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.