MJ Nara has a milestone evening out of the bullpen and at the plate, Bennett Kinzel provides a clutch effort in relief, Shane Skuhrovec knocks in the tying run in the bottom of the seventh and then delivers the walk-off, game-winning hit in the ninth, and Kevin Hagen has a four-hit performance as Coach Brad Ganor's team improves to 19-6.

Up next for the Wildcats are Wednesday afternoon's regular-season match up with North Ridgeville and Friday's OHSAA Division I sectional final against the winner of Thursday's semifinal between Rhodes and Berea. The Wednesday and Friday games are slated for Baldwin Wallace University at 4:30.

HERE IS THE STORY ON MONDAY EVENING'S THRILLER.

Berea, Ohio - Since being called up from the junior varsity early last month, Saint Ignatius' sophomore right-hander MJ Nara has steadily put his lock on the role as Coach Brad Ganor's closer.

Through his five saves, Nara has pitched with a give-me-the-ball approach.

So it came as no surprise when Nara, who had just won his first varsity game, came up with his first base hit of the season, junior varsity or varsity, and scored his first run of the spring (the game-tying run), talked with the calm and confidence of a four-year letterman.

"It felt pretty good, to go out there, hit my spots and do what I could," said Nara after his gritty 2 and 1/3 innings of relief and the clutch bats of junior outfielder Shane Skuhrovec, senior designated hitter Kevin Hagen and senior third baseman Cole Nieto helped lead the Wildcats to a 9-8 victory over tradition-rich Canton Central Catholic at Baldwin Wallace University on Monday. The sun was setting as Skuhrovec ended the three-plus hour, will-testing match up on a walk-off single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.

"It's good chemistry, we work good together," Nara continued while speaking of a Wildcats team that has now won 14 of its past 15 games, five in a row and 19 of 25 overall. "If I throw a pitch and it gets hit, I know the play is going to be made. Anyone on this team can step in and do their job. That's what is so special."

And having the opportunity to watch two programs who play with pride and respect for the game is very special, too. Simply put, there is no such thing as a "tune-up" when the 'Cats and the Crusaders get together. Anyone in attendance at Baldwin Wallace on Monday evening can attest to that.

Under the direction of 32-year head coach Doug Miller, who has 631career victories, Canton Central Catholic took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a two-out, bases-loaded single to right-center field by junior second baseman Nate Shisler. Shisler's hit came off an 0-2 pitch.

Saint Ignatius, which is seeded second to Brecksville-Broadview Heights for the upcoming Strongsville Division I sectional/district, took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the second.

Standout junior left fielder/pitcher Nick Fabian led off the bottom of the second with a single up the middle, stole second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Senior third baseman Cole Nieto, whose play has been a huge key to the Wildcats' 14-of-15 run, drew a walk and promptly stole second. Fabian, who was breaking from third on the throw to second, easily scored the 'Cats' first run.

An RBI single by senior designated hitter Kevin Hagen knotted the score at 2. Kevin was 4-for-5 on the evening. After a stolen base by Hagen, Saint Ignatius took a 3-2 lead on a two-out infield hit by junior first baseman Joe Khoury that was accompanied by a throwing error.

Following a scoreless third inning, the see-saw battle continued.

The Crusaders (20-6), on the strength of a triple to deep right field by senior designated hitter Tim Valentine, tied the score in the top of the fourth only to watch the Wildcats respond with two runs in the bottom of the inning.

Heads-up base running by junior right fielder/pitcher Nick Longo (two stolen bases) and Nieto, along with the timely swings by Hagen and Skuhrovec, put the 'Cats back in front, 5-3.

Central Catholic, a program that in 2011 won its second state championship in four years, rode a single by senior shortstop Steven Montgomery, a double by junior left fielder Shawn Jones, a fielder's choice and a wild pitch into the tying runs in the top of the fifth. Following his double, Jones was injured while breaking from second base and had to be helped to the Crusaders' dugout.

The punch-counter punch from both teams helped keep their faithful warm on a fall-like evening in May.

A two-out, two-base error and a clutch pinch-hit RBI single by senior infielder Jordan Bufford, his second big hit in less than a week, had Saint Ignatius clinging to a 6-5 lead entering the top of the sixth.

Central Catholic, the 12-ranked team in the coaches' Division III state poll, appeared to grab the late-game momentum when it scored three times in its half of the sixth. Sandwiching walks around a line-drive RBI double by sophomore right fielder Patrick Murphy, the Crusaders led, 8-6.

Only a huge backwards K by Saint Ignatius' versatile junior infielder/outfielder/relief pitcher Bennett Kinzel prevented Coach Miller's team from doing further damage in the sixth.

Coach Ganor's Wildcats, behind an RBI by senior center fielder and captain Conor Hennessey, would close to 8-7 entering the top of the seventh. After Crusaders' pinch hitter Beau Sirpilla doubled to deep left field with one out in the seventh and the next batter lined out sharply to second base, ice-in-his-veins Nara took the mound.

Nara ended the top of the seventh by getting the next batter to pop out to senior shortstop and Ohio University recruit Tyler Finkler.

With one out and nobody on in the bottom of the seventh, Nara singled to right field, Nieto walked and Hagen loaded the bases with another pressure hit. Skuhrovec then drove the ball to left field for a sacrifice fly that scored Nara and forced extra innings.

"I was pumped, first varsity hit in first at-bat (of the season)," Nara said. "It (the pitch) was outside and I just took it that way."

Throwing a solid breaking pitch, even when he was behind in the count, Nara would go on to pitch out of a first-and-second and out-out situation in the top of the eighth and throw a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the ninth en route to setting the stage for the emotional finish. The first out in the top of the ninth came courtesy of a nice move to his right by senior second baseman, captain and Illinois recruit Dan Rowbottom.

With two outs and nobody on base in the bottom of the ninth, Nieto lined a single the opposite way to right field and stole second base. Hagen followed with single that put runners on first and third, and the unassuming, but oh so capable Skuhrovec, followed with the game-winning, line-drive single to right center off a 1-2 pitch.

Saint Ignatius finished with 10 hits and played errorless baseball.

"Guys in unique positions, MJ (Nara) with the hit and Bennett (Kinzel) with the backwards K with two guys on, that's huge," said Coach Ganor. "It's just another example of why this team is special. No matter what happens in the tournament, it's a special group. They have fun together.

"You just felt like we were going to win," Coach Ganor continued. "It could have gone 15 innings and it just felt like we were going to win. It's important for us to win close games against a quality program. Coach Miller does a great job."

And so does the skipper wearing blue and gold, who will be seeking his 190th career victory in less than nine seasons when his Wildcats host North Ridgeville on Wednesday.