junior right-hander Mason Halter, who happens to be an offensive tackle in football and a post player in basketball, 6-6 senior right-hander Brian Lehto, 6-5 sophomore left-hander Zak Shockley, 6-5 senior right-hander Jack McLinden, 6-4 senior right-hander David Deliz and 6-4 junior right-hander Marques Pagan? "And then we have the short guys in Burke and Gallagher," joked Coach Ganor.

LONG-DISTANCE FANS: Dave Gallagher revealed that he lived in Ireland for about eight months as a younger kid. He said his parents' homeland is in Achill Island, County Mayo. Thanks to the efforts of Dave's mom, the relatives in the Emerald Isle have become fans of "The Corner." This spring they will have two Gallaghers to follow and to that I say, "Erin Go Bragh."

DEMANDING SLATE: As we mentioned above, the 'Cats open their season with eight consecutive road games, including four in South Carolina during the Easter break Coach Ganor's team is scheduled to begin its season at Gilmour Academy on Monday at 4:30 p.m. On Tuesday, the 'Cats travel to the Northern Ohio Complex in Strongsville to face talent-laden St. Edward at 4:30 and on Wednesday, March 31, it's off to Westlake to take on Coach Jeff Short's Demons at 6 p.m.

After a high noon matchup with the Mayfield Wildcats and Ohio State baseball recruit Tim Wetzel on April 5, Saint Ignatius will head for Hartsville, South Carolina, where its first game will be against Maryland power Archbishop Spalding on April 7 at 1:15 p.m. The bus will leave Saint Ignatius when the clock strikes midnight on April 6.

Other highlights on the who's who schedule are the annual Strongsville Tournament on April 17-18, where the Wildcats will face the Strongsville Mustangs, defending Division II state champion Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin and Mentor, an April 23 date with the Avon Lake Shoremen in Progressive Field (5:30 p.m.) and the annual Ohio Jesuit Tournament, which this year is being played in Toledo on April 24-25. Saint Ignatius is scheduled to play Division II state runner-up Walsh Jesuit and Cincinnati St. Xavier at noon and 3:30 p.m., respectively, in Ned Skeldon Stadium on the 24th. On Sunday, the 25th, the 'Cats will take on the Titans from St. John's Jesuit at St. John's. The first pitch will be 3 p.m.

TEAMS TO BEAT: Baseball can be a fickle sport, but right now it appears Walsh Jesuit, St. Edward and Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin are getting the most preseason attention. Walsh Jesuit has one the deepest teams in the state, St. Edward is again led by All-Americans Stetson Allie (pitcher/middle infielder) and Alex Lavisky (catcher), the two premier players in Ohio, and NDCL? Well, by now you should know that veteran coach Jim Clark will have the Lions roaring again in May. I promise you the same thing can be said about the 'Cats come May, if not sooner.

SAINT IGNATIUS VERSUS WESTLAKE VARSITY BASEBALL RECAP.

POSTED ON 4/1/10 AT 1:40 A.M.

A NICE START TO A PROMISING SEASON.

'CATS RIDE DAVID DELIZ'S TALENTED RIGHT ARM, SEVEN STOLEN BASES AND A QUICK-STRIKING OFFENSE FUELED BY KEVIN HOPKINS, MIKE BURKE AND DAVE GALLAGHER TO A SOLID VICTORY AT WESTLAKE.

Coach Ganor said he will send 6-5 senior right-hander and tri-captain Jack McLinden to the mound today at Gilmour and that Deliz will come back on Monday to face the Mayfield Wildcats in a noon game at Mayfield. McLinden, a Bucknell University recruit, was 4-0 last season with 21 strikeouts in 22.1 innings pitched.

By Eddie Dwyer
Copyright, April 2010

It was only appropriate that a cool, but calm breeze swept across the outfield at Westlake High School on Wednesday night as Saint Ignatius' David Deliz was talking about his effort on the mound.

In helping the Wildcats to an impressive season-opening victory over the Westlake Demons, the 6-foot-3 senior right-hander was never more composed.

With Deliz throwing five shutout innings and Saint Ignatius' bats ringing early, the 'Cats handed the always-solid Demons a 10-1 loss under the lights.

"The fastball looked good," Deliz said, referring to his pitch of choice on Wednesday night. "The umpire gave me the strikes I wanted. My change-up, that is something I have to work on. It felt like I was kind of pushing it too much. I didn't really let it flow out of my hand.

"And the curveball surprised me. It looked pretty good and I felt comfortable throwing it."

Deliz was relaxed and confident from the get-go, as he took a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the first inning.

Saint Ignatius, which set a school record in 2009 by advancing to the Division I state final four for the third consecutive season, silenced the Westlake faithful before the sun started to set and the lights were turned on.

Senior tri-captain and left fielder Kevin Hopkins led off the game by lining a single to left field. He promptly stole second base, then stole third with one out and came home on an RBI single to left by standout senior third baseman Mike Burke. A Plain Dealer seven-county All-Star in '09, Burke set a school mark last season by hitting .573.

After Burke stole second, senior shortstop and tri-captain Dave Gallagher said goodbye to Mr. Rawlings by sending a 2-1 fastball over the fence in front of the scoreboard in center field. Other highlights in the top of the first included a walk and a stolen base by junior catcher Cory Finkler.

Deliz, who was 4-1 last season with 22 strikeouts in 24 innings pitched, recorded two of his six Ks in the bottom of the first. In his commanding five innings of work, he yielded three hits, two of which were scratch infield singles. The only hard hit ball was a two-out, nobody-on double by Demons senior first baseman Robert Davidson in the bottom of the second. Deliz promptly ended that threat by enticing a 4-3 ground out that brought a noticeable grin to the face of Wildcats pitching coach T.J. Donovan '94.

"Coach (Brad) Ganor emphasized that (Westlake) is a team that fights back," Deliz said of his victory over the Demons, who under 21-year skipper Jeff Short have been one of the most consistently successful baseball programs in the area.

"It is something I was told, starting this game," Deliz continued, in reference to the Demons' success on the diamond. "The coaches said this was my time to set the tempo for the rest of the pitchers, to go right after them and throw strikes. That's what I did, and it felt good doing it."

Playing the aggressive style of baseball Coach Ganor covets, Saint Ignatius' opportunistic hitters were feeling good right along with Deliz.

The 'Cats, who travel to Gilmour Academy today (Thursday) for a 4:30 p.m. matchup with the Lancers, combined another base hit by Burke, a sacrifice bunt by Gallagher, a two-out walk by junior right fielder Neal Jacobs, an errant pick-off attempt and a sharp grounder off the bat of junior designated hitter Tyler Kette into two more runs in the third.

A leadoff single and a stolen base by senior center fielder Kory Gillissie and a one-out, line-drive RBI double down the left-field line by junior first baseman Mike Horejsei keyed a three-run fourth.

Finkler's two-out sinking line drive to right made it 9-0 in the sixth and the Gallaghers had more to celebrate as Dave's brother, Colin, a junior infielder in his first season on the varsity, came up with a base hit to right center in the seventh, advanced to second on a passed ball and came around to score on a two-out base hit by Hopkins.

Saint Ignatius 6-5 sophomore left-hander Zak Shockley struck out three in pitching a scoreless bottom of the sixth and 6-7 junior right-hander Mason Halter pitched out of trouble in the bottom of the seventh.

"A shutout would have been nice, but all in all, for the first day out on a field I'm pretty happy," said Ganor, who began his sixth season as the Wildcats' head coach with his 120^{th career victory. "All we have seen is Sullivan Gymnasium. That was their No. 1 (pitcher) and that is pretty much what we are going to see all season – everybody's No. 1."}

SAINT IGNATIUS VERSUS GILMOUR ACADEMY VARSITY BASEBALL RECAP.

STORY WAS POSTED ON 4/1/10 AT 11:57 P.M.

ZACH SEYBERT'S BAT AND GLOVE AND SOME CLUTCH HITTING BY NEAL JACOBS, MIKE HOREJSEI AND CORY FINKLER HELP LEAD SAINT IGNATIUS PAST GILMOUR ACADEMY.

A POWERFUL MAYFIELD LINEUP AWAITS THE 'CATS ON MONDAY AND THEN IT IS OFF TO HARTSVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA.

By Eddie Dwyer
Copyright, April 2010

Everyone associated with Saint Ignatius' varsity baseball program realizes how much time and effort Wildcats senior infielder Zach Seybert puts in on a daily basis, whether it be in practice or in game competition.

It is those hours spent in the off-season, however, the three days a week of extra hitting and fielding at the Avon facility of former Saint Ignatius and University of Cincinnati baseball standout Neal French (now in the Yankees' organization) that appear to be paying off as Seybert secures his daily spot in Coach Brad Ganor's starting lineup.

Late Thursday afternoon at Gilmour Academy, Seybert's work ethic came to the fore several times during the Wildcats' 7-2 victory in a Cuyahoga River Baseball Conference matchup.

Fueling the offense in the second inning and coming up with a couple of defensive gems in the infield, Seybert helped Saint Ignatius improve to 2-0 on the young season, 1-0 in the CRBC.

“Zach made the plays,” said Coach Ganor, who referred to the victory over the Lancers as a game that wasn't pretty, yet one that builds character. He also cautioned his players about what lies ahead – a trip to Mayfield on Monday at noon to face one of the area's more potent offenses and then the 12-hour bus ride to Hartsville, South Carolina, where the 'Cats, in Coach Ganor's words, will face “four tremendous teams” from April 7-10.

Saint Ignatius' first game in South Carolina is against Maryland power Archbishop Spalding on April 7 at 1:15 p.m.

As for Thurday's game, the Wildcats were hoping to start as fast as they did on Wednesday night at Westlake, a 10-1 victory that began with Saint Ignatius scoring three times in the top of the first inning.

After a scoreless first inning at Gilmour, junior right fielder Neal Jacobs and Seybert got the offense on track with some clutch two-out hitting.

Jacobs singled to left, advanced to second on a pitch in the dirt and came around to score when Seybert lined a hard single up the middle that almost took the pitcher's glove along with it to center field.

The Lancers, who in 2008 joined Saint Ignatius, St. Edward and Walsh Jesuit as four teams from the same conference to advance to the OHSAA state baseball final four (Divisions I, II and IV), tied the score in the bottom of the third. Gilmour could have done further damage in the inning if it wasn't for a play by Seybert that saw the gritty second baseman make a split-second reaction to a ball that took a wicked hop to his right. Without any hesitation, he barehanded the ball and fired to first base to end the inning.

As always seems to be the case in baseball, the Wildcats rode the momentum from Seybert's defensive play to a three-run top of the fourth.

Senior Mike Burke, who was playing shortstop on Thursday, led off the fourth with a single to right-center field. After senior third baseman Dave Gallagher was hit by a pitch, junior designated hitter Cory Finkler hit a sharp grounder that the third baseman couldn't handle and the bases were loaded.

Jacobs came up big again, as he delivered a two-run single through the left side. After Saint Ignatius failed to execute a suicide squeeze, Seybert brought home the third run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to left-center field.

The Wildcats' defense continued to play a major role.

With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, senior Kory Gillissie flashed some of his football skills by breaking on the ball and making a diving one-handed catch in center field that definitely prevented a run from scoring. Gillissie's grab brought back memories of his dramatic diving touchdown reception against Glenville on opening night of 2009 in his home city of Parma.

Senior right-hander Jack McLinden, who is bound for Bucknell University this summer, worked four innings for the victory. In 70 pitches, he yielded three hits, struck out five and walked one.

Although the Lancers did manufacture a run against Saint Ignatius' Brian Lehto in the bottom of the fifth, the 6-foot-6 right-hander struck out the third batter in Gilmour's order with runners on second and third and one out, and closed out the inning by recording another strikeout with runners on second and third.

Leading, 4-2, the 'Cats put together a run in the top of the sixth on a two-out, nobody-on double by Finkler to deep left-center field and a beat-out-the-throw infield hit by Jacobs. In what was a true display of heads-up base running, senior infielder Kairee Tekra, who was pinch running for Finkler, scored all the way from second on Jacobs' grounder to the left side. Quite an impressive effort from a young man who has prevailed after being cut three times.

In the bottom of the sixth, Gallagher, a right-hander, pitched out of a bases-loaded situation and was the beneficiary of another highlight-reel play by Seybert, one that saw Zach make a diving stop to his right behind second base, get up and throw the runner out at first base. Seybert emphasized how much he learned from playing behind two major-college recruits last season – Frank DeSico (University of Notre Dame) and Brad Clement (Kansas State).

Saint Ignatius, which outhit Gilmour, 9-5, and played error-less baseball, took control in the top of the seventh. With one out, Gillissie drew a walk, senior Kevin Hopkins lined a base hit to left and, after some alert and aggressive base running put Gillissie at third and Hopkins at second, junior first baseman Mike Horejsei drove the ball to left center for a two-run double, his second two-bagger of the game.

Burke, another right-hander, wrapped up the victory by compiling two strikeouts and getting the final out on a bases-loaded pop up to Horejsei.

SAINT IGNATIUS-MAYFIELD VARSITY BASEBALL RECAP.

STORY WAS POSTED ON 4/5/10 AT 7:15 P.M.

'CATS USE AN EARLY POWER SURGE, FOUR STRONG INNINGS BY DAVID DELIZ AND DAVE GALLAGHER'S CLOSING ACT IN HANDING MAYFIELD ITS FIRST LOSS OF THE SPRING.

KEVIN HOPKINS AND MIKE BURKE SAY GOOD-BYE TO MR. RAWLINGS AND SAINT IGNATIUS LIMITS MAYFIELD'S POTENT BATS TO FIVE HITS.

By Eddie Dwyer
Copyright, April 2010

The Mayfield Wildcats entered Monday afternoon's home game against Saint Ignatius with a reputation of being a big-inning team with a lineup of heavy hitters, one through nine.

Well, Saint Ignatius, a team that is no stranger to big innings and the role they play in this fickle game we love, silenced the partisan crowd along Wilson Mills Road shortly after high noon.

The C-Town 'Cats, with senior left fielder Kevin Hopkins and senior third baseman Mike Burke setting the tone, scored five times in the top of the first inning and went on to defeat Mayfield's Wildcats, 8-5, in a matchup of two of the area's premier Division I baseball programs.

Saint Ignatius, which stunned Mayfield's No. 1 starter Lee Longo with a lead-off blast by Hopkins that soared over the right-center field fence and a two-run authoritative drive by Burke that sent Mr. Rawlings rocketing over the righ-field fence, improved to 3-0.

Mayfield, which had been doing a number on opposing pitchers, slipped to 4-1.

“It relieved my stress level a little bit, I know that,” said Saint Ignatius head coach Brad Ganor, referring to his team's fast start. “We had this game circled on our schedule. We set it up like this (a game at Mayfield and then a trip to South Carolina to face four strong out-of-state teams) to see what we were made of early.”

So far, so good.

After Hopkins' first career home run on the varsity level, Saint Ignatius' dugout was alive with enthusiasm.

That confidence grew even stronger after Burke's touch-'em-all-time swing and, following a too-hot-to-handle grounder off the bat of senior shortstop Dave Gallagher, an errant pick-off attempt, a one-out line drive to right field by junior designated hitter Tyler Kette that went for a base hit and an error, and a two-out RBI single by junior right fielder Joe Greco, Mayfield was playing uphill for the first time in this young season.

Coach Don Ramer's Wildcats would answer with a run in the bottom of the first, scoring on a single by Longo that was preceded by a two-out walk and a stolen base by senior center fielder and Ohio State recruit Tim Wetzel.

Saint Ignatius, which will face Maryland power Archbishop Spalding on Wednesday at 1:15 p.m. in Hartsville, S.C., came right back with two runs in the top of the second. Hopkins led off the inning with base hit, junior first baseman Mike Horejsei laid down a text-book sacrifice bunt and Burke delivered an RBI double to deep left field, After Gallagher was hit by a pitch, Burke stole third and scored on a throwing error.

Mayfield, whose field was in perfect condition, closed to 7-2 in the bottom of the second, only to watch Saint Ignatius push its lead to 8-2 on a double off the fence in right center by senior second baseman Zach Seybert leading off the third, another errant pick-off attempt and a perfectly executed suicide-squeeze bunt by senior center fielder Kory Gillissie.

Senior right-hander David Deliz, putting together his second strong performance in as many outings, threw 79 pitches in four complete innings of work. He yielded two runs, four singles, walked two and struck out eight.

“If feels great, especially knowing the big bats Mayfield has,” said Deliz, who improved to 2-0 on the season and 6-1 in his varsity career. “To be able to throw and control what you have is one of the greatest feelings. I wanted to go one more inning, but that's my fault with my pitch count. I would go from 0-2 and 1-2 counts to 2-2 and 3-2.

“I was ready today, even though I had never done it before on four days rest.”

Although Mayfield managed just one hit off Saint Ignatius' bullpen, Coach Ramer's team sandwiched that hit between two hit batsmen, an error, a sacrifice fly, a walk and another sacrifice fly in scoring three runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Trailing, 8-5, Mayfield had the bases loaded with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. But Gallagher, a right-hander, was equal to the challenge as he ended the game with his second strikeout of the inning.

Coach Ganor wasn't happy with the nine runners his team left on base and having a base runner picked off on a hit-and-run attempt. He did emphasize to his 'Cats, however, that they passed a “big test” at Mayfield. Saint Ignatius totaled 14 hits on the afternoon.

SAINT IGNATIUS VERSUS ARCHBISHOP SPALDING VARSITY BASEBALL RECAP (4/7/10).

SETTING THE TONE

WILDCATS GIFTED RIGHT-HANDER JACK MCLINDEN PITCHES SAINT IGNATIUS PAST MARYLAND POWER ARCHBISHOP SPALDING.

OFFENSE COMES UP BIG EARLY AND THE DEFENSE WAS ROCK SOLID FROM THE GET-GO.

By Eddie Dwyer
Copyright, April 2010

SAINT IGNATIUS VERSUS ARCHBISHOP SPALDING VARSITY BASEBALL RECAP – 4/7/10.

SETTING THE TONE

WILDCATS GIFTED RIGHT-HANDER JACK MCLINDEN PITCHES SAINT IGNATIUS PAST MARYLAND POWER ARCHBISHOP SPALDING.

OFFENSE STRIKES EARLY; DEFENSE ROCK SOLID FROM THE GET-GO.

By Eddie Dwyer
Copyright, April 2010

   HARTSVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA - Saint Ignatius head baseball coach Brad Ganor said it over and over while addressing his team outside the fence along the first-base line.

