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.