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.