Nick Margevicius and Matt Lynch turn in solid pitching performances and the Wildcats' offense continues to put the pressure on, as Saint Ignatius wins for the fourth time in five games this week by defeating Mansfield Madison, 13-2, and Midview, 4-2, in Saturday's twin bill at Mansfield Madison High School.
Joe Khoury's two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth and Lynch's bulldog mentality on the mound key the two-run triumph over the talented Midview Middies and help send the Wildcats into this coming week's action with an 8-5 record.
Here is the story on the 'Cats' sweep.
Mansfield, Ohio - It was the perfect ending to a near perfect week.
Coach Brad Ganor’s Saint Ignatius Wildcats, putting their complete game on display in Richland County late Saturday morning and early afternoon, pitched, hit, ran and fielded their way through the cold wind and
occasional light sleet that swept across the baseball–rich facility at Mansfield Madison High School.
As the sun was making a guest appearance through the blue gray clouds on one of April’s traditional December-like days, the Wildcats, almost oblivious to the weather, gathered behind their assigned dugout and celebrated a doubleheader sweep – 13-2 over the Mansfield Madison Rams and 4-2 over a strong Midview team from Grafton, Ohio. The Madison game was called after five innings because of the 10-run mercy rule.
After addressing his players, who went 4-1 on the week and improved to 8-5 overall, Coach Ganor talked about how amazing it was to watch the Wildcats go from one end of the spectrum to the other.
Monday saw the ‘Cats come up with an impressive victory over St. Vincent-St. Mary in Akron, on Tuesday night Saint Ignatius lost to 2012 Division I state runner-up Westlake, 6-2, at Westlake and in what Coach Ganor described as a game that could end up defining the Wildcats’ season, Saint Ignatius saw a nine-run lead over Twinsburg after three innings slip away, only to respond with an eight-run sixth and go on to turn back the always tough Tigers, 18-14, at Baldwin Wallace University on Thursday evening.
The inner fire and emotion of that wild and incredible win over Twinsburg seemed to accompany the ‘Cats into Mansfield on Saturday morning.
“Pitchers pitching like we know they’re capable of pitching,” Coach Ganor said of the efforts he got from gifted junior southpaw Nick Margevicius and gritty senior right-hander Matt Lynch.
In improving to 3-0 on the season, Margevicius scattered four hits, struck out four, issued just one walk and threw 42 strikes in the 65 pitches he fired at the Madison Rams over five innings. The quiet, but hard-nosed Lynch picked up his first victory of the season by going six strong innings against Midview’s more-than-capable lineup. Matt threw 105 pitches, 65 for strikes, limited the Middies to three hits, struck out five and walked four.
Promising sophomore right-hander MJ Nara, who hasn’t stopped smiling since he was called up from the junior varsity earlier this month, came on in the top of the seventh against Midview and set the Middies down in order to pick up the save.
“Nick has great stuff, Lynch has great stuff and Nara has great stuff,” Coach Ganor said. “They just have to trust it and believe in themselves. I think they showed that trust today.”
As for Saint Ignatius’ offense, it has been as advertised through most of the early half of the season - balanced, versatile, unselfish and capable of rocking the house when the pitch is there.
Saturday was no different, as the Wildcats, who had 20 hits against Twinsburg, rapped out 11 in their five innings of work against Madison (5-8).
Saint Ignatius combined a one-out double by senior shortstop and captain Tyler Finkler, an infield hit by hustling senior center fielder and captain Conor Hennessey, an RBI double by junior left fielder Nick Fabian and a sacrifice fly by junior right fielder and Miami of Ohio recruit Nick Longo into a 2-0 lead over the Rams in the top of the first inning.
Madison, which lost to the Wildcats at the regional level the year the ‘Cats brought home the Division I state championship (2002), closed to 2-1 on a solo home run in the bottom of the first by a name worth
remembering – Rams freshman first baseman Zane Harris.
Harris’ touch-‘em-all effort and a game-tying single in the bottom of the third by junior designated hitter Kyle Blust were among the few bright spots for Madison, as Saint Ignatius settled the issue with a five-run fourth and a six-run fifth.
The take-command fourth inning started with a walk to senior third baseman Cole Nieto, who has been swinging an authoritative bat and handling the hot corner with calm and confidence. After sophomore catcher Alex Panstares beat out a bunt and junior first baseman Joe Khoury drew a walk, senior second baseman and captain Dan Rowbottom, an Illinois recruit, ripped a 2-2 pitch into right-center field for an RBI single.
Supplying the other key hit in the fourth was Hennessey, who scorched a two-run double to left center.
An error, a couple of walks and a balk started the Wildcats’ fireworks in the top of the fifth and an RBI single by Longo and a two-run base hit by Nieto accounted for the game’s final three runs. Nieto was coming off a
4-for-4 effort against Twinsburg.
SAINT IGNATIUS 4, MIDVIEW 2
Matt Lynch said he took the mound on Saturday afternoon determined to make his pitches, pitch to contact and rely on his defense.
Matt did just that as his grit and a reliable two-seam fastball showed the way.
Saint Ignatius took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by Fabian that scored Hennessey, who had walked and stole second. Hennessey beat the throw home with a perfect slide.
The Middies (7-4), who rebounded with a victory over Madison in Saturday’s final game, tied the score against Saint Ignatius with an unearned run in the top of the fourth.
Midview had a runner on second with two outs in the top of the fifth, but Lynch ended the threat with a strikeout.
In the bottom half of the fifth, Coach Ganor’s ‘Cats rode the momentum of Lynch’s K to three runs and a 4-1 lead. Nieto led off with a first-pitch swinging single up the middle, junior infielder Quillen Austria laid
down a text-book sacrifice bunt and Khoury drove a Mr. Rawlings fastball over the fence in right center for a two-run home run.
Base hits by Rowbottom and Finkler and an intentional walk to Hennessey loaded the bases, and Fabian put down an as-it's-intended squeeze bunt that brought home Saint Ignatius’ fourth and final run.
Lynch called on his inner strength in the top of the sixth after Midview’s Eric Lauer led off with a home run to left center. A walk and a wild pitch put the next batter at second base, but Lynch kept his composure and got the next two hitters on a strikeout and a 4-3 ground out.
With a runner now on third and two outs, Lynch ended his impressive six innings with another strikeout and Nara closed the door in the seventh.
Up next for the Wildcats is Tuesday afternoon’s long-awaited home opener at Classic Park in Eastlake against the Willoughby South Rebels. The first pitch is scheduled for 4:30.