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Seven Pitchers Combine to Shut-Out SVSM

By Joe Mertens '15, 05/07/21, 11:30AM EDT

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The Wildcat pitchers hold the Fighting Irish to just three hits on their way to a 5-0 victory Wednesday night.

The Wildcats won their tenth in a row with a 5-0 win against St. Vincent-St. Mary High School at Brookside Reservation on Wednesday night. Seven pitchers combined to shut out the Fighting Irish, while the Saint Ignatius bats continue to stay hot in May as tournament play is on the horizon for the Blue and Gold.

Junior Micah Murthareceived the starting nod by Head Baseball Coach Brad Ganor in a bullpen game for the Wildcats. In Murtha’s one inning of work, he allowed just one hit and struck out a Fighting Irish batter. The Wildcats and Irish would remain scoreless after the first inning of play on a chilly May day in the Metroparks.

In the second inning, senior Mcrey Socha would come out of the pen for an inning of work. This was Socha’s first appearance of the 2021 campaign for the Wildcats. Socha would pitch a 1-2-3 inning, striking out a batter and ending the inning with just eight pitches.

In the bottom half of the second, the Cats would strike first. Junior Gabe Nard’s ground-rule double led off the inning for the Wildcats. Freshman Sawyer Solitaria would reach base on an infield single and senior Gip Conroy would move the runners both into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Coming up to bat was the nine-hole hitter John Panstares. Panstares was first-pitch swinging and roped the ball into right field for a two-RBI triple to give the Cats a 2-0 lead.

In the third inning, Sam Olack checked in out of the pen for an inning of relief. The pitching continued to stifle any offense that the Fighting Irish could muster up as Olack would allow just one hit and striking out one in his inning of relief. In the bottom half of the third, the Cats would bring home their third run of the game on a Nard RBI groundout to score Billy Adams.

Senior Owen Gerba came in for relief in the fourth inning for the Wildcats. The southpaw got into minor trouble with a walk and a single; however, he would get out of the inning. Gerba was awarded the win in the bullpen game for the Cats. After a scoreless fourth inning, Solitaria moved from first base to pitcher. The freshman has been solid all season long on the mound and in the fifth, it was no different. Solitaria would pitch a 1-2-3 inning, striking out two.

SIBN Player of the Game; John Panstares

Entering the bottom half of the fifth, Adams would walk on four pitches, opening the door for an RBI for junior Anthony Paskell. Paskell has emerged as a power hitter for the Cats as he would line the ball into left field with an RBI double. Paskell would later score on a wild pitch by the Fighting Irish.

Aidan Cooney was the next to pitch for the Wildcats in the top of the sixth. Cooney threw a 1-2-3 inning, only throwing ten pitches. The seventh and final pitcher to close out the game was senior Luke Roggenburk. Roggenburk would walk one and strike out one as the Blue and Gold would win their tenth in a row with a 5-0 victory over SVSM.

There have been some changes this weekend in scheduling for the Baseball Cats. On Friday night, the Wildcats will now take on the Wooster Generals at Brookside Reservation. The Ohio Jesuit Tournament will be played at Walsh Jesuit High School on Saturday. The Cats will play one on Saturday against St. Xavier at 5 p.m. Both games will be covered live on the SIBN for this weekend.