“Setting the tone, setting the tone,” Coach Ganor said, moments after senior right-hander Jack McLinden led the Wildcats past Archbishop Spalding, 3-1, on Wednesday afternoon during the opening round of the talent-laden Southeastern Baseball Classic. “I want to be playing in the last game on Saturday, not the first game.”

If Saint Ignatius (4-0) does advance to Saturday’s championship game, it can look back on McLinden’s dominant performance in atmosphere-rich Jimmy White Park as the key that opened the title door.

In improving to 2-0 on the season and 10-0 for his varsity career, the 6-foot-5 McLinden was flawless for five innings and mentally tough and savvy over the final two innings. In 88 pitches, he limited the always-strong Cavaliers to three hits, struck out eight and walked two.

  As impressive as the Bucknell University recruit was in the early going, it was his determination to go the distance that came to the fore in the sixth and seventh innings.

In facing situations in which Archbishop Spalding (7-4) had runners on second and third with just one out in the bottom half of both frames, McLinden walked away victorious after yielding just one run off a 6-3 groundout in the seventh. Both he and Coach Ganor described his performance as the best in his four-year varsity career.

“The key for me was mixing in a cutter to keep guys off balance, something they would beat into the ground,” McLinden said. “I was getting a lot of good movement on that and was able to use it as a pitch to set somebody up with a fastball inside or a splitter. Being efficient with my pitches, getting ahead of hitters and working to locate in order to put them away, those were also some of the real keys.”

The Wildcats, who were coming off an 8-5 victory over a heavy-hitting Mayfield team, scored their three runs in the top of the first inning.

Senior left fielder and leadoff hitter Kevin Hopkins reached on an error off a sharp grounder, stole second base and advanced to third on a balk. After junior first baseman Mike Horejsei was hit by a pitch, senior third baseman Mike Burke drove in Hopkins with a sacrifice fly to deep right-center field. Senior shortstop Dave Gallagher followed with a line-drive single to right-center, junior catcher Cory Finkler brought home the second run on a groundout and junior designated hitter Tyler Kette made it 3-0 by delivering a two-out RBI single.

Coach Ganor also singled out his defense, especially in the infield.

Burke, a University of Buffalo recruit, made a big-league play on a slow chopper to end the sixth inning and Horejsei came up with a quick-reaction stop of a line drive for the second out in the bottom of the fifth. The ‘Cats pulled off a rare 9-6 double play (junior right fielder Neal Jacobs to Gallagher) in the bottom of the first and completed a text-book 1-6-3 twin killing in the bottom of the third.

“I don’t know, there is a different level I can take it to with somebody on second base,” said a smiling McLinden after Jacobs hauled in a fly ball for the game’s final out. “That’s something I pride myself in – don’t let that guy advance. It’s time to bear down and I thought I did a pretty good job of that today.”

In the words of Hopkins, who joins McLinden and Gallagher as Coach Ganor’s captains, big Jack showed great composure, got it done and was “unbelievable.”

A DAY TO CHERISH: During Wednesday night’s opening ceremonies, it was announced that Kevin Hopkins would be the recipient of the tournament’s $2,000 scholarship award to the college of his choice.

The award was based on academics, leadership, character, community service and athletics.

As is his nature, Kevin, who also was a standout safety and special-teams captain in football, wanted to thank his parents, Ann and Jim, his brother and “role model” Brian, who is a junior at Johns Hopkins and a captain of the football team, and his younger brother, Patrick.

“Patrick will be attending Saint Ignatius next year and I’m very happy and very proud of him,” Kevin said. “I can’t wait for that tradition to keep going in the Hopkins family.”

RIGHT AT HOME: That is how Coker College head baseball coach Dave Schmotzer made Coach Ganor, his staff and the players feel on Wednesday morning as the 'Cats took batting and fielding practice on Coker's College's Tom J. New Field.

  Schmotzer, a graduate of Padua Franciscan High School in Parma, where he was an outstanding all-around athlete, is in his 19th season as the skipper of the Coker Cobras. The pride of Hartsville, the NCAA Division II Cobras have won more than 600 games under Coach Schmotzer.

The Schmotzer family was a household name around the Cleveland-area sandlots and at one time Dave's mother served as the head of the food services department at old Cleveland Municipal Stadium.

After practice, Coach Schmotzer spoke to the 'Cats about the game of baseball, their futures and how fortunate they are to be attending a “great school” in Saint Ignatius.

PICKING 'EM UP AND LAYING 'EM DOWN: Wildcats senior center fielder Kory Gillissie finished among the top three in the pre-tournament base running competition that took place on Tuesday night in Jimmy White Park. After taking his cut in the batter's box, Kory, a right-handed hitter, went home to home in 15 seconds.

SAINT IGNATIUS VERSUS HARTSVILLE VARSITY BASEBALL RECAP.

STORY WAS POSTED ON 4/9/10 AT 12:30 A.M.

'CATS CAGE THE RED FOXES WITH A DRAMATIC FINISH.

SENIOR MIKE BURKE IS STRONG AND SAVVY ON THE MOUND AND JUNIORS NEAL JACOBS AND CORY FINKLER HELP FUEL A SEVENTH-INNING RALLY.

By Eddie Dwyer
Copyright, April 2010

   HARTSVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA – After he helped lead Saint Ignatius past Hartsville in the second round of the prestigious Southeastern Baseball Classic, junior right fielder Neal Jacobs emphasized that there is a “great chemistry” among the 2010 Wildcats, that he and his teammates can just sense it.

Chemistry, talent and a will to succeed.

It all came to the fore in Jimmy White Park late Thursday night as the 'Cats rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning and defeated a talented Hartsville team, 3-2.

With the victory, Saint Ignatius improved to 2-0 in the Classic and 5-0 overall. They will face Hedgesville from West Virginia in Friday's third-round action at 1:15 p.m.

   The Red Foxes from Hartsville, who got an outstanding effort from senior left-hander David Leeth, lost for just the third time in 15 games this spring.

   “Coach (Frank) Russo was telling me to bear down, that he ( Leeth) was going to throw me fastballs and that I was going to hit them,” Jacobs said after he followed a walk to junior designated hitter Tyler Kette by driving a single through the left side of the infield, an effort that put runners on first and second with one out in the bottom of the seventh. “So I just had to shorten my swing up. You do what you have to do.”

What Jacobs' clutch hit did was force Hartsville to go to their bullpen and Red Foxes young reliever Connor Johnson walked into a pressure cooker.

Junior catcher Cory Finkler loaded the bases by drawing a walk and then made a hard-nosed, but clean slide at second base that not only broke up a potential game-ending double play, but also brought home the tying run.

After junior left fielder Joe Greco drew a walk to load the bases again, senior center fielder and tri-captain Kevin Hopkins appeared to be hit by a pitch that would have forced in the winning run. However, the home plate umpire ruled that Hopkins made no attempt to get out of the way of the inside pitch and pinch runner Kory Gillissie had to go back to third base.

Just seconds later, Johnson uncorked a wild pitch, Gillissie raced across home plate and the celebration was on.

“With the bench cheering like they did, I mean that's the greatest feeling ever,” Jacobs said. “You know you have your boys behind you.”

A group of players who seem to have a knack for picking each other up, the Wildcats rode a strong pitching performance by senior right-hander Mike Burke, a double by Kette, a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly by Jacobs to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning.

It stayed that way until the top of the fourth, when Hartsville gave its home-town crowd something to cheer about.The Red Foxes, who were playing on their home field, tied the score on a two-base error, a base hit by senior catcher Seth Lowe and a fielder's choice.

Hartsville's faithful were hooting and hollering after the Red Foxes, courtesy of a double by senior infielder Adam Peterson, a sacrifice bunt by junior infielder Cody Mincey and a passed ball, took a 2-1 lead in the top of the seventh.

   The momentum the locals created was short-lived, however, as the 'Cats kept their poise and came up with what head coach Brad Ganor described as one of the biggest victories in Saint Ignatius' highly successful baseball history.

   Senior right-hander Brian Lehto picked up the victory in relief of Burke, whose six-plus innings of impressive work included five hits and no earned runs.

“A little bit of everything, it was awesome,” said Burke, when asked what emotions he was experiencing as he watched his teammates rally in the bottom of the seventh. A University of Buffalo recruit, Burke set a school record by batting .573 last season and added a double to his contributions on Thursday night.

“This was probably the most fun I had pitching,” Burke continued. “A lot of credit goes to Coach Donovan (Wildcats pitching coach T.J. Donovan). I have never been so prepared. He's very smart and knows what he is doing. So a lot of credit goes to him.

“I wasn't blowing hitters away with my fastball. My off-speed curveball and change-up allowed me to get a lot of guys to ground out or pop up.”

  Coach Ganor emphasized how impressive it was to watch Burke, a part-time pitcher and a full-time infielder, control “a very good Hartsville team.”

The Wildcats' skipper also pointed to his team's defensive effort, which included two clutch plays by junior second baseman Colin Gallagher in the top of the sixth.

SAINT IGNATIUS VERSUS HEDGESVILLE VARSITY BASEBALL RECAP.

POSTED ON 4/9/10 AT 7:45 P.M.

'CATS OVERCOME A SHAKY START; IMPROVE TO 6-0.

THE GALLAGHER BROTHERS HELP SPARK THE OFFENSE; SAINT IGNATIUS NOW AWAITS SATURDAY'S CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

By Eddie Dwyer
Copyright, April 2010

HARTSVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA – Saint Ignatius' versatile junior infielder Colin Gallagher can't hide the admiration and respect whenever he refers to his older brother – Wildcats standout senior infielder, pitcher and tri-captain Dave Gallagher.

Friday afternoon, the Gallagher brothers were doing what has been a major part of their lives since they were old enough to lift a bat – playing the game of baseball together.

And oh my, do they ever play it well.

Saint Ignatius, with the Gallaghers helping show the way, overcame a tough start and went on to defeat Hedgesville from West Virginia, 15-5, in the third round of the Southeastern Baseball Classic at Jimmy White Park.

The Wildcats, who improved to 3-0 in the Classic and 6-0 overall, will face Hanna High School of South Carolina in Saturday night's championship game. The first pitch in Jimmy White Park will be 6 p.m.

“Playing with Dave has been basically an every day thing since were little,” said Colin Gallagher, whose two-run double was one of the highlights of the Wildcats' six-run third inning, an outburst that came after Saint Ignatius handed Hedgesville a 2-0 lead by committing three errors in the bottom of the first inning. “Before we started playing in leagues, our parents always told us that we were playing the game when were about two years old. And we just never stopped.

“It's definitely a pleasure to be back playing with him, especially when we play the middle infield together," Colin Gallagher continued. "It's a special bond that we have. I don't know how much more chemistry you can get than having your brother out there. It's definitely something special, something I look forward to.”

The Wildcats' faithful who made the trip to South Carolina are also looking forward to more special things on Saturday night as Saint Ignatius, based on run differential tie breakers and results of other games, actually entered Friday afternoon's action knowing it had clinched a spot in the title game.

Although that could have been a mental factor in the 'Cats' slow start against Hedgesville (5-9), the bottom line, said Saint Ignatius head coach Brad Ganor, is that his team earned its championship-game appearance with a solid week in Hartsville.

Along with Colin Gallagher's clutch double, the Wildcats' six-run third featured a base hit by senior designated hitter Mike Burke and an RBI single by junior right fielder Neal Jacobs.

Leading, 6-3, Saint Ignatius broke it open in the top of the fourth by scoring six more runs. The big blows were a two-run home run over the fence in left-center field by Dave Gallagher and a run-scoring single by senior center fielder Kory Gillissie.

Burke's RBI double pushed the Wildcats' lead to 13-3 in the sixth and Coach Ganor's team left no doubt when Jacobs said goodbye to Mr. Rawlings in the top of the seventh – a blast that went over the fence in left-center in a hurry – and Colin Gallagher produced his second double, a two-bagger that brought home the 'Cats' 15th run. Colin was 2-for-3 with a run scored, three RBI and two walks.

Dave Gallagher pitched the first four innings in picking up the victory. He yielded two hits, no earned runs, struck out seven and walked one. Sophomore left-hander Zak Shockley worked a scoreless bottom of the fifth and junior right-hander Mason Halter closed the show by setting the Eagles down in order in the bottom of the seventh.

“Colin played with me through little league and all of the way up,” said Dave Gallagher, who is one of the top players in Northeast Ohio. “When I got to Saint Ignatius it was actually the first time I hadn't played with him (Colin played junior varsity last season). Yeah, it's a lot of fun getting to play with him again and now my parents can come to all of the games because we're on the same team again.

“I try to set an example for him as to how we play here. But I mean he fits right in, he plays hard. Colin knows how to play the game and as much as he's learned from me, I've learned from him. It goes both ways.”

'CATS STUNG BY YELLOW JACKETS IN TITLE GAME (4/11/10).

LOSS TO T.L. HANNA, THE PRIDE OF ANDERSON, SOUTH CAROLINA, PUTS A LITTLE DAMPER ON AN OTHERWISE GREAT WEEK.

By Eddie Dwyer
Copyright, April 2010

HARTSVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA – Saint Ignatius' Brad Ganor was an endless competitor as a player at St. Edward High School and Cleveland State University, and he remains that way as a coach.

Although Coach Ganor wasn't pleased with Saturday night's 8-4 loss to T.L. Hanna in the championship game of the 14th annual Southeastern Baseball Classic, he wasn't going to ignore the successful week his Wildcats put together in atmosphere-rich Jimmy White Park.

“That's the whole reason we came down here, to play a team like that, to play all of the teams we did,” Ganor said, after Saint Ignatius lost for the first time in seven games this spring. “Sure, we're disappointed in not coming away with the championship. But going home 3-1 against the competition we faced, I'm pretty happy with that.”

The Wildcats gave their coaches and fans plenty to smile about all week and, for that matter, through the first four innings on Saturday night.

Behind the gritty pitching of senior right-hander David Deliz, some sound defense and clutch hitting, Saint Ignatius took a 2-0 lead into the top of the fifth inning.

The 'Cats combined a double by junior designated hitter Tyler Kette and a base hit by junior right fielder Neal Jacobs with a throwing error and led, 1-0, in the bottom of the second. A lead-off double by senior infielder Dave Gallagher, a wild pitch and a passed ball on a swinging third strike made the score 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth. Jacobs also threw out a runner at home in the top of the sixth, a one-hopper that junior catcher Cory Finkler grabbed and held on to despite a collision at the plate.

Deliz (2-1), who is off to an impressive start this season, was crafty and dominant through four innings.

After Hanna's Garrett Boulware, the MVP of the tournament, hit the first pitch of the game for a triple, Deliz struck out the next batter. He then bounced off the mound to make a smooth pick up of a ground ball and alertly fired to third base to get Boulware, who was coming down the line. The 1-5 play included a nice tag by junior third baseman Colin Gallagher.

The 6-foot-3 Deliz ended the top half of the first inning by enticing a pop up that was snagged by Finkler.

In retiring the Yellow Jackets in order in the top of the second, Deliz recorded two of his seven strikeouts. He pitched out of a bases-loaded situation in the third inning and was in command in the top of the fourth.

“He was cruising,” said Coach Ganor of Deliz. “But when you're facing a good team, fall behind and then make a mistake, that's what happens. They make you pay.”

The game took a major turn in the top of the fifth, as Mr. Momentum started to make himself comfortable in the Hanna dugout.

After the Yellow Jackets loaded the bases with no outs, Deliz struck out the next two batters and appeared to be on his way to getting out of trouble again. But after a two-out walk cut Hanna's deficit to 2-1, the game turned on one mighty swing – a grand-slam home run by Causey Stanland that soared over the fence in left-center field.

The Wildcats, taking advantage of a one-out single by senior center fielder Kory Gillissie, two-out walks to junior first baseman Mike Horejsei and senior infielder Mike Burke, a wild pitch and a mental error by the Yellow Jackets' third baseman, closed to 5-4 in the bottom of the fifth. With runners on second and third, Hanna's third baseman fielded a ground ball and ran over to step on third base, obviously thinking the bases were still loaded and that he had a force play at third.

The night belonged to the alma mater of baseball Hall of Fame inductee Jim Rice, however, as the Yellow Jackets got to the 'Cats' bullpen with three runs in the top of the sixth. Jake Long's two-run double helped provide the four-run cushion.

Saint Ignatius will play its first “home game” of the season on Tuesday, when its faces St. Vincent-St. Mary in Fairview Park's Bohlken Park. The first pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.

IN CLOSING: The corner tips its many caps to Mike Watts '11 and Jacob Corrigan '10 of the Wildcats' Broadcasting Network and Student Sports Information Department for the great job they did in transmitting the material from Hartsville to the Saint Ignatius athletic website page, to former Major League Baseball standout southpaw Tommy John (288 career victories) for the humerous and inspiring talk he gave to the teams during the opening ceremonies, and to the city of Hartsville for putting on a tremendous tournament. The land of the Red Foxes can take a well-deserved bow.

****SOME DANDY DIAMOND DUST (4/10/10, 11:07 A.M.): Congratulations go out to Mike Burke (senior infielder/pitcher), Jack McLinden (senior right-handed pitcher), Tyler Kette (junior designated hitter/infielder) and Dave Gallagher (senior infielder/pitcher) for being named to the Southeastern Baseball Classic All-Tournament Team. The four Wildcats each received an engraved gold medal.

SAINT IGNATIUS-TALLMADGE VARSITY BASEBALL RECAP.

POSTED ON 4/14/10 AT 10:23 P.M.

'CATS STRIKE EARLY IN DEFEATING THE BLUE DEVILS AT KENT STATE.

DAVE GALLAGHER, MIKE BURKE, MIKE HOREJSEI AND NEAL JACOBS KEY THE OFFENSE AND JACK MCLINDEN IMPROVES TO 3-0 ON THE MOUND.

Coach Brad Ganor's Wildcats wasted little time in grabbing the upper hand early Wednesday evening as they defeated a highly respected Tallmadge baseball program, 7-2, at Kent State University.

Saint Ignatius, which improved to 7-1 on the season, took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Junior first baseman Mike Horejsei singled, stole second and third, and came home on a single by senior infielder Dave Gallagher.

The Wildcats tacked on their second run courtesy of a double and a stolen base by junior designated hitter/infielder Tyler Kette and a passed ball.

Junior outfielder Neal Jacobs highlighted a two-run fourth inning with his second home run of the season, an effort that sent Mr. Rawlings sailing over the left-center field fence.

Saint Ignatius, which travels to University School on Thursday for a 4:30 p.m. matchup with the Preppers, took control with a three-run fifth.

Senior infielder Mike Burke came up with a two-run double and Dave Gallagher followed with an RBI triple. Deuces were wild for Gallagher as the two-year varsity mainstay was 2-for-2 at the plate, with two walks, two runs batted in and two stolen bases. Burke went 2-for-4.

