The Wildcats of veteran Head Coach Brad Ganor jumped out to an 11-0 lead after two innings and never looked back, as they run-ruled Normandy at atmosphere-rich Fisher Field on the campus of Baldwin Wallace University. The game was called after 4 1/2 innings because of the OHSAA's 10-run deficit rule.
Saint Ignatius, coming off its impressive 6-0 victory over host Toledo St. John's Jesuit at Sunday's Ohio Jesuit Tournament, maintained that excellence and enthusiasm throughout what was a perfect start to May.
From sun-drenched Berea, Ohio - A significant smile of approval was carved in Coach Ganor's face after his Wildcats improved to 10-6 heading into Wednesday's(today) 5 PM first pitch versus the Blue Streaks of Uniontown Lake (12-5) on Fisher Field.
"We've been talking about having those early leads, which we've had in a number of games this season, and didn't end up winning," said Ganor. "There were times in those games when we let up on the gas peddle.
"It was great to see a lot of guys get opportunities today, guys get multi-hit games, McNamara (gifted sophomore shortstop Michael McNamara) get his first home run of the season and the first of his Varsity career, and it was fun to see Mark Bobinski turn a double play," Coach Ganor continued.
Coach Ganor and his outstanding staff of Mr. Mark Terlep, Mr. John Whelan and Mr. Matt Kata '96, a former Saint Ignatius and Vanderbilt University standout, and a Major League Baseball mainstay as a middle infielder, will look for more of that totally-in-the-game enthusiasm on Wednesday when junior Sean Wracher takes the mound on Fisher Field.
Sean had his first Varsity start interrupted when Mother Nature put an end to last Friday's game versus Benedictine. The Wildcats were leading, 3-0, in the top of the second inning.
Here are the highlights from Tuesday's near-complete performance versus the Invaders of Normandy.
Out of the gate in a hurry: After Saint Ignatius loaded the bases on a lead-off walk to junior second baseman AJ Gaich, a take one for the team by senior first baseman and co-Captain Tommy Grosel, and a walk to senior right fielder and University of Cincinnati recruit Jack Eyink, sacrifice flies off the bats of junior designated hitter Austin Jones and junior left fielder and Nebraska recruit Michael Holdsworth, along with a smooth RBI single to right field from junior third baseman Matt Ferritto, had the Wildcats off to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.
Before the first inning was over, Michael McNamara, whom Coach Ganor referred to in the lead to this report, sent a two-run home run over the left-field fence and calls of "Big Mac" were coming from Bobinski and Co. Michael is not only a standout on the diamond, but also gets the job done on the gridiron as a linebacker/fullback and on the basketball court as a forward/post.
Saint Ignatius' ever-present senior catcher and co-Captain Drew Asadorian followed the "Mac Daddy" homer with a towering triple to deep center field, but Normandy escaped even further early damage.
Gaich, who was coming off a visit to St. Bonaventure University on Monday, had the 'Cats' dugout roaring after AJ, with runners on first and second and two outs, made a diving stop of a sharp ground ball, got up and fired a seed to first base to end the top of the second.
AJ, one of the best down-in-the-count hitters this seasoned reporter has seen on the high school level, led off the bottom of the second with a base hit off a 1-2 pitch, promptly stole second base and scored off Tommy Grosel's double down the right-field line.
After Invaders senior third baseman Ryan Dengler made a highlight-reel catch off a sinking line drive, Coach Ganor watched his team extend its lead to 8-0 behind an RBI single from Holdsworth, another base hit off the bat of the humble, but oh so productive Ferritto, and a run-scoring single by McNamara.
The second-inning barrage continued, as senior center fielder Evan Henry, who combines savvy play with his God-given skills, delivered an RBI base hit off a 3-2 pitch and Bobinski's heads-up base running pushed his team's lead to 11-0 entering the top of the third inning.
Moving to shortstop in the fourth inning, Bobinski went down on one knee and made a web-gem scoop off a sharp grounder that started an as-it's-drawn-up, 6-4-3 double play that ended the top of the fourth. Mark's effort in the middle infield brought back memories of Matt Kata's exceptional play in a Wildcat uniform.
Saint Ignatius then left no doubt via a four-run bottom of the fourth that featured a two-run double by junior infielder/outfielder Leo Eyink and an RBI single from Ferritto.
The Wildcats totaled 16 hits and pitchers Matt Geraci and Matt Hunt put up impressive numbers that saw Geraci go three innings, yield two hits and strike out six, and Hunt fire 26 pitches over the fourth and fifth innings combined, both of which were hitless innings. Hunt struck out the side to end the game.
We will see you back at Fisher Field today (Wednesday) for the matchup with Uniontown Lake. I tip my cap to the Blue Streaks for making the trip from Lake Township in Stark County to Berea.
Have a great day, from Edward Hannon Patrick Dwyer.