Trailing, 10-1, Twinsburg scores six times in the top of the fourth and takes a one-run lead with a four-run sixth, only to watch Saint Ignatius send 13 batters to the plate in the bottom of the sixth and score eight runs.
The Wildcats and the Tigers combine for 30 hits, including 20 by Saint Ignatius. Up next: A trip to Mansfield Madison on Saturday for games with the Mansfield Madison Rams (10 a.m.) and the Midview Middies (12:30 p.m.)
BEREA, OHIO - "Wild, unbelievable!"
Those were the first words Saint Ignatius' veteran skipper Brad Ganor said to this reporter following Thursday evening's game against the Twinsburg at the baseball-rich field on the campus of Baldwin Wallace University.
In what was truly a game that displayed the heart and sure will of both teams, the Wildcats defeated Coach Don Jones' always tough Tigers, 18-14.
Saint Ignatius, which improved to 6-5, was in the driver's seat with a nine-run advantage through three innings before Twinsburg came storming back and took an 11-10 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth.
"That, is the best part of the whole thing," said Coach Ganor of what was one the most entertaining and gritty victories in the Wildcats' rich baseball history. "We had them down and they kicked us right in the teeth to come back and take the lead. And then, we showed the heart."
Saint Ignatius, laying it all on the line after Twinsburg enticed Mr. Momentum into its dugout by scoring six runs in the top of the fourth and four in the top of the sixth, had a list of heroes in the bottom of the sixth that was almost as long as the Wildcats' roster.
Thirteen batters ended up stepping to the plate for Coach Ganor in the decisive sixth and when the dust settled, the 'Cats were purring to the tune of an 18-11 lead.
With one out and nobody on base, senior designated hitter Kevin Hagen got the eight-run sixth started with a double to center field.
Senior third baseman Cole Nieto, who went 4-for-4 on the day and played a solid game at the hot corner, then drove a ball to left field for a base hit that was stung so hard the left fielder couldn't come up with it cleanly and senior pitcher Matt Lynch, who was pinch-running for Hagen, came around to score the tying run.
Promising sophomore catcher Alex Panstares, who doesn't play like a recent junior varsity call up, lined a first-pitch scorcher to left field that put Saint Ignatius back in front,12-11, and then some 'Viking Pride" came to the fore.
Junior first baseman Joe Khoury, senior center fielder and captain Conor Hennessey and junior left fielder Nick Fabian, who are products of Sts. Joseph and John Elementary School in Strongsville (thus the "Viking Pride" reference), followed with huge run-scoring hits, including a hustle RBI double by Hennessey. Hustle and Hennessey are synonymous.
The eight-run barrage also featured an RBI triple by junior right fielder and Miami of Ohio recruit Nick Longo, who is swinging the bat with authority, and another clutch hit by Nieto that produced the 'Cats' 18th run.
"I was on the on-deck circle and 'Fink' (Saint Ignatius senior shortstop and captain Tyler Finkler) pulled me over and said, 'Hey, he's going to come in first pitch (fastball). Go get it and we'll take it from there,'" said Panstares of his sixth-inning RBI that put the Wildcats ahead to stay.
Panstares, who is a nephew of former Saint Ignatius football standout Jack Mulloy '92, he of the famed "All-Purpose Ponies" from the fall of 1991, emphasized how honored he is to be called on by Coach Ganor in a leadership role as just a sophomore. Panstares also pointed to the seniors and how much they have guided him. "They are a great bunch of guys," he said.
Twinsburg, which is now 5-4 on the season, didn't go quietly.
Coach Jones' Tigers were finally turned away after scoring three times in the top of the seventh. RBI hits by seniors Nick Jaworski and Cooper Rea provided the final roar by the Tigers.
There were plenty of fireworks in the early going for the 'Cats, including a solo home run blast over the left-field fence by Finkler in a seven-run bottom of the first. The other big blows in the seven spot were an RBI double by Longo, a run-scoring single by Hennessey and a three-run double to deep center field by senior captain, second baseman and Illinois recruit Dan Rowbottom. Saint Ignatius batted around in its half of the first.
Coach Ganor's 'Cats moved to a 10-1 lead in the bottom of the second on a single up the middle by Hennessey, a stolen base by Hennessey, an RBI single by Fabian, a line-drive run scoring single to left center by Hagen, a double to deep left field by Nieto and a sacrifice fly by junior catcher Pat Gulick.
Along with Nieto's four-hit performance, Saint Ignatius got three-hit efforts from Fabian, Longo and Hagen.
A two-run double by gifted senior outfielder/pitcher/infielder Jalen Washington helped igniteTwinsburg's six-run fourth and Washington's three-run double to the base of the fence in left field keyed the Tigers' four-run sixth.
"That's what we were talking about the other day and that's what we've been talking about all season, perseverance and the ability to come back," Coach Ganor said. "I am so proud of them for fighting and coming back. It wasn't because we had 20 hits, but because they fought. We had a great game plan going into it, we got away from it in the middle innings and they went back to it, executed and got it done.
"I'm very proud of the resiliency they showed today, because they could have easily folded," Coach Ganor continued.