Jack McLinden, a 6-foot -5 senior right-hander who has signed a national letter of intent with Bucknell University, went six innings in improving to 3-0 this spring and 11-0 in his varsity career. He yielded four hits, two earned runs, struck out two and walked one.

Between them, Saint Ignatius and Tallmadge (8-3) have made 15 state final-four appearances in baseball, 10 by the Wildcats. Saint Ignatius has a state championship (2002) and two state runner-up finishes (2000 and '08), and the Blue Devils have a state title (2002) and were runners-up four times – 1966, '96, 2000 and '01.

-Eddie Dwyer.

SAINT IGNATIUS-UNIVERSITY SCHOOL VARSITY BASEBALL RECAP.

POSTED ON 4/15/10 AT 10:55 P.M.

'CATS MAKE IT A SHORT AFTERNOON AS THEY LAY 18 ON THE PREPPERS.

ZAK SHOCKLEY FIRES FOUR SHUTOUT INNINGS AND THE OFFENSE COMBINES 12 HITS WITH 10 FREE PASSES.

By Eddie Dwyer
Copyright, April 2010

Saint Ignatius sophomore Zak Shockley realizes it is not going to be a regular occurrence to be presented with the type of run support his teammates gave him on Thursday in Hunting Valley.

That said, the Wildcats' talented 6-foot-5, 210-pound southpaw went about his business and walked away with what we can safely assume will be the first of many victories in his young and promising varsity career.

Saint Ignatius, with Shockley blanking University School over four innings and the Wildcats' offense taking advantage of numerous early opportunities, overwhelmed the host Preppers, 18-0, in a non-league baseball matchup.

The game was called after five innings because of the 10-run mercy rule.

“It's great, first start and coming out with a win,'' said Shockley, who limited University School to three singles. “Anytime they're willing to give me the ball, I'm glad to take it.”

Saint Ignatius, which will take an 8-1 record into this weekend's talent-laden Strongsville Dugout Club Tournament, treated Shockley to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, tacked on three more runs in the second and took command with a five-run third inning.

In case there were any doubts, the Wildcats scored six more times in the top of the fourth and put the bats away after a two-run fifth as the Preppers slipped to 4-5.

With a runner on third, Shockley ended the first inning with a strikeout. He started and ended the second inning with strikeouts and in between was the beneficiary of a nice diving stop by junior first baseman Mike Horejsei, an effort that saw Horejsei react quickly and flip the ball to Shockley for the out at first.

US had runners on first and second with no outs in the bottom of third. Shockley was equal to the challenge, however, as he coaxed a 1-6 force and a 5-4-3 double play.

After a leadoff single in the bottom of the fourth, Shockley closed out victory No. 1 with a fly ball to center field that was hauled in by senior Kory Gillissie, a strikeout and a pop out to junior Joe Greco in right field. Marques Pagan, a 6-5 junior right-hander, closed the book in the bottom of the fifth.

“Mainly, after we found out that the umpire had a nice generous outside corner, we were hoping to just sit a couple of fastballs out there and come back with a good curveball, which most of their guys were pretty much chocking up on," Shockley said. "The fastball was feeling good and the curveball had a nice bite on the end of it. That helps a lot.”

The Wildcats, who drew 10 walks and four hit batsmen off Preppers pitching, combined a lead-off base hit by senior left fielder Kevin Hopkins, a stolen base by Hopkins, the first of five errors by US, a stolen base by Horejsei and an RBI single by senior shortstop Dave Gallagher into their early 2-0 lead.

A one-out triple to deep right field by sophomore catcher Andrew Piscioneri, a sacrifice fly by junior second baseman Colin Gallagher, Dave's brother, two-out base hits by Gillissie and Hopkins, a hit batsman and bases-loaded walks to senior third baseman Mike Burke and Dave Gallagher accounted for the three runs in the second.

The Preppers' pitchers continued to have difficulty finding the plate and Saint Ignatius remained aggressive on the base paths. Those factors enabled the 'Cats to score five runs in the third on just two hits – singles by junior outfielder Neal Jacobs and Piscioneri.

Burke's bases-loaded two-run single fueled the six-run fourth and a hustle single by Gillissie, an error, a base hit by Horejsei, a sacrifice fly by Burke and a fielder's choice closed out the scoring in the fifth.

“We geared up for the game because of what happened last year,” said Wildcats coach Brad Ganor, referring to last season's 5-3 loss in Hunting Valley. “But as nice as it is to build confidence with our bats, we need to be prepared for three very, very difficult games this weekend. We're going to see good pitching and we're not going to win games 18-0. We need to stay focus where our approaches at the plate will help us win one- and two-run games.

“Zak did a nice job,” Ganor continued. “It is hard to stay focused when you have long innings like that. Eighteen runs aside, I like that we had a zero on the other side. The zero helps our pitching staff build confidence.”

Saint Ignatius will face host Strongsville and defending Division II state champion Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin in the first round of Saturday's tournament. The Strongsville game is slated for 10:30 a.m., and the first pitch for the NDCL matchup is scheduled for 1 p.m. The Lions of NDCL defeated the 'Cats, 11-4, late last season.

Sunday, Saint Ignatius will take on the talented and baseball-savvy Mentor Cardinals at 12:30 p.m., as they close out their annual trip to Strongsville.

IN OUR THOUGHTS: Our prayers and sympathy go out to Wildcats standout senior center fielder Kory Gillissie and his family upon the recent death of Kory's maternal grandfather, Joe Novak. Kory, one of the classiest young men this corner has ever had the privilege to cover, revealed that Mr. Novak put seven boys through Saint Ignatius. Kory also shared with us that shortly after his grandfather's death, his grandmother, Rita Novak, said: “Now there is one more angel in the outfield.”

SURE HANDS, ON AND OFF THE FIELD: If you happened to notice that wide smile on Zach Seybert's face during Thursday's pre-game warmups, it is because the Wildcats' senior infielder displayed his soft hands at Progressive Field earlier in the day by catching Shin-Soo Choo's game-winning three-run home run against the Texas Rangers, a blast that helped put an end to the Indians' five-game losing streak. Zach and his teammates attended the Tribe game as part of their “Baseball Literature” class.

SAINT IGNATIUS VARSITY BASEBALL RECAP (4/17/10).

'CATS WIN TWO IN THE FIRST DAY OF THE ANNUAL STRONGSVILLE DUGOUT CLUB TOURNAMENT.

A SUCCESSFUL MORNING AND AFTERNOON IS HIGHLIGHTED BY A COME-FROM-BEHIND VICTORY OVER DEFENDING DIVISION II STATE CHAMPION NOTRE DAME-CATHEDRAL LATIN, AS SAINT IGNATIUS HANDS THE LIONS THEIR FIRST LOSS THIS SEASON AND ONLY THE SECOND SETBACK IN NDCL'S PAST 22 GAMES.

By Eddie Dwyer
Copyright, April 2010

Saint Ignatius' Marques Pagan, wearing a smile that brought some warmth to an otherwise frigid Saturday in Strongsville, looked out at the scoreboard and said: “Yeah, I definitely had to work for it.”

And his work was more than effective.

With his team clinging to a one-run lead, Pagan, a 6-foot-4 junior right-hander, came out of coach Brad Ganor's bullpen in the bottom of the fifth inning and, with the support of an insurance run in the top of the sixth, saved the Wildcats' 8-6 victory over perennial baseball power Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin in the annual Strongsville Dugout Club Tournament.

Saint Ignatius, with Pagan blanking the hard-hitting Lions over the final 2 1/3 innings, capped off a 2-0 day in Strongsville. The Wildcats, who now stand 10-1 on the season, turned back the host Mustangs, 11-8, in Saturday's opener. Pagan's effort also enabled his fellow reliever and basketball teammate – 6-7 junior right-hander Mason Halter – to earn his first victory on the varsity level.

“Marques did a great job,” said Coach Ganor, whose Wildcats will attempt to go 3-0 in the Dugout Club Tournament when they face Mentor on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. “Those were his first big innings this year. He's had an inning here and an inning there this season, but I thought he did a great job of coming in, in a big spot! They (the Lions) can swing the bats, one through nine, so I'm pretty happy with the job he did.”

As has been the case throughout the spring, Saint Ignatius' offense also did its job.

Trailing, 4-1, with one out on nobody on in the top of the fifth, the Wildcats rang their aluminum to the tune of six runs and a 7-4 lead. The key hits were a single down the left-field line by senior center fielder Kory Gillissie, a two run bases-loaded single by junior first baseman Mike Horejsei, a two-run double by senior third baseman Mike Burke that put the 'Cats in front, 5-4, and a two-run base hit through the left side of the infield by junior designated hitter Tyler Kette.

NDCL (7-1), which saw its 14-game winning streak come to an end, a mark that dated back to last season, closed to 7-6 in the bottom of the fifth.

Enter Pagan.

Pagan ended the fifth inning by coaxing a 1-3 ground out. After a leadoff double by senior second baseman Zach Seybert and a clutch, two-out sinking liner to left field by Horejsei made it 8-6, Pagan set the Lions down in order in the bottom of the sixth.

Throwing smoothly and confidently, Pagan worked around a walk in the bottom of the seventh with two of his three strikeouts. He ended the game with a called strikeout that seemed to fool the NDCL batter.

“My responsibility today was to go in there and throw strikes,” Pagan said. “As a relief pitcher, you have to come in and get ahead in the counts and let your fielders make plays. Everything worked good, for the most part. The fastball looked good and the change-up was working very well. I was going to attack them with the fastball, inside and out.”

Saint Ignatius 11, Strongsville 8

The Wildcats broke open a scoreless game with two runs in the top of the fourth inning and went on to put up three runs in each of the next three innings.

Senior right-hander David Deliz (3-1) was in command as he pitched six solid innings, yielding one run on five hits and striking out six.

However, unlike the NDCL game, when pitching coach T.J. Donovan '94 got a strong fourth inning from Halter and the impressive finish by Pagan, Saint Ignatius' bullpen became unglued.

Strongsville (4-6) , which is coached by the baseball-savvy Josh Sorge '91, made a game out of it by rolling a seven spot in the bottom of the seventh.

Along with Deliz's effort on the mound, Saint Ignatius had several offensive contributions en route to its 11 runs.

Seybert was 2-for-2 with two doubles, an RBI, a run scored and two key sacrifice bunts. Gillissie went 2-for-3 with a walk, two RBI and two runs scored, Horejsei was 2-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored, and Burke had three hits in four at-bats with two RBI and a run scored. For the day, Burke, the 'Cats' all-time single-season leader with a .573 batting average in '09, had five runs batted in.

“Whatever the sign Coach Ganor gives me, I just try to perform and execute it the best I can,” Seybert said of his sacrifice bunts against Strongsville. “NDCL last year was a debacle (a one-sided loss in Geauga County). So today was big for our team chemistry and in moving forward. Yeah, we wanted some payback.”

SAINT IGNATIUS VERSUS MENTOR VARSITY BASEBALL RECAP - (4/18/10).

NEAL JACOBS SAYS GOODBYE TO MR. RAWLINGS TWICE AND DRIVES IN SEVEN AS 'CATS RUN-RULE THE CARDINALS.

KEVIN HOPKINS, KAIREE TEKRA, ZACH SEYBERT AND DAVE GALLAGHER ALSO HELP FUEL THE OFFENSE AND GALLAGHER IMPROVES TO 2-0 ON THE MOUND.

By Eddie Dwyer
Copyright, April 2010

When Mentor was run-ruled by Saint Ignatius in last season's Strongsville Dugout Club Tournament, the Cardinals, by their own admission, were a team in transition that was learning on the job.

A year later and Mentor's players learned that when it comes to Saint Ignatius' offensive capabilities, some things never change.

The Wildcats, ringing the aluminum loud and clear, jumped on Cardinals pitching in the top of the first inning and rode strong third and fourth innings to a 13-3 victory in Sunday's final round of the Dugout Club Tournament at Strongsville High School. The game was called after six innings because of the 10-run mercy rule.

In completing a 5-0 week that saw them total 57 runs, the 'Cats improved to 11-1.

With junior right fielder Neal Jacobs having a day he won't soon forget, if ever, Saint Ignatius outhit the Cardinals, 17-5.

Jacobs, a humble and good-natured young man, drove in seven runs with a sacrifice fly, a two-run double and two impressive two-run home runs.

Senior left fielder and tri-captain Kevin Hopkins had himself a sweet Sunday by going 3-for-4 with two doubles and senior infielder Kairee Tekra, senior infielder Zach Seybert and senior pitcher/infielder Dave Gallagher also had multi-hit games.

Gallagher (2-0) gave head coach Brad Ganor five strong innings by scattering four hits and striking out four. Six-foot-7 junior right-hander Mason Halter, known as “Big Country” to his teammates, yielded a base hit in the bottom of the sixth and then set down the next three batters, the second one courtesy of a big-time running one-handed catch in deep center field by senior Kory Gillissie.

Saint Ignatius, which was riding the emotion of Saturday's 8-6 second-round victory over defending Division II state champion Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin, an effort that snapped the Lions' 14-game winning streak, led, 3-0, after the top of the first. Hopkins' leadoff double to right field, a single by junior first baseman Mike Horejsei, two wild pitches, a walk and a stolen base by senior designated hitter Mike Burke and a sacrifice fly by Jacobs did the early damage.

Mentor would answer in the bottom of the first.

Cardinals junior shortstop Joe Kasper, who made a highlight-reel 6-3 defensive play in the top of the first, led off with an infield hit, stole second base and advanced to third on a fielder's choice. He came home on a base hit by sophomore first baseman Justin Fritts. Mentor then cut the deficit to 3-2 entering the second inning on a two-out error by the Wildcats.

Saint Ignatius pushed its lead to 4-2 in the top of the second on a two-out -and-nobody-on single by Tekra and an RBI double by Hopkins. After Gallagher struck out two in blanking the Cardinals in the bottom of the second, things began to look all too familiar for the Mentor players and their coaching staff.

The Wildcats, who are seeking their fourth consecutive appearance in the Division I state final four and their 11th overall, combined base hits by Burke nd Gallagher, a double steal, a two-run double by Jacobs to the gap in right-center field, a bunt for a base hit by Seybert, a wild pitch, a walk to Gillissie and two more wild pitches into an 8-2 lead in the top of the third.

The Cardinals scored their final run on an RBI double by sophomore relief pitcher Anthony Gallo in the bottom of the third, but the Wildcats came right back with three runs in the top of the fourth, an output that featured a single and a stolen base by Hopkins, a walk to Burke, another double steal, an RBI single by Gallagher and a majestic two-out, two-run home run by Jacobs that soared over the fence in left field.

Jacobs, who now has four home runs on the season, completed his seven-RBI day by saying goodbye to Mr. Rawlings again with a two-run rope that jetted over the fence in right-center in the top of the sixth. It was preceded by a double by Gallagher.

Coach Ganor revealed that if he wasn't giving instructions to his base runner at the time, he probably would have given Jacobs the take sign on his first home run, which came off a 3-0 pitch.

“An inside fastball,” said the right-handed hitting Jacobs of the pitch he abused for his first home run. “Coach (Matt) Blazer (Class of '94) told me the at bat before that this was my pitcher, that he was going to throw me an inside fastball. He said just keep your weight back and drive through the ball. I've been trying to keep my weight back (on the ball), that's a problem I've been having.

“I'm finally starting to work through the kinks.”

Although Coach Ganor is extremely pleased with the way his team has been swinging the bats, he did point out some of the missed signs and defensive plays that were not executed over the weekend, things that have to be ironed out as Saint Ignatius heads into another demanding week.

“We have to build on every single game, and this was a game to build on,” said Hopkins, the team's consummate table setter. “You want to take advantage of the opportunities in everything you do, whether it be fielding, hitting or getting the signs down. Once we play a complete game like that, everyone is going to know how it feels.”

The Wildcats will need their A game, both physically and mentally, as they embark on a week that includes a game at Padua on Tuesday (4:30 p.m.), a matchup with always strong Twinsburg on Thursday at Talty Field in the Brookside Reservation (4:30 p.m.), a trip to Progressive Field on Friday to play postseason-rich Avon Lake (5:30 p.m.) and weekend games against Walsh Jesuit, Cincinnati St. Xavier and Toledo St. John's Jesuit in the annual Jesuit Tournament in Toledo.

Saint Ignatius will play Walsh Jesuit and St. Xavier on Saturday at noon and 3 p.m., respectively, in Ned Skeldon Stadium and will take on the Titans of St. John's at St. John's on Sunday at 3 p.m.

Padua, under the direction of former St. Peter Chanel All-Ohio shortstop Izzy Santiago, just might be the most-improved team in Northeast Ohio and Coach Chris Kaczmar's tradition-rich Walsh Jesuit Warriors are again ranked among the top five teams in the nation.

SAINT IGNATIUS-PADUA VARSITY BASEBALL RECAP (4/20/10).

'CATS RIDE ANOTHER STRONG PERFORMANCE BY JACK MCLINDEN AND CLUTCH HITTING BY KEVIN HOPKINS, ANDREW PISCIONERI AND MIKE HOREJSEI IN DEFEATING A TALENTED PADUA TEAM.

UP NEXT: THE STATE-RANKED TWINSBURG TIGERS ON THURSDAY.

By Eddie Dwyer
Copyright, April 2010

Jack McLinden, just moments after his fourth strong outing in as many starts this spring, had nothing but praise for the team he shutout late Tuesday afternoon.

“They have a real strong lineup. I know those guys well,” McLinden said after he helped the Wildcats to a 5-0 victory over a veteran Padua club on the Bruins' home field. “I definitely have a lot of respect for them. So I knew I had to come with a lot of focus today.”

McLinden, a 6-foot-5 senior right-hander, was focused, savvy and resilient as the Bucknell University recruit limited Padua to four hits though six innings. He stuck out five, walked two and hit a batter. Marques Pagan, a 6-4 junior right-hander, closed the book on McLinden's fourth victory of 2010 by throwing a hit-less bottom of the seventh.

“I was really happy today with being able to locate my pitches well,” McLinden said, after he improved to 12-0 in his varsity career. “That allows us to mix in different pitches in different situations. Whether it was getting ahead with the curveball or the cutter, that gave me a lot of options late in the counts. All of my stuff was working really well today, even mixing in a change-up a little bit.

“One through nine, they're a strong lineup and it really says a lot about our team to be able to come out here and shut them out," McLinden continued. "It was coach Donovan (pitching coach T.J. Donovan '94) working those counts. I really enjoy working with him.”

