Shane accounts for all of the 'Cats' runs with a majestic solo home run and a clutch two-out, two-run single and Nick fires a three-hitter and also delivers two authoritative doubles in a 3-1 triumph over the Rebels at Classic Park.
Saint Ignatius wins its fourth consecutive game and improves to 9-5 overall heading into Wednesday's match up with St. Edward at Classic Park. Weather permitting, the first pitch will be at 4:30 p.m.
*NOTE: Avon has canceled this week's game against Saint Ignatius, which was scheduled as part of a doubleheader at Strongsville on Saturday. Apparently the Eagles have a problem with their pitching depth this week. The Wildcats will now play either a single game versus Strongsville or a doubleheader against the Mustangs, at a time to be announced. We will keep you posted either way.
*SAINT IGNATIUS TENNIS DEFEATS MAYFIELD ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON, 5-0, BUT THE LACROSSE TEAM SUFFERS ITS FIRST LOSS OF 2013 - 17-11 AT HUDSON.
Here is the baseball game story from Classic Park.
Lake County - Saint Ignatius' versatile junior pitcher, outfielder, pinch hitter and designated hitter Shane Skuhrovec smiled and gave an affirmative yes.
And then Shane smiled again and replied "No" to the next two questions.
The yes confirmed that his towering home run to left field in the bottom of the third inning against Willoughby South on Tuesday, which gave the Wildcats a 1-0 lead, was indeed his first of the season.
As for the following two questions, the unassuming Skuhrovec revealed that the shot he hit in a sun-drenched Classic Park was also his first in a Saint Ignatius uniform - freshman, junior varsity or varsity.
While Shane's first career blast as a Wildcat got Saint Ignatius' offense started, it was his hit in the bottom of the fourth that was truly the difference maker.
After leading off the third with a home run he will probably remember forever, Skuhrovec stepped to the plate in the bottom of the fourth with two outs and the bases loaded.
The right-handed hitting Skuhrovec took the second curve ball he saw the opposite way to right field for a solid two-run single and a 3-0 lead for the Wildcats, who now stand 9-5 after turning back the very capable Rebels, 3-1.
"That was a fastball right down the plate," Skuhrovec said of his touch 'em all third-inning blast. "It felt kind of good."
Shane, who fills several roles for his team, but does not have a large number of plate appearances, said his home run and the clutch hit in the fourth were examples of taking advantage of the opportunities presented.
Then he immediately spoke of the team as a whole.
"Nick did great and then MJ came in and closed the door again," said Skuhrovec of the strong six innings turned in by junior right-hander Nick Fabian and the 1-2-3 seventh sophomore right-hander MJ Nara provided. "We've been pitching pretty well of late."
Fabian, whose pitching assignment on Tuesday enabled Skuhrovec to get a start in left field, limited the Rebels to one run on three hits, struck out six, walked two and threw 51 strikes in 87 pitches. Nara recorded his second consecutive save by enticing a 6-3 ground out, a fly out to center field and a strikeout.
A multi-skilled player, Fabian also delivered two line-drive doubles, with the second one helping set the table for Skuhrovec's decisive two-run single.
A scout from West Virginia was on hand in Classic Park to check out Fabian's baseball skills.
Willoughby South's talented leadoff hitter and center fielder TJ Lett was a major factor in the Rebels' ability to stay in the game.
In the bottom of the fifth, Lett caught a ball off the bat of Wildcats gifted senior second baseman and Illinois recruit Dan Rowbottom in front of the 400-foot sign in center field and he also ran down another rope by Fabian in left center. Back-to-back hits by Lett and first baseman Mike Fenner led to the Rebels' sixth-inning run.
"That's just good baseball," said Coach Brad Ganor of his team's ninth victory, which along with the clutch hits and solid pitching featured sound defensive play by the 'Cats. The infield of Rowbottom, senior third baseman Cole Nieto, junior first baseman Joe Khoury and senior shortstop Tyler Finkler made all of the plays - the routine and the difficult.
"Nick had a couple of nice get-out-of-the-inning strikeouts early in the game," Coach Ganor continued. "For Shane, the home run was great, but the two-out hit was huge. It's tough when you're not getting in the lineup consistently. He did a fantastic job of taking advantage of the opportunity. It's a great start to the week. That's the third game in a row now that we had great pitching. If we do that, we're going to be a tough team to beat."