Ohio City - Coming off four victories in their last five games, the Saint Ignatius Varsity Baseball Wildcats will take a 6-3 record into what will be another challenging week on the diamonds.

 If Mother Nature's wicked side finally comes to an end, this week is scheduled to start with a Tuesday matchup versus longtime rival St. Edward. The first pitch from Fisher Field at Baldwin Wallace University is slated for 5 PM.

*Please note that if Wildcats Head Coach Brad Ganor and St. Edward Head Coach Matt Rosinski decide that Tuesday is an unplayable conditions situation, the game could be moved to Thursday.

 Coach Rosinski, a standout pitcher for Saint Ignatius and Miami of Ohio, previously coached Junior Varsity Baseball at Saint Ignatius. Matt's added duties included serving as a co-Pitching Coordinator for the Baseball Cats.

Yes, it's a former St. Edward star (Coach Ganor) matching wits with a former Saint Ignatius mainstay, a young man whose skills Coach Ganor helped develop.

 Last season, the Wildcats swept the Eagles, winning both the regular-season matchup at League Park and the rematch in the Strongsville Division I District Semifinals.

 As for the 2018 St. Edward Baseball Eagles, they are currently 7-3 and coming off a 6-4 victory over Mentor. Mentor was ranked second in The News Herald's latest "Top of the Crop" poll.

 The Eagles went 3-0 last week and posted their second walk-off win in two weeks. They have two come-from-behind victories this young spring and have gone 5-1 against teams from Ohio. That one Ohio setback was to St. Vincent-St. Mary, 8-3, at The Sprenger Stadium Complex in Avon.

 On Friday evening, Coach Ganor's Baseball Cats will make the short trip to Progressive Field to face the Kenston Bombers. The Bombers, 7-4 entering this week's schedule, were ranked fifth in last week's News Herald Top of the Crop.

 Friday's game is part of the annual Cleveland Indians Charities High School Hardball Classic.

 Kenston enjoyed a spring break trip to Cocoa Beach, Florida, where it posted a 3-4 record. The Bombers welcomed back eight starters from last year's 21-7 finish.

 Coming off impressive junior seasons for Kenston Head Coach Bob Ford are senior catcher Matthew Cassaro and senior center fielder Matthew Pecoraro.

 Cassaro batted .422 last year with 12 doubles and 33 runs batted in, and garnered All-Western Reserve Conference and All-Northeast Lakes District honors. Pecoraro hit at a .372 clip in 2017 with 22 RBIs and 14 steals. He also was an All-WRC selection and received Honorable Mention All-Northeast Lakes District Honors.

 With 14 returning lettermen and 11 seniors, the 2018 Bombers bring the most big-game experience to the field since Coach Ford's 2011 team that finished 20-5.

 Saint Ignatius will close out this coming week with a doubleheader at Olentangy Liberty on Saturday. The Wildcats will play the Grove City Greyhounds and the Liberty Patriots at times to be announced. Check the Saint Ignatius Athletics Page for an update on the times. This old catcher is going to guess about 1 to 1:15 PM for the first game and 3 to 3:30 PM for the second game. But again, we will update you.

 The Greyhounds from Grove City took a 9-2 record into this week, a mark that has included a double header sweep of Gahanna Lincoln (4-0 and 8-2) and a 12-10 triumph over Dublin Coffman. You might recall that Coach Ganor's Wildcats defeated Gahanna Lincoln in the 2013 Division I State Semifinals.

 As for Olentangy Liberty, the Patriots and the Wildcats met on the gridiron in a Division I State Semifinal in November of 2016. Coach Chuck Kyle's Football Wildcats defeated the then undefeated Patriots, 24-14, in Mansfield's Arlin Stadium.

 The Baseball Patriots stood 8-2 through this weekend's action and have won six of their last eight games.  

 *Parents should note that seniors will be excused from Saturday's doubleheader so they can attend the Prom.

 Have a wonderful week and my heartfelt Thank You goes out to the Parents of the outstanding young men this reporter has the privilege to cover on a daily/weekly basis.

 As they say, character building is done at home and you can be so proud.