In a game that matched the 12th-ranked team in the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association's initial Division I state poll and the OHSBCA's 12th-ranked Division II team, the Wildcats (12-1) and the Bruins (11-3) went two scoreless innings before 'Cats senior left fielder Kevin Hopkins delivered an RBI single in the top of the third. Hopkins' hit scored senior center fielder Kory Gillissie, who walked with one out and stole second.

After McLinden pitched out of a first and second and one-out situation in the bottom of the third, Saint Ignatius senior third baseman Mike Burke led off the fourth with a single to left field and senior shortstop Dave Gallagher was hit by a pitch. Junior designated hitter Tyler Kette then laid down a bunt that was fielded by the Bruins' pitcher and thrown away in attempt to get Burke at third base. The error allowed both Burke and Gallagher to score.

The Wildcats completed their three-run fourth with a two-out RBI single through the left side by sophomore catcher Andrew Piscioneri.

“The coaches were talking to me about hitting a fastball because he (Bruins starter James Flowers) had a pretty good curveball, as you saw,” Piscioneri said. “I keep dropping my back shoulder a lot, but the coaches kept enforcing getting the ball on the ground. I finally got the ball on the ground and it found a spot. It's really amazing, playing JV sports and moving up to varsity. It's a totally different level and a totally different experience, and I'm glad to be a part of it.”

Following another gutsy inning by McLinden, Saint Ignatius scored its final run with one out and nobody on in the top of the seventh.

Hopkins drove a pitch to deep left-center field for a double, went to third on a pitch in the dirt and scored on a sharp single through the right side by junior first baseman Mike Horejsei. The Wildcats outhit the Bruins, 9-4.

“That's a quality win, a quality win,” said Saint Ignatius head coach Brad Ganor, who emphasized that there wasn't a hitter in Padua's lineup that he and his assistant coaches were comfortable with. “Jack just did another great job. He keeps pitching like a senior.

“We had a lot of guys thrown out today, caught stealing and trying to advance on reads with balls. But if we're going to say we're an aggressive team, then that stuff is going to happen.”

The Wildcats will get their practice work in on Wednesday and then it is another will-testing matchup on Thursday, when Saint Ignatius faces Twinsburg (12-2). The first pitch from Talty Field in the Brookside Reservation is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Twinsburg was ranked fifth in last week's initial OHSBCA Division I state poll.

“It just keeps coming,” Coach Ganor said of the 'Cats' demanding schedule. “When we set up a schedule, as tough as it is, it is to get ready for games in May. That's our main objective and I tell these guys, 'Great job today, it's behind us and now what can we work on for the next game to keep getting better?'”

TWINSBURG VERSUS SAINT IGNATIUS VARSITY BASEBALL RECAP.

POSTED ON 4/22/10.

“IT SHOWS A LOT ABOUT THEIR HEART, DESIRE AND THEIR CHARACTER, MOST OF ALL.” - SAINT IGNATIUS HEAD COACH BRAD GANOR.

THE WILDCATS GUT ONE OUT AGAINST TWINSBURG, AS MIKE HOREJSEI, MIKE BURKE, DAVE GALLAGHER, KEVIN HOPKINS, JOE GRECO AND CORY FINKLER HELP FUEL A TRUE “TEAM VICTORY.”

By Eddie Dwyer
Copyright, April 2010

As far as Saint Ignatius junior first baseman Mike Horejsei is concerned, you have to tip your cap to Wildcats captains Dave Gallagher, Kevin Hopkins and Jack McLinden, and the other senior leaders, for the success the team is enjoying.

While there is no questioning the seniors' ability to show the way, Horejsei and the rest of the new faces in blue and gold this spring are following that lead to a T.

Thursday afternoon, or make that Thursday night by the time the game ended, Saint Ignatius, behind Horejsei's one-out RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning, turned back a determined Twinsburg club, 11-10, on Talty Field in the Brookside Reservation.

Horejsei's clutch hit, his third RBI on the day, was preceded by a hustle double by junior outfielder Joe Greco and an intentional walk to Hopkins. The single through the right side scored McLinden, who was pinch-running for Greco.

“When I came up, I just wanted to try and make contact, get the runner over and get (Mike) Burke to come up and do a job,” Horejsei said of his game-winner, which came off a 1-2 count. “After I saw my first pitch, right down the middle, I knew right there I wasn't going to see another one. I got lucky. I got the bat out there just in time.”

Make that a moment in time, as Horejsei, in his first year with the varsity, was mobbed by his teammates.

“We used every single guy on the team, except for a couple of pitchers.” said Wildcats head coach Brad Ganor, after his team improved to 13-1 and extended its winning streak to seven games. “It was a collective win. If you look at the box score, we didn't pitch very well. But we got timely hitting, big hits when we needed them. Mike Burke and Dave Gallagher got big hits and what can you say about Mike Horejsei and Joe Greco with the great job with that double? He hustled into second base when he could have pulled up (at first).

“I just think collectively it was a great effort. The box score won't look pretty, but it was an exciting win for us, nice to come away with.”

In a game that matched the fifth (Twinsburg) - and 12th-ranked teams in the coaches' Division I state poll, Twinsburg took advantage of a huge two-base throwing error – a mistake that came off a swinging third strike that should have ended the top of the third inning – and went on to take a 3-0 lead. The key hits for the Tigers (12-3) were RBI singles by senior first baseman Frank Dufour and senior center fielder Darius Washington, and a run-scoring triple by junior catcher Zak Laubscher.

Saint Ignatius answered with two runs in the bottom of the third, as Hopkins delivered a run-scoring single to left field, advanced to third on an errant pick-off attempt and scored on a sacrifice fly by Horejsei.

After Gallagher, the 'Cats' standout middle infielder, led off the bottom of the fourth with the second of his three hits, a scary moment took place when a slashing foul ball rocketed through the opening in the Saint Ignatius dugout and struck Wildcats gifted senior center fielder Kory Gillissie in the left side of his head.

Kory was knocked to the ground and suffered a cut to his head. After being attended to in the dugout, Kory got back on his feet, insisted he was okay and went with his parents to a nearby hospital for further treatment.

After senior second baseman Zach Seybert tied the score with a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the fourth, Hopkins moved from left field to center field and Greco took over in left field.

The see-saw battle continued with Twinsburg, courtesy of a two-run single by Washington, taking a 5-3 lead in the top of the fifth. The Wildcats answered with four runs in the bottom of the fifth – a bases-loaded two-run double by Gallagher and a two-run single up the middle by junior right fielder/relief pitcher Neal Jacobs off an 0-2 pitch.

Just when Saint Ignatius appeared to have the momentum, coach Don Jones' Tigers responded with four runs in the top of the sixth. The big blow was a two-run single by Dufour.

Displaying the resiliency one expects from a successful program, the Wildcats regained the lead by scoring three times in the bottom of the sixth. It was a case of big-time two-out hitting as Horejsei came up with an RBI double and Burke, who entered the game with a team-leading .465 batting average and a team-best 17 RBI, sent Mr. Rawlings soaring over the left-field fence for a two-run home run and a 10-9 Saint Ignatius lead.

“Before my home run at-bat, I just felt kind of weird all game,'' said Burke, a senior infielder and a two-year mainstay for Coach Ganor. “I didn't feel like I was playing to the best of my ability. But I'm just glad I cleared my mind for that at-bat and helped this team, because I love these guys.”

Burke revealed that before the game, Wildcats assistant coach Frank Russo told him he would never “put one out” of spacious Talty Field.

“So I just had to prove him wrong,” Burke said. “He kind of lit a fire under my butt and motivated me, and I was happy I could contribute to the team.”

Twinsburg made the Wildcats work overtime by tying the score in the top of the seventh, However, after a strong top of the eighth by 'Cats junior reliever Cory Finkler, Greco and Horejsei worked their clutch magic.

Saint Ignatius' starting pitcher, sophomore left-hander Zak Shockley, worked 4 1/3 innings, scattering seven hits, striking out eight and walking two. Of the five runs attributed to him, only two were earned.

Finkler, who also is a catcher, picked up his first victory on the varsity level. He yielded one run, one hit, struck out four and walked one in 2 2/3 innings.

The Wildcats will have little time to savor the victory as they take on a hard-hitting Avon Lake lineup on Friday in Progressive Field. The first pitch is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Senior right-hander Brian Lehto (1-0) will get the starting assignment.

AVON LAKE-SAINT IGNATIUS VARSITY BASEBALL RECAP.

STORY WAS POSTED ON 4/23/10 AT 11:58 P.M.

PITCHING BY COMMITTEE.

'CATS' LIVE ARMS DOCK THE SHOREMEN.

JOE GRECO IS CLUTCH FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE NIGHT.

SAINT IGNATIUS' JACK MCLINDEN RECEIVES A SCHOLARSHIP AWARD FROM THE LAKEWOOD KIWANIS.

By Eddie Dwyer
Copyright, April 2010

To describe Saint Ignatius' pitching staff as a tall order is correct, literally and figuratively.

Friday night at Progressive Field, Wildcats head coach Brad Ganor marched in five of his long, lean and talented arms and the result was a solid and economized performance that frustrated one of the best offenses West of I-90.

Saint Ignatius, limiting Avon Lake to three hits, defeated the Shoremen, 1-0, in the seventh annual Cleveland Indians Charities Hardball Classic.

With 6-foot-6 senior right-hander Brian Lehto setting the tempo by throwing two perfect innings that required just 12 pitches, the Wildcats and the Shoremen settled the issue in just over 90 minutes.

Saint Ignatius, which was coming off Thursday night's dramatic 11-10, eight-inning victory over Twinsburg, improved to 14-1 and extended its winning streak to eight games.

Avon Lake, which had won nine of its last 10 games, slipped to 11-6.

“You never saw the same guy two times in the lineup,” said Ganor, referring to his six pitchers and the four that the Shoremen called on. “Nobody could get comfortable. It's a different arm, different arm angle and different style of pitching. Maybe that's the way we should go all season.”

Don't worry Wildcats fans, Coach Ganor was smiling when he made that last statement. Isn't it great, however, to know you have depth at the position synonymous with baseball success?

After Lehto worked his two three-up and three-down innings, the kid known as “Big Country'' to his teammates – 6-7 junior right-hander Mason Halter – pitched out of a first and second and two-out situation in the top of the third.

Then it was Marques Pagan's turn and the 6-4 junior right-hander didn't disappoint as he threw a perfect top of the fourth in earning his first victory on the varsity level. Pagan has been impressive out of the bullpen the past two weeks.

Six-foot-five senior right hander Jack McLinden and one of the “short” guys on the staff – 6-0 sophomore left-hander Tim McCoy – combined to put another goose egg on the board in the top of the fifth. McCoy was just called up to the varsity on Tuesday.

With his team clinging to the one-run lead, Coach Ganor sealed the deal behind the gifted right arm of 6-3 senior David Deliz.

Deliz, who joins McLinden as the 'Cats' 1-2 pitchers, closed the door with two strong innings that earned him the save. Deliz struck out four of the seven batters he faced.

With a runner on third, Deliz ended the top of the sixth with a strikeout and he overpowered the Shoremen in the top of the seventh with a strikeout, a 6-3 ground out and another K. Avon Lake features four players in its lineup who are hitting .390 or better, including two that are at a .500-plus clip.

Saint Ignatius, which totaled eight hits, scored the game's only run on hustle and fundamental execution in the bottom of the fourth.

Junior first baseman Mike Horejsei led off with an infield hit, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior third baseman Zach Seybert, moved to third on a ground out to the right side by junior outfielder Neal Jacobs and scored when junior designated hitter Joe Greco beat out a sharp grounder to the left side.

“I preach to these guys about fundamental baseball all of the time,” Coach Ganor said. “You have to execute when you have the opportunities. We ran ourselves out of a couple of innings. But we got the one run we needed and the pitching staff did a great job.

“It's a great experience (playing in Progressive Field),” Ganor continued. “It's a thrill for the kids and that's the important thing. And everybody got to play, which is even better.”

There were two balls hit the during game that would have impressed Indians manager Manny Acta.

Wildcats junior catcher Cory Finkler doubled to deep center field in the bottom of the third and Avon Lake's senior middle infielder Kevin Morissette, a .545 hitter, doubled against the wall in left field with one out in the top of the sixth.

Greco, whose clutch hustle double set up the winning run against Twinsburg, supported his coach's words about the opportunity to play in Progressive Field.

“It felt good to be in that lineup tonight, just being there in a major-league park,” he said. “It was my dream to be here one day. It really meant a lot to me.”

On another positive note, Wildcats talented senior center fielder Kory Gillissie returned to the lineup on Friday night after being struck with a foul ball during the Twinsburg game. The blow to the head required stitches, but Kory was out there roaming freely in Grady Sizemore's territory.

Up next for the Wildcats is a trip to the Pirates' Port on Tuesday to face Rocky River and on Wednesday it is a Cuyahoga River Baseball Conference matchup with nationally ranked Walsh Jesuit in Bohlken Park. Both games are scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Bohlken Park is located in Fairview Park.

CONGRATULATIONS go out to Wildcats tri-captain Jack McLinden, who was recently awarded a $10,000 scholarship from the Lakewood Kiwanis.

“It's an outside scholarship that I applied for, high school seniors in the City of Lakewood,” said McLinden, who will be furthering his education and baseball career at Bucknell University. “It is $10,000 over four years, so it's $2,500 a year.

“There was an application process. I submitted application with my resume and grades, and extra-curricular involvement. I got invited back as a finalist for an interview with the Lakewood Kiwanis Board and they chose me as one of the five recipients of the scholarship.”

And they couldn't have chosen a better young man.

SAINT IGNATIUS-ROCKY RIVER VARSITY BASEBALL RECAP.

POSTED ON 4/27/10 AT 10:12 P.M.

'CATS CAN POINT TO A FEW BRIGHT MOMENTS IN AN OTHERWISE LACKLUSTER VICTORY AT ROCKY RIVER.

SOME CLUTCH TWO-OUT HITTING BY COLIN GALLAGHER, NEAL JACOBS AND ZACH SEYBERT, AND FIVE SHUTOUT INNINGS FROM JACK MCLINDEN ENABLE COACH GANOR'S TEAM TO IMPROVE TO 15-1.

UP NEXT: NATIONALLY RANKED WALSH JESUIT ON WEDNESDAY IN BOHLKEN PARK.

By Eddie Dwyer
Copyright, April 2010

Saint Ignatius head baseball coach Brad Ganor and his staff were not pleased with the Wildcats' overall performance at Rocky River on Tuesday.

And justifiably so.

Yes, Saint Ignatius did come away with an 8-3 victory in the Pirates' Port, won for the 15th time in 16 games this spring and extended its winning streak to nine games.

There was, however, a “flat and uninspired” atmosphere hovering over the Wildcats' dugout that led to some uncharacteristic sloppy play, play that won't get it done over the next 11 days as the 'Cats prepare for the postseason by facing some of the best clubs the state has to offer, namely Walsh Jesuit and St. Edward.

“What I feared happened, that they were looking beyond this game and looking at Walsh,” said Coach Ganor, who on Wednesday will guide his team against what is arguably this year's premier program in Ohio – the nationally ranked and undefeated Walsh Jesuit Warriors.

The Wildcats and the Warriors will meet in a Cuyahoga River Baseball Conference matchup in Bohlken Park in Fairview Park. The first pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.

“It's disappointing,” Ganor said. “I would have liked to have seen more of a team effort after a three-day layoff.”

The positives Coach Ganor was able to call on were the one-hit pitching through five innings by senior right-hander Jack McLinden and the three-hit performances from junior right fielder Neal Jacobs and junior third baseman Colin Gallagher.

McLinden, who improved to 5-0 on the season, struck out eight and walked three in his five innings of work.

Colin Gallagher, the younger brother of Saint Ignatius' gifted middle infielder/pitcher Dave Gallagher, gave the Wildcats a 2-0 lead by slapping a two-out, two-run single to right field in the top of the second inning. Colin's clutch effort scored Jacobs and junior designated hitter Joe Greco, who each came up with one-out base hits.

A two-out RBI single by Jacobs made it 3-0 in the top of the third and McLinden, who is now 13-0 in his varsity career, pitched out of a bases loaded, one-out situation in the bottom of the third. He benefited from a nice back-handed stop by senior shortstop Mike Burke, who fired to junior first baseman Mike Horejsei for the inning-ending 6-3 play.

Saint Ignatius, ranked 10th in this week's Division I state coaches poll, combined a one-out double by Burke, a walk to senior second baseman Zach Seybert, a double steal and a sharp RBI single to left field by Jacobs into a 4-0 lead in the fifth.

The 'Cats then took control with a four-run sixth that featured a lead-off single by Colin Gallagher, a one-out, run-scoring single by Horejsei and a two-out, two-run single by Seybert.

Saint Ignatius' 6-foot-7 junior right-hander Mason Halter pitched out of a jam in the bottom of the sixth by throwing back-to-back strikeouts. “Big Country” started the bottom of the seventh with two more Ks and ended the game with a strikeout.

However, in between Halter's fourth and fifth strikeouts, the Pirates (7-7) scored their three runs by taking advantage of two walks and three errors.

“It was good to see some clutch two-out hitting, I am happy about that,” said Coach Ganor. “It was nice to see some other guys pick it up.”

WALSH JESUIT-SAINT IGNATIUS VARSITY BASEBALL RECAP.

POSTED ON 4/28/10 AT 9:52 P.M.

THE WARRIORS ARE AS ADVERTISED, AND THERE IS NO TIME TO DWELL ON IT.

WALSH JESUIT STRIKES EARLY AND GOES ON TO SHUTOUT THE 'CATS.

UP NEXT: A 4:30 P.M. CUYAHOGA RIVER BASEBALL CONFERENCE MATCHUP WITH BENEDICTINE ON THURSDAY IN NOBBY'S BALLPARK ON THE CAMPUS OF CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY.

By Eddie Dwyer
Copyright, April/May 2010

Saint Ignatius head coach Brad Ganor made two things perfectly clear early Wednesday evening – Walsh Jesuit is a quality team and his Wildcats have to have a short memory if they are to continue to build on what is one of the best starts to a season in the 'Cats' baseball history.

Walsh Jesuit, flashing its nationally ranked credentials from the get-go, defeated Saint Ignatius, 10-0, in a Cuyahoga River Baseball Conference matchup in Bohlken Park. The game was called after five innings because of the 10-run mercy rule.

Ranked anywhere from first to fifth in most of the national polls, Coach Chris Kaczmar's Warriors improved to 15-0, handed the Wildcats just their second loss in 17 games this spring and limited the usually capable Saint Ignatius offense to one hit - a double leading off the bottom of the fourth inning by sophomore catcher Stephen Alexander. It was Alexander's first hit on the varsity level as he was just called up from the junior varsity on Wednesday.

