Mulhern goes the distance to lead the Wildcats to a 3-1 win over Holy Name
By Joe Ginley '12
After allowing an early run in the first inning, Andrew Mulhern was just about flawless.
The 6'1 senior right-hander gave the Wildcats seven strong innings on Wednesday at Baldwin Wallace's Fisher Field. Mulhern's second complete-game effort of the season paved the way for a Wildcats win over Holy Name, 3-1.
The Green Wave opened the scoring in the top of the first with a 2-out RBI single, but the Wildcats responded immediately. Austin Jones drove a single to center to score Gaich in the bottom of the first. Gaich reached base on a single and advanced to third on a throwing error, setting the stage for Jones.
From there, the game sped along. After allowing the RBI single, the Namers retired four Saint Ignatius batters in a row. Mulhern also shined after allowing his run, mowing down nine Namers in a row, four via strikeouts. Each team managed a hit in the fourth, but neither could take advantage.
The Wildcats broke through in the fifth. As has been the case all season, the Baseball Cats made adjustments at the plate and started to work counts more effectively.
Pinchitting to start the bottom of the fifth, Danny Castenir singled to center. Jack Whelan laid down a sacrifice bunt to set a man in scoring position for the Wildcats. Gaich then delivered the key clutch hit to break the tie. With Michael McNamara at the plate, Gaich stole second. His stolen base tied the career mark of 46, previously set by Frank DeSico from 2007-08. Three pitches later, on a 2-1 count, Gaich galloped for third, and the program record. However, the Namer pitcher delivered a pitch McNamara could not let by. The Kent State commit sent an absolute laser to dead center. His rocket shot fell just short of the wall, but the hit still scored Gaich, Mac's 8th RBI of the year and Gaich's team-best 16th run scored. McNamara reached third on a marvelous triple, his first of the year.
A two-run lead proved to be plenty for Mulhern.
The Green Wave managed a walk in the sixth and a single in the seventh, but Mulhern never wavered. The senior slammed the door shut by striking out the last two batters in the top half of the seventh, cementing another win for the Wildcats.
Mulhern finished with 10 strikeouts on the day, giving him 24 for the season.
"I just tried to throw strikes and trust my defense," Mulhern said. "I didn't really have a changeup today, I worked my curveball and fastball, and tried to keep them off-balanced. This is only one stopping point along the way to a state championship."
With the victory, the Wildcats advance to 9-3 on the campaign.
Next up for the Baseball Cats, weather-permitting, is a rematch of the District Championship the last two seasons. The Wildcats will host the Strongsville Mustangs in a premier matchup at Fisher Field.
Should Mother Nature hold off on any tomfoolery, the SIBN will broadcast the game live.
Early runs help the Baseball Cats take down Mayfield 8-2
By Bobby Gerome ‘21
After a 7-2 loss to Olentangy Orange on Saturday, the Saint Ignatius baseball team was looking to bounce back against the Wildcats of Mayfield High School on Tuesday.
Nick Fletcher, the starter for the Wildcats, started the game a little slow, beaming the Mayfield speedster Mas DiTomas the first at bat of the game. Later in the inning, Fletcher was in a 2-out situation with two runners in scoring position. Fletcher then balked, letting DiTomas score and giving Mayfield a 1-0 lead in the first inning. But then Fletcher shut down the Trojans and ended the inning.
After the top of the first, the rest of the game was all downhill for Mayfield. AJ Gaich was hit by a pitch to start off the day for the Wildcats’ lineup. Michael McNamara then drew a walk to set two runners on for catcher Austin Jones. The senior ripped a line drive into left field, scoring Gaich.
The Wildcats kept rolling as the bottom of the first continued. Back-to-back singles by Matt Ferritto and Flynn Lenahan added to the lead with big hits. Gaich then stepped up to the plate for the second time in the inning, this time with the bases loaded. Gaich smartly drew a walk, scoring another run. The Wildcats took a 5-1 lead into the second inning.
Nick Fletcher stepped up in response by dominating on the mound. Fletcher only allowed one hit and walked one, keeping Mayfield off the board.
In the bottom of the second, Jack Whelan scored off of a Ferritto single. The RBI single increased the Saint Ignatius lead to 6-1.
The Wildcats scored again in the fourth inning. A two out single by Matt Geraci scored Whelan, who was pinch running for catcher Austin Jones.
Nick Fletcher’s great day on the mound came to an end in the fourth inning, as Connor Mays was called in as a reliever. Mays contributed an inning and two-thirds of nearly flawless pitching, continuing to keep Mayfield off the board.
The Wildcat lead expanded even more in the bottom of the fifth. A Gaich single scored Fletcher, on Gaich’s 11th RBI of the season.
Teddy Eyink was the next man on the mound for the cats. Mayfield scored their last run of the game in the sixth off of a miscommunication, but at that point, the Wildcats were in full control.
Sean Wracher, the University of Indiana commit for long snapping, closed the game for the Wildcats. The final score of the game was 8-2.
JV Cats and Freshmen Cats earn wins
The JV Cats now stand at 8-3 on the year after beating Mayfield, 4-2, and routing Holy Name, 17-0. Matt Giberti led the offense against the Namers with a 2-hit, 3 RBI performance, as nearly every starter tallied a hit. Jacob Rocky and Sam Olack combined to limit Mayfield to 3 hits in the win over the Trojans.
The Freshmen Cats dropped to 7-3 on the season with a 2-1 loss to Mayfield on Wednesday. Joey Adler notched six strong innings before the Trojans plated two in the seventh.
Both squads are set to play Brunswick on Thursday and Strongsville on Saturday.