Senior captain Dan Rowbottom fuels the five-run outburst with a clutch two-rout, two-RBI hit, and senior captain Conor Hennessey and junior Nick Longo also provide big RBIs, as all five runs score after two outs.

Senior shortstop Tyler Finkler climbs the ladder for a highlight-reel double play, senior third baseman Cole Nieto and junior infielder Quillen Austria set the table in the sixth with text-book bunts, and crafty senior southpaw Tom Rolle (4-0) throws six gritty innings in helping the Wildcats go 2-1 in the talent-laden Ohio Jesuit Tournament.

After winning for the 10th time in their past 11 games, Coach Brad Ganor's 'Cats now stand at 15-6. The Titans from Toledo St. John's Jesuit lost for the fourth time in 15 games.

HERE IS THE STORY FROM A SUN-DRENCHED AND BLUE-SKIED CLASSIC PARK.

Lake County - Saint Ignatius head baseball coach Brad Ganor said that before Sunday's game versus Toledo St. John's Jesuit, he challenged his Wildcats "to prove that they are a great team."

Challenge accepted and answered.

Saint Ignatius, coming off a dramatic victory over perennial power Walsh Jesuit on Saturday morning and then a tough loss to Cincinnati St. Xavier on Saturday night (see the corner's story from Saturday), took control of a game that was tied with a "sweet sixth" inning and defeated St. John's Jesuit, 7-2 in the finale of the Ohio Jesuit Tournament at Classic Park in Eastlake.

The Wildcats, who have been playing sound and clutch baseball over the past three weeks, scored five runs after there were two outs in the bottom of the sixth. Sophomore right-hander MJ Nara closed the door in the top of the seventh after senior southpaw Tom Rolle pitched with heart and poise through six innings. Tom finished with a five-hitter, 49 strikes on his 79 pitches, two walks and four strikeouts.

"I asked them to come back strong today after a disappointing game from last night and they did it and took care of business ," said Coach Ganor. "Tom Rolle did a phenomenal job and Dan (Rowbottom), of course, doing what everybody expects him to do. And he did it."

Rowbottom, a senior second baseman, one of the Wildcats' four captains and a three-year varsity mainstay, delivered a two-out, two-run line drive base hit off an 0-1 pitch that gave Saint Ignatius a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the sixth.

Senior designated hitter Kevin Hagen was hit by a pitch leading off the bottom of the sixth, junior outfielder Kyle Daugenti pinch ran for Hagen and senior third baseman Cole Nieto laid down a perfect bunt to the right side and beat it out for a base hit. Junior infielder Quillen Austria, one of the heroes in Saturday's triumph over Walsh Jesuit, stepped to the plate as a pinch hitter and placed down a picture-perfect sacrifice bunt that put runners on second and third.

After St. John's Jesuit right-hander Brock Connor struck out the next batter, Rowbottom, an Illinois recruit, stepped up big time and his teammates followed suite.

Senior shortstop Tyler Finkler, who flashed the leather all day on a beautiful Sunday afternoon in Classic Park, drew a walk and Rowbottom came around to score on an RBI single to right field by senior captain and center fielder Conor Hennessey. A stolen base by Hennessey and another hit batsman loaded the bases, and junior right fielder Nick Longo capped the five-run sixth by driving a single to right that scored Finkler and the heads-up Hennessey. Longo and junior left fielder Nick Fabian drove in Saint Ignatius' first two runs of the game.

"This was a big showing by our guys, the pitching staff especially, " said Rowbottom, who is as classy as he is talented. "Like I said before, we hadn't won a game in the Jesuit Tournament in about three years. So getting these wins and showing these teams that we compete is definitely big. That's the main thing, we're showing every other team in the state that we can compete with the top programs.

"That was Coach Ganor's goal, at least two out of three," Rowbottom continued. "It was a good weekend. With our offense, we're never out of a game."

And the 'Cats' defense was also purring under the friendly clouds of Lake County.

Rowbottom and Finkler had the 4-6-3 clicking, Rolle came off the mound to make three athletic plays, including a 1-5 force at third, junior Joe Khoury flashed his Vic Power-like picks on throws to first base and, in what was the Wildcats' web gem of the season so far, Finkler displayed his best Derek Jeter by soaring in the air in the top of the fifth and making a one-handed catch of a line drive that had gap shot written all over it. Tyler, who never lost his balance as he landed, then ran over to second and doubled the runner off base.

"He's the best," said a smiling Rowbottom of his middle infield partner.

The 'Cats will have to continue to be at their best this coming week as they travel to tradition-rich Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin (4:30) and Cuyahoga Falls (4:30, Water Works Park) on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, will be at storied Lakewood Stadium on Friday for the traditional junior varsity (4:30) and varsity (7 p.m.) doubleheader with the Rangers, and on Saturday morning and afternoon it is another great tradition - the triple header (freshman, junior varsity and varsity) against West Side rival St. Edward at Baldwin Wallace University. The action begins at 10 a.m.

****Saturday's triple header will benefit the fight against Tay-Sachs Disease.