“You can't make the mistakes that we did defensively, especially against a quality team,” said Coach Ganor, after Walsh Jesuit became the first Ohio team to defeat the Wildcats this season. Saint Ignatius' other setback was to T.L. Hanna of Anderson, South Carolina in the championship game of the Southeastern Baseball Classic.

Walsh Jesuit, the top-ranked team in the Division II state coaches poll, combined one-out base hits by senior outfielder Patrick Ammar and senior shortstop John Fasola, a passed ball and a two-out, line-drive single to left field by senior first baseman Ryan Berry into a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. The first two of Berry's three runs batted in came off a 1-2 pitch.

Two errors, a walk and a wild pitch opened the door for two more runs in the top of the second and, after a run-saving diving catch by Ammar ended the second inning, the Warriors tacked on three more runs in the top of the third. The big blow was a lead-off home run by Berry over the 385-foot sign in left-center. The Wildcats didn't help themselves in the third inning either, as they sandwiched two more errors around a wild pitch.

The scoring came to an end in the top of the fifth when Walsh Jesuit came up with RBIs off a triple by freshman Cassidy Brown, a sacrifice fly by senior Marco Caponi and a ringing two-out double by Ammar. The Warriors totaled nine hits.

Coach Kaczmar's ace – 6-foot-6, 240-pound senior right-hander and major-league prospect Tyler Skulina – worked two-plus innings. He struck out four, walked four and hit a batter before turning the ball over to sophomore left-hander Michael Marsinek, who displayed a nasty breaking pitch and plenty of velocity.

Saint Ignatius, which had its nine-game winning streak snapped, won't have to wait long to get another shot at the Warriors. The 'Cats travel to Walsh Jesuit on Monday.

“That stuff has to work itself out,” Coach Ganor said of his team's four errors and ill-timed wild pitches and passed balls. “To get yourself better, you have to get past this moment and get ready for the next day. And I'll go to my grave believing that this game is not the biggest game of the year. St. Eds is not the biggest game of the year.

“When we play in the state tournament, those are the biggest games of the year. This game doesn't make or break our season.”

DAVID DELIZ COMMITS TO WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY.

POSTED ON 4/29/10 AT 1:50 P.M.

By Eddie Dwyer
Copyright, April/May 2010

Congratulations go out to Saint Ignatius' standout senior right-hander David Deliz, who has accepted a baseball scholarship from Wright State University.

Deliz is 3-2 this season with 37 strikeouts in 26 innings pitched. He has a career record on the varsity of 7-3.

With David's commitment to Wright State, he becomes the 28th player to receive a baseball scholarship in Brad Ganor's six seasons as the Wildcats' head coach.

"They saw me throw in a showcase up in Michigan this fall," said Deliz of the Wright State coaching staff. "They called me and told me they were impressed with what they saw. I went for a few visits to the school and liked what it had to offer.

"The competition they play is among the best - Georgia, Kentucky, Louisville and everyone down there in the South. I am looking forward to it."

Wright State is located in Dayton, Ohio and is a member of the Horizon League. After a 12-inning loss to Toledo on Wednesday, the Raiders are 20-17 on the season.

SAINT IGNATIUS-BENEDICTINE VARSITY BASEBALL RECAP.

POSTED ON 4/29/10 AT 11:12 P.M.

'CATS BOUNCE BACK FROM WEDNESDAY'S SETBACK.

ZAK SHOCKLEY REBOUNDS IN STYLE, CORY FINKLER CLOSES THE DOOR AND COLIN GALLAGHER, NEAL JACOBS AND TYLER KETTE IGNITE THE OFFENSE IN A COME-FROM-BEHIND VICTORY OVER THE BENGALS.

UP NEXT: AT CANTON CENTRAL CATHOLIC ON FRIDAY AT 5 P.M.

By Eddie Dwyer
Copyright, April/May 2010

After his Wildcats suffered a one-sided loss to nationally ranked Walsh Jesuit on Wednesday, Saint Ignatius head coach Brad Ganor emphasized how resilient his team is.

Thursday afternoon on the campus of Case Western Reserve University, the Wildcats had to call on their buoyancy as fans were still entering Nobby's Ballpark.

Saint Ignatius, trailing, 3-0, after the first inning, rode the left arm of Zak Shockley, some clutch hitting and good old-fashioned hustle in rallying past the Benedictine Bengals, 6-3, in a Cuyahoga River Baseball Conference game.

“The first inning was a big struggle, just all around,” said Shockley, after the Bengals combined two walks, an RBI single by Tim Szalay, another walk and an error into their three runs. “But after that, I started getting over the top on the fastball, which I thought was the problem in the first inning.

“It took a little time to figure out the strike zone," Shockley continued. "The umpire was a little tight on the outside corner, but then he was opening up to the breaking balls out there and that really helps in staying confident.”

After that early roar by the Bengals, the Wildcats' sophomore battery of Shockley and Stephen Alexander seemed to exude confidence.

With Benedictine (10-9) threatening to make it 4-0 in the bottom of the second, Shockley racked up three consecutive strikeouts after the Bengals had a runner on second with no outs.

Counting those three strikeouts, the 6-foot-5, 210-pound Shockley would retire 14 Bengals in a row before yielding a two-out walk in the bottom of the sixth.

Following a single by Benedictine's Zach Walker, junior right-hander Cory Finkler sealed Shockley's second victory against no defeats this season by throwing 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. Finkler walked the first batter he faced, but then ended the sixth with a bases-loaded strikeout.

In his 5 2/3 innings of work, Shockley yielded three hits, struck out 10 and walked four. Of the three runs scored in the first inning, only one was earned. All three outs in the bottom of the first came off Shockley Ks.

“It was an important win, a much-needed win,” said Coach Ganor after the 'Cats improved to a resilient 16-2. “I think Zak showed a lot of maturity for a sophomore. He could have tanked it easily and you would have gone, 'Oh, he's a sophomore.' But he didn't. He held it together.

“We needed Zak to go deep (in the game) with the amount of games that we have been playing. The staff is a little thin right now. He did a fantastic job and we got some clutch hitting, a good two-out hit by Colin (Gallagher) again. We did what we had to do and executed when we needed to.”

The Wildcats, who on Sunday will learn where they will be seeded and who their first opponent will be in next month's Division I sectional/ district tournament, took advantage of a lead-off single by Gallagher, an error and two plays that included fielder's choices and two more errors in cutting the deficit to 3-2 in the top of the third.

Gallagher, a junior second baseman, tied the score with a two-out RBI double in the top of the fourth.

Junior right fielder Neal Jacobs put Saint Ignatius in front by leading off the top of the sixth with a majestic home run that soared over the left-center field fence in what is definitely a pitcher's park. It marked the fifth time this season that Jacobs has said goodbye to Mr. Rawlings.

Junior designated hitter Tyler Kette followed Jacobs' blast with a ringing double, Alexander laid down a sacrifice bunt and Gallagher's sacrifice fly to center field made it 5-3.

The 'Cats got some insurance in the top of the seventh when standout third baseman Mike Burke walked with two outs, went to second on a wild pitch and came around to score when junior first baseman Mike Horejsei hit a slow chopper that was played into an error. Coach Ganor pointed to the hustle by both Burke and Horejsei while referring to the game's final run.

Saint Ignatius will travel to Canton Central Catholic on Friday for a matchup with the baseball-savvy Crusaders and their energetic fans. The first pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. Junior right-hander Marques Pagan will make his first varsity start for the 'Cats.

SAINT IGNATIUS-CANTON CENTRAL CATHOLIC VARSITY BASEBALL RECAP.

POSTED ON 4/30/10 AT 11:20 P.M.

WILDCATS EXPERIENCE ONE OF THE TOUGHEST INNINGS IN THE HISTORY OF THEIR BASEBALL PROGRAM.

THE BULLPEN BECOMES UNGLUED IN A 12-RUN FOURTH INNING BY THE CRUSADERS.

By Eddie Dwyer
Copyright, April/May 2010

CANTON, OHIO – After Saint Ignatius head coach Brad Ganor addressed his team early Friday evening, several of the Wildcats called for a players-only meeting.

To a player, the 'Cats realized they had plenty to discuss after taking a downward spiral in what has been one of the biggest roller-coaster weeks in Saint Ignatius' baseball history.

The Wildcats, who are seeking what would be a state-best fourth consecutive appearance in the Division I state final four, were defeated by the traditionally strong Division III Canton Central Catholic Crusaders, 18-4, in the Crusaders' baseball-rich and immaculately kept facility.

It marked the second time in three days that Saint Ignatius was run-ruled, as the 'Cats were defeated by nationally ranked Walsh Jesuit, 10-0, on Wednesday in Bohlken Park.

Heading into Saturday's 11 a.m. doubleheader in Erie (Pa.) against Cathedral Prep and Erie McDowell, Saint Ignatius stands a respectable 16-3 overall and 2-2 on the week.

However, all of the excitement and emotion that stemmed from Thursday's come-from-behind victory over Benedictine and Friday's four-run rally in the top of the fourth against Central Catholic, slowly and painfully evaporated in the bottom of the fourth.

The Crusaders, who improved to 17-5, broke open a tight game by sending 17 batters to the plate and scoring 12 runs on five hits, an error, seven walks, a hit batsman and a passed ball. Five of the seven walks and the hit batsman came consecutively with two outs and the bases loaded. Sophomore designated hitter Anthony Paone accounted for Central Catholic's ninth and 18th runs with a pair of RBI singles.

Central Catholic, the 2008 Division III state champion, outhit the Wildcats, 12-2.

“I wish I had a great comment to say, that everything is going to be all right,” said Coach Ganor. “There really isn't much to say when you get your lunch handed to you. It's just disappointing that coming off the tough loss the other day, we can't muster the intensity to play well multiple days in a row.”

Central Catholic, on the strength of two two-out, two-run doubles by senior first baseman Jordan Ditty, led, 6-0, after three innings.

Saint Ignatius, which has made 10 trips to the state final four and brought home the big-school crown in 2002, came storming back by sending nine batters to the plate and scoring four times in the top of the fourth.

Senior left fielder and tri-captain Kevin Hopkins, who had both of the Wildcats' hits, led off the fourth with a single. After a hit batsman, a stolen base by Hopkins, an error, a wild pitch, two consecutive walks, another error and a fielder's choice, Saint Ignatius trailed by just two runs.

“We have to have other guys that can pitch, other than Jack McLinden, David Deliz and Zak Shockley,” Coach Ganor said, after hearing the numbers of the nightmarish bottom of the fourth. “We have to have other guys who can step up and do the job.

“And right now, I'm not sure we know who those guys are going to be.”

One of the few bright spots from Friday night was seeing talented senior infielder and tri-captain Dave Gallagher back in the starting lineup. Dave missed the last four games with a tired arm. He got the okay from his doctor to go full time in the field and at the plate, but he won't be able to pitch for the rest of the season. Dave entered Friday's game with a .477 batting average, four doubles, two home runs, a triple and 16 RBI, and was 2-0 on the mound with a save and a 0.82 earned run average.

SAINT IGNATIUS VARSITY BASEBALL RECAP.

POSTED ON MAY 1, 2010 AT 9:59 P.M.

'CATS BRING HOME TWO FROM ERIE.

KEVIN HOPKINS, KORY GILLISSIE, MIKE HOREJSEI, MIKE BURKE, NEAL JACOBS AND DAVE GALLAGHER HELP FUEL THE OFFENSE AGAINST CATHEDRAL PREP AND BURKE'S GUTSY PITCHING ALONG WITH SOME CLUTCH HITTING BY TYLER KETTE, JOE GRECO, GALLAGHER, GILLISSIE, HOPKINS AND BURKE KEY A COME-FROM-BEHIND VICTORY OVER ERIE MCDOWELL.

BURKE, JACOBS, GALLAGHER AND GRECO ALL SAY GOODBYE TO MR. RAWLINGS ON THE SAME FIELD WHERE "THE GREAT BAMBINO” ONCE STOOD AT THE PLATE.

By Eddie Dwyer
Copyright, May 2010

ERIE, PA. – As is the case when they roam the outfield together, Kory Gillissie and Kevin Hopkins were on the same page after Saturday's doubleheader in legendary Ainsworth Field.

“We played Saint Ignatius baseball,” said the gifted seniors, almost simultaneously, after they helped the Wildcats end what was an up and down week on a positive note.

The 'Cats, with Hopkins and Gillissie playing major roles, defeated Cathedral Prep, 11-10, and Erie McDowell, 9-4, en route to going 4-2 this past week.

After a one-sided loss at Canton Central Catholic on Friday, the pride, the hustle and the all-around diamond savvy that are and always have been Saint Ignatius baseball were again on display.

The Wildcats, who improved to 18-3, will find out on Sunday just how much weight that impressive record carries, as the seeding for the Lakewood Division I sectional/district tournament takes place in Strongsville.

“We came out enthused, ready to go, jacked up and fired up," said Hopkins, after Saint Ignatius turned back the 9-2 Ramblers from Cathedral Prep in the first game and overcame a 3-0 deficit after three innings in defeating the McDowell Trojans, who are now 6-5 on the season. “We didn't want to travel two hours to Erie and lose. Friday night left a bitter taste in our mouths.”

The 'Cats turned what could have been a sour second game into a sweet victory.

McDowell, on the strength of an RBI single and a stolen base by shortstop/pitcher Bobby Roach, a run-scoring single by third baseman Matt Wilwohl and an RBI double by center fielder Mike Ladesic, took the 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third.

It was at that point, however, that Saint Ignatius unleashed its refuse-to-lose approach.

With one out and nobody on in the top of the fourth, senior pitcher Mike Burke walked and advanced to second on a pitch in the dirt. After senior shortstop Dave Gallagher drew a walk, junior designated hitter Tyler Kette delivered an RBI single. A fielder's choice off the bat of junior right fielder Joe Greco made it 3-2 and, after junior third baseman Colin Gallagher, Dave's brother, and senior second baseman Kairee Tekra drew walks, a first-pitch swinging Gillissie fired a two-out single up the middle that tied the score.

“On defense, we said we are going to play in back of our pitchers, no more errors,” said Gillissie of the players-only meeting that took place shortly after the loss in Canton on Friday night. “We're trying to go no errors, play as a team and make sure everyone has their hands back throughout the whole game. That was our goal, and we came out and did it.”

And no one appreciated that defensive-minded effort more than Burke, who pitched a gutsy, six-hit complete game and gave a bullpen that was overworked this week some much-needed rest. Dave Gallagher, junior first baseman Mike Horejsei and Hopkins in left field and Gillissie in center field were the backbones of that defense on Saturday.

Following another one-out walk to Burke in the top of the fifth and some heads-up base running that saw Burke move to second on a wild pitch and steal third, Dave Gallagher put the Wildcats ahead to stay with a run-scoring single.

Then came a moment Greco won't soon forget, as he followed a two-out walk to Kette with his first varsity home run, a two-run no-doubter that soared over the fence in left field in a hurry.

Burke's RBI double in the sixth pushed the 'Cats' lead to 7-3 and Saint Ignatius took command in the top of the seventh on a two-out run-scoring double to deep left-center field by Gillissie that was followed by an RBI double to deep center by Hopkins.

“Coach Bieneman (Wildcats assistant coach Josh Bieneman) told us that we have to have that swagger, that we can hit no matter what the count is or what the situation is,” said Gillissie of Saint Ignatius' ability to come up with several clutch two-out hits on Saturday. “Earlier in the week, we were so tight that we just didn't come out and play. And that was another thing we talked about – to just go out there loose and have fun, just play like we can.

“We had fun before the games, got down to business and played our game.”

SAINT IGNATIUS 11, ERIE CATHEDRAL PREP 10: A two-run double by Hopkins, an RBI double by Horejsei and a two-run home run by Burke highlighted a seven-run top of the second.

Hopkins' run-scoring triple and Horejsei's sacrfice fly made it 9-0 in the top of the fourth, but the Ramblers stormed back with four runs in the bottom half of the inning.

With out in the top of the fifth, 'Cats junior right fielder Neal Jacobs hit his sixth home run of the season, a majestic shot that carried nearly 500 feet to left-center and awoke echoes of another slugger who took some swings in Ainsworth Field – the great “Bambino” and the “Sultan of Swat” - A.K.A. George Herman Babe Ruth.

The “Babe,” along with the Ruth All-Stars, visited the Ainsworth facility in 1923 to play an exhibition game against the Erie Moose Club. Ruth's All-Stars won, 15-1. Babe played first base and had two singles and a home run. There are many myths about where his home run landed, with some saying it cleared Roosevelt Middle School, while others recalled it kissing off the school's smoke stack. Either way, Babe would have got a kick out of Jacobs' effort.

Speaking of efforts, the Ramblers had plenty left in their tank as they responded to Dave Gallagher's home run leading off the top of the seventh by scoring four times in the bottom of the seventh. The big blow was a three-run home run by Dan Fromknecht.

Saint Ignatius kept it composure, however, and secured the one-run victory on a strikeout by junior relief pitcher Cory Finkler with runners on second and third.

“I think we beat two good teams,” said Wildcats head coach Brad Ganor, who praised his team for the character it displayed at the end of the Cathedral Prep game and in coming from behind against McDowell. “We hit the ball very well in both games and I am very happy with Mike (Burke) throwing a complete game. Hopefully we'll end up with one of the top seeds and make the big push (in the postseason).”

Saint Ignatius plays its final six games of the regular season this coming week, starting with Monday's game at nationally ranked Walsh Jesuit. Coach Ganor said he is confident his team will play much better than it did on Wednesday, when Walsh came away with a 10-0 victory in Bohlken Park.

IN OUR THOUGHTS: Our prayers and well wishes go out to Wildcats sophomore junior-varsity player Dan Oaklief, who was knocked unconscious while sliding into home plate during a game at Strongsville on Saturday.

Coach Ganor said Dan received excellent treatment on the field, regained consciousness and was taken to a nearby hospital for further treatment. Ganor added that Dan suffered a concussion.

Again, our prayers are with Dan and his family for a speedy and healthy recovery.

SAINT IGNATIUS-WALSH JESUIT VARSITY BASEBALL RECAP.

POSTED ON 5/3/10 AT 11:42 P.M.

'CATS TAKE A MUCH BETTER APPROACH AT THE PLATE THAN THEY DID FIVE DAYS AGO, BUT WALSH JESUIT IS SIMPLY A DEEP TEAM WITH FEW, IF ANY, HOLES IN ITS LINEUP.

WARRIORS RIDE A SIX-RUN THIRD INNING TO A 12-4 VICTORY OVER THE VISITING WILDCATS.

