From the campus of Strongsville High School - Matt Brosky, whose pitching last season also helped the Mustangs to a District Championship Game victory over Saint Ignatius, went the high school seven-inning distance on Wednesday evening in improving his record to 6-1.
The gritty and talented senior right-hander threw 92 pitches, yielded three hits and one earned run. He had eight strikeouts, a hit batsman and one walk.
Wildcats gifted junior right-hander Andrew Mulhern, who deserved a better fate, worked four innings, threw 52 pitches and did not yield a hit or an earned run.
The Mustangs of Head Coach Doug Cicerchi, the Division I State Runners-Up to Massillon Jackson last year, improved to 15-11 and advanced to next week's (May 24) 5 PM OHSAA Division I Regional Semifinal at Ron Mottl Field on the campus of Cuyahoga Community College off Pleasant Valley Road in Parma.
Strongsville's Regional Semifinal opponent will be the winner of Thursday's (today) 5 PM Division I District Championship Game between the Amherst Steele Comets and the St. Edward Eagles at The Pipe Yard in Lorain County.
Amherst Steele, the top-ranked Division I team in the state by the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association, is seeded No. 1 at The Pipe Yard and St. Edward is the second seed.
Saint Ignatius was the top seed at the Strongsville District and Strongsville was the third seed. The Mustangs did, however, have the nice atmosphere of playing on their home field. No excuses, my friends, just a fact. After all, the Mustangs and their coaches don't determine the District sites and Saint Ignatius is no stranger to the Strongsville High School Baseball Facility.
The Wildcats, who faced another who's who schedule this spring, finished 18-8 after winning six of their last seven games.
Here is a look at the key moments from Wednesday's District Title Game, as the Mustangs bounced back from a 10-0, regular-season loss to Saint Ignatius. That game was played last month on the Wildcats' home field - Fisher Field on the campus of Baldwin Wallace University.
MISCUES OPENED THE DOOR AND THE MUSTANGS GALLOPED TO THE EARLY LEAD.
After Brosky and Mulhern battled through three scoreless innings, Strongsville took a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning.
With two outs and the bases empty in the top of the fourth, a walk, a stolen base and two key Wildcats errors saw the Mustangs, with the way Brosky was pitching, take a significant two-run lead.
Saint Ignatius, which was designated as the "home team" because of the higher seed, appeared to catch a break when Strongsville dropped a deep fly ball to left field with no outs in the bottom of the fourth.
Brosky never blinked, however, as he retired the side on a fly out to center field, a 5-3 groundout and a strikeout.
After Wildcats promising sophomore Luke Lashutka and Brosky each pitched a scoreless fifth inning, the Mustangs made it a 3-0 game in the top of the sixth.
A base hit from Strongsville third baseman Giovanni Lombardo, a one-out stolen base by pinch runner Matt Esson, a one-out base knock via the bat of Trevor Denning, and a stolen base from Denning with two outs that was followed by a passed ball accounted for the Mustangs' third run.
After Saint Ignatius' standout senior hitter, outfielder and relief pitcher Jack Eyink, a University of Cincinnati recruit, thwarted a Strongsville scoring threat in the top of the seventh, the Wildcats got to Brosky for a run in the bottom of the seventh.
Junior catcher/infielder Austin Jones, a name to remember for next season, led off the bottom of the seventh by lacing an 0-1 pitch into right field.
Saint Ignatius had the bases loaded with one out when senior catcher, designated hitter and co-Captain Drew Asadorian, who turned in a marvelous spring, drove the ball to deep left-center field into a stiff wind that was blowing in. Drew's almost shot was good for an RBI sacrifice fly.
Brosky regrouped, however, and ended the game with a big-time pressure strikeout that fueled another District Championship celebration in front of the Mustangs' dugout.
FROM COACH GANOR, WHO CELEBRATED HIS 300TH CAREER VICTORY LAST WEEKEND AND WILL ENTER NEXT SEASON WITH 302 CAREER WINS.
"It will sting for a long time," said the man who has guided his Wildcats to six Division I state final four appearances, including a Saint Ignatius baseball best three consecutive trips to state in 2007, '08 and '09. Coach Ganor's 2008 and 2013 'Cats were state runners-up.
"You remember every season on how it ends, that's the hardest part," said Coach Ganor. "You always remember the last game. Every year it means something different to everyone else, but I'm just proud of the group we had. A great group of kids and a great team. The seniors will be missed a lot.
"That's baseball, that's the way it goes," Coach Ganor continued. "That kid (Brosky) pitched a great game. We made some noise there in the last inning, but they're a good baseball team and he's a real good pitcher. That's how it goes when it's a one and done series.
"All I want to do is create great memories for them," Coach Ganor said in reference to his 2018 Baseball Cats. "Regardless of what their role on this team was, I hope they will have memories that they will cherish. I know I have memories with this year's team that I will cherish forever."
In closing, this corner would like to thank the 2018 Baseball Cats for all of the great memories and the privilege they, Coach Ganor, Coach Mark Terlep, Coach John Whelan, Coach Matt Kata, Athletic Director Mr. Rory Fitzpatrick and the Saint Ignatius Administration bestowed upon me by allowing this old-timer to return as the team's website reporter.
I would also like to thank the outstanding 1-2 punch of Team Manager Dominic Caserio and Super Stats Man Seamus Hough for their great work and support, and I tip my cap to the SIBN for another season of marvelous broadcasting, a group of young men that included Zack Strom '19, Jack O'Rourke '20, Bobby Gerome '21 and the incomparable Gabe Liberatore '18.
Mr. Joe Ginley, Communications Coordinator for Athletics, can be very proud of the young men he advises and monitors.
Have a wonderful and safe summer, and I will see you soon at the Spring Sports Awards and on Wasmer Field for the preparation of the Fall Season.
God Bless, Mr. Eddie Dwyer.