UP NEXT: A TRIP TO NOBBY'S BALLPARK AT CASE WESTERN RESERVE ON TUESDAY FOR A MATCHUP WITH THE BENEDICTINE BENGALS. THE FIRST PITCH IS 4:30 P.M.

By Eddie Dwyer
Copyright, May 2010

It is not being condescending or patronizing to say that Saint Ignatius has nothing to hang its head about after being defeated by nationally ranked Walsh Jesuit for the second time in five days.

Unlike last week when the Wildcats, by their own admission, played tight and uncertain in a run-rule loss to the Warriors in Bohlken Park, they took their cuts at Walsh Jesuit on Monday evening and just didn't have enough of a complete game to garner a season-series split with state's No. 1 ranked Division II team.

The Warriors, who just might be the strongest and deepest team Ohio has to offer, in any division, rode Ryan Berry's authoritative bat and some strong work out of their bullpen by Zach O'Driscoll to a 12-4 victory over Saint Ignatius.

Ranked among the top five teams in most of the national polls, Walsh Jesuit improved to 20-0. The Wildcats, who were ranked fourth in this week's Division I state poll, stand 18-4 heading into Tuesday's matchup with Benedictine at Case Western Reserve University.

“If you avoid the six spot, who knows,” said Saint Ignatius head coach Brad Ganor, referring to the Warriors' telling six-run bottom of the third. “You play a lot differently when it's a one- or two-run game than you do if it's a six- or seven-run game.

“I think offensively we swung the bats very well against a very good pitcher, one of the better kids in the area.”

Walsh Jesuit's 6-foot-3 senior right-hander Greg Greve worked 4 1/3 innings in improving to 5-0. He was responsible for all four of the Wildcats' runs, but got the cushion he needed early on.

Berry, who accounted for three of the Warriors' first five runs in last week's game against the 'Cats, laced a two-out RBI double in the bottom of the first and the senior first baseman belted a 1-0 pitch over the left-field fence for a grand slam in highlighting the six-run third

Saint Ignatius got on the board when senior third baseman Mike Burke led off the fourth by belting an 0-2 pitch over the fence in center field for his fourth home run of the season.

Walsh Jesuit pushed its lead to 9-1 on a two-out, two-run bases-loaded single by freshman catcher Cassidy Brown in the bottom of the fourth.

The Wildcats, who are seeded No.1 for next week's Division I Lakewood sectional/district, refused to go quietly.

Senior center fielder Kory Gillissie fueled a three-run top of the fifth by sending Mr. Rawlings soaring over the fence in right-center field. Junior first baseman Mike Horejsei drew a walk with one out, advanced to second base on a wild pitch and came home on an RBI double to left-center field by Burke, his team-leading 26th run batted in.

After a single by 'Cats' senior shortstop Dave Gallagher, the Warriors turned to their deep and talented bullpen and brought in O'Driscoll, a 6-2 senior right-hander.

Saint Ignatius would cut the deficit to 9-4 off a fielder's choice, but O'Driscoll retired the next batter on a 5-3 ground out. He struck out the side in the top of the sixth and had two more Ks in the seventh.

“For Jack, it was a tough outing for him,” said Coach Ganor of 6-5 senior right-hander Jack McLinden, who lost for the first time in six starts this spring. “But like I told him when I went out there to take him out of the game (with two outs in the bottom of the third), he's going to have a lot of big innings before this season is over. So we just have to put it behind us and move forward. And a senior and a four-year member of the varsity should be able to do that pretty easily.”

SAINT IGNATIUS-BENEDICTINE VARSITY BASEBALL RECAP.

POSTED ON 5/4/10 AT 10:19 P.M.

SAINT IGNATIUS' ROLLER-COASTER PLAY CONTINUES.

'CATS SQUANDER A FIVE-RUN LEAD, AS THE BENGALS ROAR FOR FOUR IN THE SIXTH AND TWO IN THE SEVENTH.

UP NEXT: AT CUYAHOGA FALLS ON THURSDAY AND AT THE NORTHERN OHIO COMPLEX IN STRONGSVILLE ON SATURDAY TO FACE TALENT-LADEN ST. EDWARD. THURSDAY'S GAME IS SCHEDULED FOR 5 P.M. IN WATER WORKS PARK AND SATURDAY'S MATCHUP WITH THE EAGLES IS SLATED FOR 2 P.M.

By Eddie Dwyer
Copyright, May 2010

The disappointment was carved in the face of Saint Ignatius head baseball coach Brad Ganor.

And his words went hand-in-hand with that expression.

“This is the most disappointing game I have ever been a part of,” Coach Ganor said after his Wildcats let a five-run lead after five innings slip away and lost to host Benedictine, 7-6, on Tuesday evening in Nobby's Ballpark on the campus of Case Western Reserve University. “That right there is worse than 18-4 at Canton Central Catholic. It is lack of desire, lack of ambition and a lack of focus.

“Give me a guy like Kevin Hopkins,” Coach Ganor continued. “Going in the bullpen (to make a diving one-handed catch) and tearing up his knee and everything else. There was no response to that. A great play, and we sat here and just watched it happen and gave him a little golf clap. You think that would inspire the kids. It's just very sad, very sad that we are going in this direction so close to the tournament.”

Hopkins, Saint Ignatius' senior left fielder and tri-captain, registered the second out in the Bengals' four-run sixth with his exceptional grab, an effort that saw him run full stride from left-center field, dive, reach out and hold on to the ball despite smashing his knee on the pitching mound in Benedictine's bullpen along the left-field line. The Wildcats would end the inning on a 4-3 ground out, but all of the momentum was riding with the Bengals, who now trailed by one run.

After the Wildcats stranded two runners in the top of the seventh, Benedictine (13-9), the second seed at the Euclid Division II sectional/district, started the bottom of the seventh with a triple to right field by junior shortstop Tim Szalay. Junior first baseman Jordan Durham followed with an authoritative double to right-center field and the score was tied, 6-6.

Following a walk, a wild pitch and a stolen base, Coach Brian Sliwinski's Bengals had runners on second and third with no outs.

After a strikeout, junor right-handed pitcher Joe Fisher, who came on in relief in the top of the fourth and limited Saint Ignatius to one run over the final four innings, bunted the ball in the air and it landed perfectly in no-man's land behind the pitcher's mound. The winning run scored easily and the celebration was on as Fisher was mobbed by his teammates.

Saint Ignatius, which was outhit, 12-5, is now 3-4 in its last seven games and stands 18-5 overall.

“Usually we're able to find a way to have the team peaking at the time of the tournament,” said Coach Ganor, who watched his 'Cats defeat Benedictine, 6-3, last week in Nobby's Ballpark. “Right now it's a downward spiral and it doesn't look like it's going to get better anytime soon, just based on the attitude that they bring to the field. They have a hard time getting up to play for their school.

“I firmly believe that some guys play for the pride of the school more than anything, but other guys seem to just strap it on.”

The Wildcats, who are seeded No. 1 for next week's Lakewood Division I sectional/district, took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a two-out RBI single by senior shortstop Dave Gallagher. They combined four consecutive walks, sacrifice-fly balls by Gallagher and senior designated hitter Zach Seybert, and a base hit by junior outfielder Neal Jacobs into a 5-0 advantage in the top of the third. Thanks to consecutive one-out hits by Seybert, Jacobs and junior second baseman Colin Gallagher, Dave's brother, the 'Cats led, 6-1, heading into the sixth.

SAINT IGNATIUS-CUYAHOGA FALLS VARSITY BASEBALL RECAP.

POSTED ON 5/6/10 AT 11:05 P.M.

THE FIGHT IS BACK, BUT CUYAHOGA FALLS EARNS ITS VICTORY IN A NON-LEAGUE MATCHUP WITH THE 'CATS.

MASON HALTER THROWS THREE STRONG INNINGS OF RELIEF TO KEEP SAINT IGNATIUS IN THE HUNT AND NEAL JACOBS TOTALS THREE HITS.

By Eddie Dwyer
Copyright, May 2010

CUYAHOGA FALLS, OHIO – Sometimes you just have to tip your cap to the other team.

That was the case early Thursday evening in Water Works Park, as the Black Tigers of Cuyahoga Falls turned back Saint Ignatius, 4-2, in a non-league baseball game.

“It was a better fight today, and I was happy to see that,” said Wildcats head coach Brad Ganor, who felt there was something missing emotionally in Tuesday's 7-6 loss to Benedictine, a game that saw the Bengals overcome a five-run deficit after five innings. “As disappointed as I was the other day, today we just got beat. We didn't give it to them, we flat out got beat They made the plays they had to.”

In improving to a deceiving 10-11, Cuyahoga Falls got some clutch two-out hitting by senior second baseman Chris Shaffer and senior third baseman Drew Anderson in taking a 4-1 lead into the sixth inning. Saint Ignatius combined a walk to senior center fielder Kory Gillissie, a one-out base hit by junior first baseman Mike Horejsei, a hit batsman and a fielder's choice in scoring its first run in the top of the third.

Mason Halter, the Wildcats' 6-foot-7 junior right-hander, came on in relief of Wildcats starter Brian Lehto in the bottom of the fourth and kept the 'Cats in the game by throwing three scoreless innings. Known to his teammates as “Big Country,” Halter yielded one hit, struck out two and did not walk a batter.

In the top of the sixth, junior right fielder Neal Jacobs led off with a single to left field, his second of three hits on the day. With one out, junior Tyler Kette came up with a pinch-hit single to center field and after a fielder's choice there were runners on first and third with two outs.

Senior left fielder and tri-captain Kevin Hopkins stepped to the plate and cut the deficit to 4-2 by delivering an RBI single to center.

At that point, the Black Tigers went to their bullpen and called on Bryon Holland and his more than capable fastball. The 6-7 senior ended the top of the sixth by coaxing a 4-3 ground out.

Following a 1-2-3 bottom of the sixth by Halter, Holland saved the victory for junior right-hander and starter Alex Overfield (2-0) after Saint Ignatius, with two outs and nobody on in the top of the seventh, sandwiched two errors around an infield hit by Jacobs. Holland reached back for something extra and got the final out off a 5-3 grounder.

The Wildcats, who are scheduled to face talent-laden St. Edward on Saturday in the Northern Ohio Complex in Strongsville at 2 p.m., slipped to 18-6 overall and 3-5 in their last eight games.

“You get that feeling of the old line from the movie “The Natural” - 'Losing is a disease, as contagious as -----,'” said Coach Ganor. “We just need that one thing, the lightning bolt to come out and have somebody knock the cover off the ball (a la Roy Hobbs) to kind of turn it around and get us going in the right direction again.

“I still believe in these guys and I still believe we're a team that could do very well in the tournament, with the top end of our pitching. As long as they can regroup and find energy, I think we're going to be all right. Our team will be ready for the tournament, knowing those are do-or-die games and bringing every ounce of focus and energy that they have in their body.”

Saint Ignatius begins tournament play on May 11th in a sectional-final matchup with the winner of the Lakewood-Valley Forge May 10th semifinal. The first pitch on May 11th will be 4:30 p.m., and the game will be played on Talty Field in the Brookside Reservation.

CONGRATULATIONS go out to the Wildcats' junior-varsity and freshman teams, who brought home victories on Thursday. The JV team improved to 21-4 by defeating Cuyahoga Falls, 4-2, and the freshmen are now 19-3-1 after turning back the Black Tigers, 6-4.

SENIOR KORY GILLISSIE TO BE A YELLOW JACKET.

POSTED ON 5/8/10.

Congratulations go out to Saint Ignatius' two-sport standout Kory Gillissie, who has decided to further his education and athletic career at Baldwin-Wallace College.

Gillissie, a two-year mainstay in varsity football as a wide receiver/defensive back/special-teams player and a two-year catalyst in varsity baseball as a center fielder, plans to play both sports for the Yellow Jackets.

Kory has had many memorable moments on the athletic fields, including his diving touchdown reception against Glenville in the closing minute of the 2009 season-opening victory over the Tarblooders. He has been rock solid in center field this spring.

Again, congratulations to Kory and his family, and all of the best in the future.

SAINT IGNATIUS-VALLEY FORGE SECTIONAL BASEBALL RECAP.

POSTED ON 5/13/10 AT 7:52 P.M.

MOVING ON

MIKE BURKE FUELS THE OFFENSE AND SAVES THE OUTCOME ON THE MOUND AS THE 'CATS DEFEAT THE PATRIOTS IN A SECTIONAL FINAL.

UP NEXT: VERSUS THE WINNER OF RHODES VS. PARMA IN A DISTRICT SEMIFINAL ON MONDAY AT 4 P.M. IN LAKEWOOD STADIUM.

By Eddie Dwyer

Saint Ignatius' standout senior third baseman/pitcher Mike Burke said he didn't feel much pressure during Thursday's Division I sectional final at Valley Forge.

The University of Buffalo recruit added that he was just happy to help his team and provide a little spring board that hopefully will keep the 'Cats advancing from this point on.

Saint Ignatius, with Burke sending all of the Wildcats' faithful home happy, defeated the spirited Patriots, 4-2, in the spacious ball yard behind Valley Forge high school. Under the OHSAA tournament rules, the 'Cats were designated as the “home team.”

In improving to 19-6, Saint Ignatius advances to Monday's district semifinals at Lakewood Stadium. The Wildcats, the top seed at Lakewood, will face the winner of the Rhodes-Parma sectional final, which is being played on Saturday morning. The first pitch on Monday is scheduled for 4 p.m.

“Mike was certainly the key to the victory,” said Saint Ignatius coach Brad Ganor after Burke went 3-for-3 with a home run, three runs batted in and two runs scored, and struck out six and did not yield a hit in two innings of clutch relief. “Not for one second did we come into this game thinking we were going to win by 10 (runs). I told our kids that (the Patriots) were going to be emotionally ready and the longer they hung around, the more emotional they were going to get.

“Maybe that's good for us. Maybe we needed that playoff scare right out of the gate. In years past, we always kind of rolled in the sectional. It was kind of a no brainer. Today, we had to think a little bit, pitch a little bit and get key hits.”

The early pitching came from the dominant right arm of senior David Deliz, who yielded two hits, struck out 10 and walked three in 4 1/3 innings of work. Both of the hits against Deliz (4-2) were singles off the bat of senior center fielder P.J. Adams.

Sophomore left-hander Zak Shockley came on in relief of Deliz and ended the top of the fifth with two strikeouts.

In the top of the sixth, however, Valley Forge got back in the game on a hit batsman, a pitch in the dirt and an RBI single by senior catcher Frank Zelley that cut the deficit to 4-1. After a wild pitch and a walk, the Patriots had runners on first and second with no outs.

Enter Burke.

Burke, who started the game at third base before taking over on the mound, would find himself in a second-and-third and no-out situation after his battery mate couldn't handle his first pitch.

Bearing down, Burke overpowered the next batter with a strikeout and appeared to have a called strikeout for the second out of the inning. However, the called third strike bounced off the catcher's glove and, in attempt to complete the strikeout, the catcher fired a throw that sailed into right field. A run scored and now Valley Forge trailed, 4-2.

Keeping his composure, Burke recorded his third strikeout and the four-out inning ended on a 2-1 putout at the plate off a passed ball. Burke wrapped up his save by recording three of his six strikeouts in the top of the seventh.

The Wildcats, playing their first game since May 6, combined a lead-off walk by senior left fielder Kevin Hopkins, a sacrifice bunt by junior first baseman Mike Horejsei and an RBI single to right-center field by Burke into a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first.

Two-out, run-scoring line-drive singles by Burke and senior designated hitter/second baseman Zach Seybert pushed Saint Ignatius' lead to 3-0 in the third, and Burke gave the 'Cats a 4-0 advantage by turning on an inside pitch and powering a home run to deep left field with one out in the bottom of the fifth.

“It was a fastball inside,” said Burke, who has now said goodbye to Mr. Rawlings five times this season. “I went up there just trying to hit the ball, not worrying about what might happen, what could happen or what should happen. I was very relaxed.”

Burke's all-around performance enabled Coach Ganor and his entire staff to relax.

“I thought we did a nice job rising to the occasion,” Coach Ganor said. “They had one job to do, there were no other games to think about and they won. And that's the most important thing.”

'CATS WILL FACE PARMA IN MONDAY'S DISTRICT SEMIFINALS.

POSTED ON 5/15/10 AT 4 P.M.

By Eddie Dwyer
Copyright, May 2010

Coach Brad Ganor will send his Saint Ignatius Wildcats against the Parma Redmen in Monday's Division I district baseball semifinals at Lakewood Stadium. The first pitch from Bunts and Madison will be 4 p.m.

Parma advanced to the district semifinals by defeating Rhodes, 3-1, on Saturday morning. The other half of Monday's bracket matches the Midpark Meteors and the Olmsted Falls Bulldogs at 6:30 p.m.

The winners return to Lakewood Stadium on Tuesday for the district-championship game, which is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Saint Ignatius' Broadcasting Club will bring you the action from Lakewood Stadium on Monday (and hopefully Tuesday). Jeff McCormick '83 and Jacob Corrigan '10 will provide the play-play and commentary.

If the 'Cats are fortunate enough to win their fourth consecutive district championship, they will advance to the regional semifinal versus the Strongsville district champion on May 27 at 5 p.m. That game will be played in Nobby's Ballpark on the campus of Case Western Reserve University.

The winner of the semifinal at Case will travel to All Pro Freight Stadium in Avon for a regional championship game on May 28 at 5 p.m. The opponent will come from either the Bowling Green district or the Maumee district.

  ONE FOR THE RECORD BOOKS: Whenever the subject of Parma baseball comes up, this corner can't help but reflect back on 1975, when the Redmen and Columbus West staged a classic offensive battle in the big-school state-championship game.

In a matchup that had reporters draining their pens, breaking pencils and using up several pages in their scorebooks or writing pads, Columbus West prevailed, 28-20. Yes my friends, it was the pre-computer era.

Thirty-five years later and several stats from that memorable day still hold up as single-game state-tournament marks in Ohio, including most runs by a team (the 28 by Columbus West), most runs in an inning (the 12 by Parma), most runs batted in (8 by Harold Williams of Columbus West) and most runs scored (6 by Dean Smith of Columbus West).

   The late Dick Zunt '50 and current Plain Dealer reporter Tim Rogers, who was a reporter for the Cleveland Press at the time, spent most of the 2 1/2-hour drive home assembling a box score from that 48-run encounter.

PARMA-SAINT IGNATIUS DISTRICT SEMIFINAL RECAP.

POSTED ON 5/17/10 AT 9:58 P.M.

NEAL JACOBS HAS HIMSELF A DAY AS HE TATTOOS A SCHOOL BUILDING WITH NO. 7.

JACK MCLINDEN IS RIGHT AT HOME IN LAKEWOOD STADIUM AND DAVE GALLAGHER LEADS A STRONG MIDDLE INFIELD.

'CATS ADVANCE TO THE DISTRICT FINALS BY DEFEATING A TALENTED PARMA CLUB IN SIX.

By Eddie Dwyer
Copyright, May 2010

Neal Jacobs, just moments after his three-hit and four-RBI day, summed up what this time of the season is all about.

His words were few, but well-chosen.

“Every game is big,” said Saint Ignatius' gifted junior right fielder.

No one played bigger on Monday afternoon in Lakewood Stadium than Jacobs, as he ignited the 'Cats' offense and, along with senior right-hander Jack McLinden, helped Saint Ignatius play what head coach Brad Ganor and assistant Frank Russo described as one of its most complete games of the season.

The Wildcats, behind McLinden's three-hit pitching and another majestic blast by Jacobs, defeated the Parma Redmen, 10-0, in a Division I district-semifinal baseball game. The game was called in the bottom of the sixth inning because of the 10-run mercy rule.

With the victory, Saint Ignatius improved to 20-6 and advanced to Thursday night's district championship game against the winner of the Olmsted Falls versus Midpark semifinal. The first pitch from Lakewood Stadium on Thursday is scheduled for 6 p.m.

The Olmsted Falls-Midpark game was suspended on Monday night because of persistent rain and will be resumed on Tuesday at Lakewood Stadium. Lakewood is hosting a Division I district track meet on Wednesday, thus the re-scheduling of the district-final baseball game to Thursday night.

The 'Cats, who garnered the top seed at Lakewood, had to flash their gloves early in order to turn back what was a spirited start by the Redmen (14-8).

Senior catcher George Blake, whose outstanding play at quarterback led Parma to its first OHSAA playoff appearance in football this past fall, started the game with a line-drive single to right field. Senior center fielder Nico Funari followed with a line shot to the gap in left-center field and the Redmen appeared to be in business with runners on second and third and no outs.

It was at that point Saint Ignatius' defense came to the fore and McLinden settled in.

First it was standout senior shortstop Dave Gallagher charging a bad hop and firing a strike to junior catcher Cory Finkler, who made a nice tag on Blake at the plate. Gallagher then combined with his brother, junior second baseman Colin Gallagher, and junior first baseman Mike Horejsei in completing a text-book 6-4-3 inning-ending double play.

Spurred on by their defense, the Wildcats scored four times in the bottom of the first inning.

With runners on first and third and two outs, senior designated hitter Zach Seybert slapped an RBI base hit past the left side of the infield and Jacobs followed with the telling blow, a three-run home run that sailed over the fence in left-center field, past the light tower and kissed off the school building that sits across from Lakewood Stadium. It was Jacobs' team-leading seventh home run of the season, which is three shy of Saint Ignatius' all-time single-season mark set by Dave Gresky in 2000 and equaled by Greg Feltes in 2004.

“I usually hit them (home runs) when I see more pitches and get deep in the count,” Jacobs said. “You just have to keep your hands back. It was a fastball inside after a curveball, and I turned on it. It felt perfect. Right on the sweet spot.”

Dave Gallagher's two-out RBI single up the middle keyed a two-run second inning and two walks and a sacrfice bunt by senior center fielder Kory Gillissie set up the seventh run in the bottom of the third. Dave Gallagher's lead-off single, Jacobs' run-scoring single, Colin Gallagher's single and Finkler's sacrifice fly helped extend the 'Cats' lead to 9-0 in the fourth.

Saint Ignatius settled the issue in the bottom of the sixth on an error, base hits by Jacobs and Colin Gallagher, and a hard-hit sacrifice fly to deep center field by Finkler. The Wildcats finished with 11 hits.

Dave Gallagher also started another 6-4-3 double play to end the top of the fifth and in the top of the third, he hustled after a ball that hit off the pitcher's mound and went high in the air. In one motion, Dave fielded the ball in the air deep behind second base and fired to first to get the runner.

Jacobs, who made a nice catch against the fence in right field with a runner on first and no outs in the top of the sixth, could have had himself a 4-for-4 day at the plate if it wasn't for a highlight-reel play by Parma senior shortstop James Sadey. Sadey ended the second inning by making a fully-extended, diving one-handed catch to his left of a bullet off Jacobs' bat.

McLinden, who couldn't say enough about the work of his infielders, complemented his three-hit pitching with four strikeouts. The Bucknell University recruit improved to 6-1 on the season and 14-1 in his varsity career.

“This was a good team,” McLinden said of the Redmen. “Whenever I gave them anything, they were hitting the ball hard. So we really had to be focused down and make every pitch.

“I've been looking forward to playing in this district game for a long time,” added McLinden, who is a resident of Lakewood. “To be able to pitch this game on this field, it was just great.”

And the way McLinden and his teammates responded had Coach Ganor feeling great.

“Frank (Coach Russo) said it perfectly, that was one of our most complete games that we've played in a long time,” Ganor said. “Probably three or four weeks.

“They get back-to-back hits in the first inning and we cut the run down at home and get the double play to get out of it. That's the game, it really is. It's such a game of momentum, especially in high school baseball, where it is so rally oriented.”

'CATS WILL FACE OLMSTED FALLS IN THURSDAY'S DISTRICT FINAL.

POSTED ON 5/18/10 AT 7:04 P.M.

Saint Ignatius' varsity baseball team, which is seeking a fourth consecutive district title, will face the Olmsted Falls Bulldogs in Thursday's Division I Lakewood District championship game. The first pitch from Lakewood Stadium is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Thursday's game will be aired by the Saint Ignatius Broadcasting Club, with Jacob "I have only six days of school left" Corrigan '10 bringing you the play by play.

Olmsted Falls, a team that is swinging the aluminum with authority, advanced to the district-title game by eliminating Midpark, 14-3, on Tuesday evening. It was the completion of Monday's suspended game.

In defeating SWC rival Midpark in district-semifinal play, Olmsted Falls avenged two regular-season setbacks to the Meteors.

Yes, in mid-May, it is all about who's hot and who's not.

- Eddie Dwyer.

OLMSTED FALLS-SAINT IGNATIUS DISTRICT FINAL RECAP.

POSTED ON 5/20/10 AT 11:57 P.M.

A TOUGH WAY TO GO OUT.

'CATS LOSE A ONE-RUN BATTLE TO AN OLMSTED FALLS TEAM THAT HAS PEAKED AT THE RIGHT TIME.

DESPITE THE BITTER TASTE OF DEFEAT, COACH GANOR WILL SAVOR THE MEMORIES OF A SPECIAL GROUP OF YOUNG MEN.

By Eddie Dwyer
Copyright, May 2010

In his six seasons as Saint Ignatius' head baseball coach, Brad Ganor has guided teams that achieved significant postseason success, including three consecutive state final-four appearances (2007-09).

That said, as Coach Ganor stood near the right-field line in Lakewood Stadium on Thursday night, it was obvious he was saying goodbye to a team that will always have a special place in his heart and his baseball mind.

“It is never easy to lose,” Ganor said, after the Wildcats were defeated by Olmsted Falls, 6-5, in a Division I district championship game. “When you lose with kids you like being around, I don't know if it hurts more or helps. But at least I'll look back on the season and I won't think of any situations where I regretted having somebody on the team or something like that. They are a great group of kids.

“The chemistry was just fantastic, and that's a tribute to the seniors and their leadership.”

That leadership came to the fore after Olmsted Falls (14-17), a team Bulldogs head coach Dan Largent said has “gotten hot at the right time,” took a 3-0 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth inning.

Largent's club scored on a two-out RBI single by third baseman Cory Maddocks in the top of the first, a one-out home run over the hitter friendly right-field fence by shortstop/relief pitcher Cam Trefny in the top of the second and a two-out run-scoring single by Trefny in the top of the fourth.

Saint Ignatius, which closed its season at 20-7, cut the deficit to 3-1 after there were two outs and nobody on in the bottom of the fourth. The 'Cats scored on a walk to senior shortstop Dave Gallagher, an error and an RBI single to right-center field by junior right fielder Neal Jacobs.

One of Coach Ganor's senior leaders, center fielder Kory Gillissie, gave his team a defensive spark by hauling in a fly ball and gunning down a runner who tagged up from second. The rare 8-5 putout ended the top of the fifth.

Riding the emotion of Gillissie's one-hopper to junior third baseman Colin Gallagher, the Wildcats batted around in scoring four times in the bottom of the fifth.

A lead-off base hit by junior catcher Cory Finkler, a bunt for a base hit by Gillissie and an RBI single by senior left fielder Kevin Hopkins cut the deficit to 3-2. After a walk to junior first baseman Mike Horejsei loaded the bases, standout senior infielder/relief pitcher Mike Burke delivered a game-tying RBI single.

Dave Gallagher then executed a bunt that allowed Hopkins to come home from third with the go-ahead run and, after an intentional two-out walk to Jacobs loaded the bases again, junior pinch-hitter Tyler Kette drew a walk for the 'Cats' fifth run.

Olmsted Falls, which will face 2006 state champion Strongsville in next week's regional semifinal at Case Western Reserve University, answered with a run in the top of the sixth. In a play very similar to Gillissie's effort, Jacobs prevented further damage in the sixth by making a catch in right field and throwing out a runner at the plate who had tagged up from third. It was a perfect and powerful one-line throw to Finkler.

The night belonged to the Bulldogs, however, as they scored twice in the top of the seventh. A one-out walk and a triple by left fielder David Venezuela tied the score and with two outs and Venezuela perched on third, catcher Chaz McGrain fought off an 0-2 pitch and dropped a base hit into short right field for the 6-5 lead. Olmsted Falls had nine hits and committed one error and Saint Ignatius totaled seven hits and also made one miscue.

“We battled back great,” Coach Ganor said. “I was very happy with the position that we put ourselves in when we rallied. I said the other day that it is a game of momentum. They took it early and we carried it late.

“The kid (McGrain) didn't hit a two-run homer, he hit an 0-2 flare down the line. What are you going to do, that's baseball. Sometimes, you know, your number's up."

Dave Gallagher, another of those senior leaders Coach Ganor referred to, displayed his grit and character one last time in a Saint Ignatius uniform, as he reflected on the season when it would have been just as easy to say nothing or walk away.

“Obviously this isn't the way we wanted to go out,” said Dave, who just missed driving the ball out of Lakewood Stadium in the bottom of the seventh. “But I got to play with my brother (Colin) again, which was special for me. I know he's going to take this taste (of defeat) and do his best next year to make sure that this doesn't happen again.

“I loved our seniors, I loved our team," Dave continued. "Like coach said, we had great chemistry and we had a lot of fun. It's tough to swallow right now, but you can't have any regrets on the season.

"A ball falls here and a ball falls there. That's baseball for you. But that's why we love it.”

FORMER 'CAT DEREK DIETRICH IS SELECTED BY TAMPA BAY IN THE SECOND ROUND.

STORIES POSTED ON 6/8/10.

Congratulations go out to former Saint Ignatius baseball standout Derek Dietrich '07, who was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in Tuesday's second round of Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft. Dietrich was the 79th pick overall.

Dietrich, who just completed his junior season as a shortstop for nationally ranked Georgia Tech, was a member of two state final-four teams at Saint Ignatius (2004 and 2007). He totaled more than 100 hits and 100 runs batted in during his high school career, had 37 career doubles and compiled a .425 career batting average for the 'Cats.

A three-time Plain Dealer All-Star, Dietrich received national and state recognition from Louisville Slugger, Baseball America and Gatorade while playing for Saint Ignatius.

Georgia Tech was eliminated by Alabama in Monday night's NCAA double-elimination Super Regional qualifier. Dietrich batted .350 this season with 18 home runs and 63 RBI.

Track and Field

TRACK AND FIELD RECAP (4/4/10)

Saint Ignatius' varsity track and field team traveled to Hilliard Davidson over the weekend and came home with a second-place finish in the annual "Wildcat Premier." Hilliard Davidson's nickname is also the Wildcats.

The 'Cats from Cleveland totaled 107 1/2 points, Medina was first with 129 1/2 points and third-place Pickerington North had 101 1/2.

Saint Ignatius took first place in the shot put as sophomore Zach Lozar had a toss of 49-11 1/4. Senior Craig Krcal was first in the pole vault with an effort of 13-0, senior Kevin Johnson took top honors in the 100-meter dash at 11.0, and the Wildcats also posted first-place finishes in the 4x100, 4x800 and 4x110 shuttle hurdles.

'CATS RED HOT IN THE FIELD EVENTS ON A BRISK SATURDAY AFTERNOON (4/18/10).

Congratulations go out to Wildcats head coach Chuck Kyle '69 and the track and field team for capturing the 16th annual Miele Track and Field Invitational at Gilmour Academy over the weekend.

Saint Ignatius, which controlled the field events, totaled 133 1/3 points and the Brush Arcs were second with 108 ½ points.

Senior Kevin Johnson, a state qualifier in 2009, took first place in the 100-meter dash (11.07) and also anchored the winning 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams.

The Wildcats also got first-place performances from sophomores Blake Thomas in the discus and Zack Lozar in the shot put. Saint Ignatius placed 1-2 in the discus, 1-3 in the shot put and 2-3 in the pole vault.

'CATS HAVE AN IMPRESSIVE FIRST DAY AT THE LAKEWOOD DIVISION I DISTRICT TRACK AND FIELD MEET (5/19/10).

Coach Chuck Kyle's varsity track and field team leads the way in the standings after Wednesday's first go around in the annual Lakewood Division I District Meet.

In the four events scored (long jump, discus, pole vault and 4x 800-meter relay), Saint Ignatius totaled 59 points and was followed by Highland with 28 points, Revere with 16 and St. Edward with 13.

Some of the highlights out of Wednesday's prelims and finals were the 1-2 finish by Blake Thomas and Ryan Gibbons in the discus; the 1-2 finish by Craig Krcal and Kristian Hill in the pole vault; Anthony Mascia and Adam North finishing second and fourth, respectively, in the long jump; Brandon Nunn and Fred Davis finishing second and third, respectively, in the 300-meter hurdles; Davis and Nunn finishing first and fourth, respectively, in the 110-meter hurdles; the first-place effort of the 4 x 800-meter relay team of Lamar Kemp, Nick Kobunski, Drew Galang and Evan Baum; the first-place finish by the 4 x 400-meter relay team of Nick D'Amico, Kemp, Ryan Kray and Kobunski; the second-place effort by the 4 x 100-meter relay team and the fourth-place finish by the 4 x 200-meter relay team; Kevin Johnson's effort of 10.99 in the 100-meter dash, which was good for second place on Wednesday; and the third - (D'Amico) and fourth-place (Kemp) finishes in the 400-meter dash.

The district meet resumes on Friday at 4 p.m. in Lakewood Stadium.

Heading to next week's regional competition at Amherst will be the top four in each event.

WILDCATS FOLLOW UP ON WEDNESDAY'S STRONG PERFORMANCE AND BRING HOME THE LAKEWOOD DISTRICT TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIP.

COACH KYLE WILL TAKE A SOLID CONTINGENT TO NEXT WEEK'S REGIONAL MEET AT AMHERST.

POSTED BY EDDIE DWYER ON 5/21/10 AT 11:45 P.M.

Putting together two impressive days of competition, the Saint Ignatius Wildcats used their depth, skill and versatility to outdistance the field in the annual Lakewood Division I District Track and Field Meet.

The Wildcats stood in first place Wednesday and stayed right there after Friday's finals as they totaled 186.50 points. St. Edward was second with 85.50 points and Highland's 70 points were good for third place.

Depth has been the 'Cats' calling card all spring and that was evident in Lakewood Stadium.

Saint Ignatius, which will now gear up for the Amherst Regional on May 26 and May 28, made its mark in almost every event. The top four in each event advance to regional competition.

Although we gave you a recap on Thursday morning of the four events scored on Wednesday and the prelims, here is a summary of the Wildcats' two-day dominance.

First place in the 4 x 800-meter relay – Lamar Kemp, Nick Kobunski, Drew Galang and Evan Baum.

First place in the 110-meter hurdles – Fred Davis.

Second place in the 100-meter dash – Kevin Johnson.

Second place in the 4 x 100-meter relay – Anthony Mascia, Tim McVey, Markus Primes and Kevin Johnson.

Fourth place in the 4 x 200-meter relay – Dan Way, Tim McVey, Adam North and Ryan Kray.

Second (Nick Kobunski) and third (John Sweeney) in the 1600-meter run.

Second place in the 400-meter dash – Nick D'Amico.

Second (Fred Davis) and third (Brandon Nunn) in the 300-meter hurdles.

Second (Evan Baum) and fourth (Drew Galang) in the 800-meter run.

Third place in the 3200-meter run – Jordan Tropf.

First place in the 4 x 400-meter relay – Nick D'Amico, Lamar Kemp, Ryan Kray and Kevin Johnson.

First (Blake Thomas) and second (Ryan Gibbons) in the discus.

Second (Anthony Mascia) and fourth (Adam North) in the long jump.

First (Craig Krcal) and second (Kristian Hill) in the pole vault.

First place in the shot put – Zak Lozar.

Keep in mind that many of the Wildcats' qualifiers are underclassmen, which bodes well for the future. They are names you will become more familiar with once football season is upon us.

Of course Coach Chuck Kyle '69 and his track and field staff will tell you that the competition becomes even more intense at the regional level.

Again, congratulations to the district champs.

TRACK AND FIELD UPDATE

POSTED ON 5/26/10 AT 10:20 P.M.

After the first day of the Amherst Division I Regional Track and Field Meet, Saint Ignatius stood in first place in the team standings, or rankings if you prefer, by one point. Midpark was second.

Four events were scored on Wednesday evening with most of the action consisting of prelims.

The highlight for the 'Cats was a second-place finish in the 4x800-meter relay. Lamar Kemp, Nick Kobunski, Drew Galang and Evan Baum did the honors.

In the prelims, Kevin Johnson was second in the 100-meter dash and Saint Ignatius had finishes of third in the 4x100-meter relay and fourth in the 4x400-meter relay.

Friday's crucial second day of competition will get underway at 4 p.m. The top four in each event advance to next weekend's (June 4-5) state meet in Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium at The Ohio State University.

- Eddie Dwyer

WILDCATS CAPTURE THE AMHERST REGIONAL.

Posted on 5/28/10 at 10:20 p.m.

COACH CHUCK KYLE'S TRACK AND FIELD TEAM WILL SEND A SOLID CONTINGENT TO THE STATE MEET.

On the strength of a first-place finish by the 4x100-meter relay team and second-place efforts in both the 4x400 and 4x800-meter relays, the Saint Ignatius Wildcats edged Medina, 62-59, for the men's championship after Friday night's finals of the Amherst Division I Regional Track and Field Meet.

Joining those three relay teams in next weekend's state-championship competition will be Kevin Johnson, who finished third in the 100-meter dash and also played key roles on the 4x100 and 4x400 relays, and Evan Baum, who placed fourth in the 800-meter run and was part of the 4x800 team.

The top four in each event at Amherst qualified for the June 4-5 state meet in Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium at the Ohio State University.

As the corner reported on Wednesday night, the 'Cats' 4x800-meter relay team qualified for Columbus during Wednesday's first evening of competition at Amherst. Again, congratulations to Lamar Kemp, Nick Kobunski, Drew Galang and Evan Baum for their efforts in the 4x800.

Friday night, Coach Chuck Kyle '69 watched his 4x100-meter relay team edge St. Edward, 42.29- 42.36, in bringing home first place. The team consisted of Anthony Mascia, Tim McVey, Bobby Grebenc and Kevin Johnson. Ah, you have to love that football flavor. And yes, Tim McVey is the freshman brother of Wildcats two-time All-Ohio linebacker Scott McVey, who is bound for Ohio State this summer.

During Wednesday's prelims, the 4x100 team placed third.

The 4x400-meter relay team, which also improved two spots from Wednesday's prelims, featured Nick D'Amico, Lamar Kemp, Ryan Kray and the anchor man, Kevin Johnson.

To sum up their efforts at Amherst, "K.J.," as Johnson is known to his friends and teammates, qualified for the state meet in three events and Evan Baum and Lamar Kemp are two-event qualifiers.

All of the best to Coach Kyle and his district and regional champions next weekend.

- EDDIE DWYER

SAINT IGNATIUS STATE TRACK PREVIEW.

POSTED ON 6/3/10 AT 2:20 A.M.

KEVIN JOHNSON, EVAN BAUM AND LAMAR KEMP WILL HELP LEAD COACH CHUCK KYLE'S WILDCATS IN THE 2010 OHSAA STATE TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS.

By Eddie Dwyer
Copyright, June 2010

At the start of the 2010 track and field season, Coach Chuck Kyle '69 said he and his staff knew they had runners that could go the distance. That was proven back in the fall when Dr. Mike Gallagher '71 guided the 'Cats' cross country team to the big-school state championship.

“We had to see if we had enough speed there to transfer over to track,” Coach Kyle said of the cross country runners who made their annual transition in the spring. “We had a sprint nucleus that we felt good about, but we did graduate some hurdling crew and in the field events, we graduated a lot of guys.

“So there were some question marks.”

Questions to be answered, definitely. But nothing so demanding that it couldn't be solved by Kyle and his dedicated assistants, and what the veteran coach referred to as not only hard work by the kids, but their ability to keep their patience.

“We went to some big meets and we would take the runner-up trophy,” Kyle said. “We were very good at taking runner-up trophies at a lot of places. But you know, when there are 16 teams or 20 teams, runner up is not too bad. You lose to a very good team and you're going, 'OK, we're getting there.'

“And certainly by the time we got towards the end of the year, some of those younger kids became veterans and in the district and regional we performed very, very well. And that was nice to see. When you go to the regional and see everybody having a personal best in what they do, you go, 'This is a satisfying moment.'”

The Wildcats have plenty of moments to remember as they dominated the Lakewood Division I district and made it back-to-back championships by edging Medina, 62-59, for the Amherst regional title.

Leading Coach Kyle's gifted contingent at this weekend's state track and field championships will be the 4x800-meter relay team of sophomore Lamar Kemp, senior Nick Kobunski, sophomore Drew Galang and senior Evan Baum. Baum, Kobunski and Galang were members of the state-champion cross country team, with Baum and Kobunski two of the mainstays that helped show the way to the fall title.

Joining the 4x800 team in Columbus will be the 4x100-meter relay team of junior Anthony Mascia, freshman Tim McVey, junior Bobby Grebenc and senior Kevin Johnson, and the 4x400-meter relay team that features junior Nick D'Amico, Kemp, sophomore Ryan Kray and Johnson. The 4x100 team finished first at Amherst and the 4x800 and 4x400 teams ran to second-place finishes.

Johnson also will be competing in the 100-meter dash, making him a three-event performer at states, and Baum joins Kemp as a two-event 'Cat after qualifying at Amherst in the 800-meter run.

“Really, all three of them have a chance to get on the podium, you have to talk about it that way,” Coach Kyle said of his relay teams. “Because if you look at the program for the state, there are so many good teams. They are all about the same time. If we can find just one more improvement, we have a chance to get on the podium.”

Kyle, who guided the Wildcats to the Division I state track and field championship in 2001 and to a runner-up finish in '05, has been coaching track at his alma mater for 37 seasons. And Kevin Johnson ranks right up there as one of those competitors who has left a lasting impression on the veteran coach.

“Kevin (Johnson) has just been a major force on this track team for four years,” Kyle said “Qualifying for the state in three events is a tremendous accomplishment. Kevin is a wonderful guy. He helps the other kids and is a fun guy who always has the sense of humor going.”

Johnson, who also competed for Coach Kyle's highly successful football program as a defensive back, tailback and kick returner, will be furthering his education and athletic career at Baldwin-Wallace College. He plans to major in education and hopes to make an impact for the Yellow Jackets in both football and track.

The state meet will again be held at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium on the campus of The Ohio State University. Friday's Division I schedule has the running preliminaries, or semifinals if you prefer, getting underway at 4:45 p.m. The boys' final in the 4x800-meter relay is slated for Friday at 5 p.m. Saturday's finals in the other running events are scheduled to start at 4:35 p.m.

For the younger members of the Wildcats' track team who are not familiar with the history, the late Jesse Owens was born in Oakville, Alabama and moved to Cleveland when he was 9. He tied the world record for the 100-yard dash (9.4 seconds) as a senior at legendary East Tech High School and went on to Ohio State, where he set numerous world marks. Jesse attained world-wide acclaim by winning four gold medals at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany. In doing so, Jesse put an emphatic end to Adolf Hitler's credo of Aryan superiority.

WILDCATS STATE TRACK UPDATES.

POSTED ON 6/4/10 AT 5:17 P.M.

*Saint Ignatius' 4x100-meter relay team, which consists of junior Anthony Mascia, freshman Tim McVey, junior Bobby Grebenc and senior Kevin Johnson, qualified for Saturday's finals by finishing third in its heat and sixth overall during Friday's prelims at the OHSAA State Track and Field Championships in Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. The team put forth an effort of 42.45.

Joining Coach Chuck Kyle's 4x100 team in Saturday's finals will be senior Evan Baum, who will be competing in the 800-meter run. Both of those events are scheduled to start after 5 p.m.

The Wildcats' team of sophopmore Lamar Kemp, senior Nick Kobunski, sophomore Drew Galang and Evan Baum placed seventh in Ohio in the finals of the 4x800-meter relay. Saint Ignatius totaled two points for its seventh-place effort. Leading the way 1 through 6 were Wadsworth, GlenOak, Lancaster, Dublin Coffman, Mason and Cincinnati La Salle.

In the prelims of the talent-laden 100-meter dash, Kevin Johnson placed sixth in his heat and 12th overall (11.14). The top eight overall qualified for Saturday's finals.

We can repeat the expression talent talden when referring to the 4x400 relay, where the 'Cats placed sixth in their heat and 12th overall. Again, the top eight qualified for the finals.

The 4x400 team, which finsihed second at the Amherst regional, consisted of junior Nick D'Amico, Lamar Kemp, sophomore Ryan Kray and Kevin Johnson.

This wraps up the Wildcats' first-day efforts, but we will be back on Saturday evening to report on the 4x100-meter relay team and Evan Baum in the 800-meter run.

- Eddie Dwyer

'CATS' 4X100 TEAM FINISHES SIXTH IN OHIO AS SAINT IGNATIUS SCORES IN TWO EVENTS DURING THIS WEEKEND'S OHSAA DIVISION I STATE TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS.

POSTED ON 6/5/10 AT 6:39 P.M.

Saint Ignatius' 4x100-meter relay team finished sixth in Ohio on Saturday evening, racing against a gifted Division I finals field.

The 'Cats' time in the finals was 42.64. Congratulations to juniors Anthony Mascia and Bobby Grebenc, freshman Tim McVey and senior Kevin Johnson on their efforts all spring, which included a first place at the Amherst regional.

Lebanon brought home top honors in the 4x100 with a time of 42.13, Columbus Northland was second at 42.33 and Glenville was third at 42.38.

In the final event that included a Saint Ignatius qualifier, senior Evan Baum placed 13th in the 800-meter run.

With the sixth-place effort by the 4x100 team and Friday's seventh-place finish by Coach Chuck Kyle's 4x800 relay team, the Wildcats totaled five points in Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium at The Ohio State University.

All of the best, now and in the future, to the Men for Others from the Class of 2010.

- Eddie Dwyer

Lacrosse

Saint Ignatius defeats Hudson

CONGRATULATIONS GO OUT TO THE WILDCATS' LACROSSE TEAM, WHICH UPSET PERENNIAL POWER HUDSON, 10-9, AND IN THE PROCESS ADVANCED TO REGIONAL SEMIFINAL COMPETITION. THE 'CATS AVENGED LAST MONTH'S 8-3 LOSS TO THE EXPLORERS.

UP NEXT ON THE TOURNAMENT TRAIL IS A MATCHUP WITH NORTH CANTON HOOVER ON WEDNESDAY AT WASMER FIELD. GAME TIME IS 7:30 P.M. SAINT IGNATIUS DEFEATED HOOVER, 8-7, ON APRIL 30.

LEADING SATURDAY'S VICTORY, THE FIRST OVER THE EXPLORERS IN MORE THAN A DECADE, WERE DAVID JOSEPH (4 GOALS), BRENDAN DURKIN (2 GOALS, 2 ASSISTS) AND ERIC DAVIS (2 GOALS, 1 ASSIST). THE WILDCATS RALLIED FROM AN EARLY THREE-GOAL DEFICIT.

- Eddie Dwyer (5/22/10).

LACROSSE TEAM ENDS ITS MEMORABLE SEASON WITH A LOSS TO NORTH CANTON HOOVER IN THE REGIONAL SEMIFINALS

POSTED ON 5/27/10

The Saint Ignatius lacrosse team ran into an inspired North Canton Hoover club and was defeated by the Vikings, 8-6, in a regional-semifinal matchup on Wasmer Field Wednesday night.

Hoover, which for the past four years has had difficulty trying to solve the Wildcats' attack, avenged an 8-7 regular-season setback to the 'Cats.

Saint Ignatius led, 4-3, at halftime and the score was knotted at 4-4 entering the final 12 minutes. The Vikings took control in the fourth quarter and held a 7-4 advantage with just over five minutes remaining.

The 'Cats responded with a goal from senior Brendan Durkin, but Hoover answered with Tom Curran's second goal of the night.

Crew

'CATS' CREW TEAM IS DOMINANT AT THE OHIO GOVERNOR'S CUP STATE CHAMPIONSHIP, AS COACH PREVITS' NAVY PREPARES FOR THE MIDWEST CHAMPIONSHIPS (5/4/10).

The Wildcat Navy, under the direction of Coach Matt Previts '97, accumulated the highest point total of any boys high school in the state at the Ohio Governor's Cup State Championship this past weekend.

Four boats raced to state titles - 2nd Varsity 8+; Freshmen 8+; Novice 8+; and Novice 4+.

State runner-up silver medals were earned by the Varsity 8+ and the Novice Lightweight 4+.

The Novice 4+ "C" boat rowed to a bronze medal.

In preparing for the Midwest ChampionSHIPS in two weeks, Coach Previts' team garnered the best finish at the Governor's Cup since the 2006 season.

YOUNG CREW 'CATS MAKE THEIR MARK AT THE SRAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS!

POSTED ON 5/29/10 AT 9:05 P.M.

Congratulations go out to Saint Ignatius head coach Matt Previts '97 and the entire Wildcat Navy, as this weekend the Freshman 8+ raced to a silver medal at the SRAA (Scholastic Rowing Association of America) National Championships in Fish Creek, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

After qualifying for the National Championships three weeks ago at the Midwest Regionals, the freshman crew of coxswain Trent Wimbiscus, stroke Andrew Reichard and oarsmen Dan Drees, Robert Turcotte, John Tanis, Peter Rogers, Kevin Foley, Clay Grove and Dan Shea placed second in their heat on Friday morning.

Saturday morning found the Blue and Gold again earning second place, this time to New Trier (Illinois). New Trier defeated the Wildcats at the Midwest Regional.

In the final race, Saint Ignatius lined up in lane 2. The field was filled out by Burnt Hills (Burnt Hills, NY), St. Joseph's Prep (Philadephia, PA), New Trier, Loyola Academy (Wilmette, IL) and Canisius High School (Buffalo, NY).

Here is how Coach Previts described the final race:

“The Wildcats came off the line even with the field. After the first 500 meters, St. Joseph's, St. Ignatius, New Trier and Loyola had separated and were running even.

"At the 1,000 meter mark, St. Joseph's had taken a slight lead, with the Blue & Gold pushing away from New Trier and Loyola. In the final 500 meters, St. Joseph's and St. Ignatius pushed away from the field. The Prep earned 1st place, crossing the line 2.5 seconds ahead of the Wildcats, who defeated New Trier for the first time all season.

"This is the first medal at the National Championships for the Wildcat Navy since 2006.”

Coach Previts also reported that the other crews from Saint Ignatius finished 6th (Junior 4) and 8th (Junior 8), and he emphasized that congratulations should go out to Shaker Heights women's varsity double, which also earned a silver medal.

Tennis

TENNIS TEAM TAKING IT TO THE NET.

With James Oliver continuing his solid play at first singles, Coach Ed Wolff's varsity tennis team is off to a 6-2 start.

Oliver defeated his opponents by identical scores of 6-1, 6-2 this week as the Wildcats were victorious over North Olmsted, 4-1, and Wooster, 5-0.

The 'Cats play their home matches at Magnificat High School. You can check out the schedule on the Saint Ignatius Athletic Website.

- Eddie Dwyer (4/21/10).

VARSITY TENNIS RECAP (4/27/10).

Here is the week's two-day breakdown on Coach Ed Wolff's netters, including Tuesday's victory over St. Edward:

Saint Ignatius 3, St. Edward 2.

Singles: Oliver (SI) defeats Williams, 6-1, 6-0; Swartz (SE) defeats Frebes, 6-4, 7-5; Hill (SE) defeats Goergy, 6-4, 6-3.

Doubles: Nichols/Shah (SI) defeats Gustafson/Marsillo, 6-3, 6-4; Burton/Gacad (SI) defeats Vijay/O'Malloy, 6-4, 6-4.

OTCA Team Tournament Second Round Results.

Saint Ignatius 3, Massillon Perry 2.

Singles: Oliver (SI) defeats Krist, 6-0, 6-0; Ott (P) defeats Frebes, 6-1, 7-5; Lorenz (P) defeats Mascia, 6-4, 6-4.

Doubles: NIchols/Shah (SI) defeats Hostetler/ Molne, 2-6, 6-1, 6-3; Burton/Goergy (SI) defeats Szittai/Yoder, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

HATS OFF TO SAINT IGNATIUS' OUTSTANDING JUNIOR TENNIS PLAYER JAMES OLIVER, WHO ADVANCED TO THE STATE-QUALIFYING ROUND OF THIS PAST WEEKEND'S DISTRICT TOURNAMENT.

ALTHOUGH JAMES WAS DEFEATED BY DAVID GABRIEL OF SHAKER HEIGHTS IN THE QUALIFYING MATCH, HE PUT TOGETHER ANOTHER OUTSTANDING SEASON FOR HEAD COACH ED WOLFF.

JAMES, WHO CARRIES A GRADE-POINT AVERAGE OF NEARLY 4.0, WILL AGAIN BE AMONG THE PLAYERS TO WATCH IN OHIO NEXT YEAR.

- Eddie Dwyer (5/22/10).

Other News

SAINT IGNATIUS' STUDENT SPORTS INFORMATION DEPARTMENT GARNERS A NATIONAL HONOR!

Posted on 3/30/10 at 12:40 a.m.

By Eddie Dwyer

Heartfelt congratulations go out to the Saint Ignatius Student Sports Information Department for being chosen as a Gold Medal winner in the annual National High School Sports Publication Awards.

Under moderator Jeff McCormick '83, the 'Cats' Student Sports Information Department took the Gold Medal in the Private School (1,000-1,500 students) Student-Prepared Division for the excellent work it did in putting together the “Saint Ignatius Wildcats Media Relations Guide, 2009 Football.”

Take it from someone who has followed high school football in Northeast Ohio since the late 1950s and reported on the sport for three decades at The Plain Dealer – it was a superb effort.

The National High School Sports Publication Awards are designed to recognize excellence in the preparation of Media Guides and Souvenir Programs that call attention to athletic teams at the secondary school level throughout the United States. It does not matter what sport or sports the entry promotes or if the school is public or private. The size of the school is also not a factor in the judging, and the entry can be assembled by students, volunteer parents, or professionals.

Michael Watts '11, who teamed with SIBN/SSID President Jacob Corrigan '10 as the stalwarts in assembling the football media guide, received the official letter of congratulations from Grace M. Criscuoli and Joseph E. Criscuoli of the National High School Sports Publication. The letter emphasized that the judges are looking forward to Saint Ignatius' entry for 2010.

Here is a tip of the cap, since it is baseball season, to the Wildcats' Student Sports Information Department and Student Broadcasting Network.

FORMER WILDCATS GREAT RETURNS TO THE MOUNTAINEERS.

POSTED ON 6/10/10.

Oliver Luck '78, a member of the Saint Ignatius Athletic Hall of Fame, was named West Virginia's new director of athletics on Thursday.

Luck was a standout quarterback for the Mountaineers from 1978-1981, setting school records for touchdown passes (46) and completions (466), and leading the team to a Peach Bowl victory over Florida as a senior. His 5,765 career passing yards ranks him fourth on West Virginia's all-time list. Luck's position coach in college was current Strongsville High School head football coach Russ Jacques.

One of the outstanding quarterbacks in Saint Ignatius' rich football history, Luck was a second-round pick by the Houston Oilers in 1982 and played five seasons in the NFL.

As we mentioned on the corner several times last season, Luck's son, Andrew, is considered to be one of the top three or four NFL quarterback prospects in the nation. Just a red-shirt sophomore at Stanford, Andrew, who stands about 6-foot-5 and weighs around 235 pounds, is coming off a brilliant 2009 season for the Cardinal.

- EDDIE DWYER