A key member of the Saint Ignatius baseball team is already garnering preseason awards.

Mike Holdsworth was named to the 2019 Ohio Preseason All-American Team by the National High School Baseball Coaches Association last week. 

Holdsworth is a team captain and will be a critical part of the Baseball Cats in 2019. 

"He's a great leader," said Head Coach Brad Ganor. "He has been since day one."

Holdsworth has experienced both ups and downs during his Saint Ignatius baseball career. Holdsworth made the team as a sophomore and faced some adversity. Then as a junior, Holdsworth played every game and made a large impact.

Through it all, Holdsworth has done everything in his power to help the team and be the best leader he can be. 

"We brought him up to the varsity as a sophomore to have the experience of the spring trip, and then he ended up sticking with us after the spring trip to start the year," Ganor said. "Unfortunately, he ended up getting hurt, which set him back and wasn't really 100% healthy the rest of the year. But at the end of the year, he still had some good at-bats. Last year, he had a chance to play multiple positions for us because of his athleticism. We took him out of his comfort zone and put him out in the outfield. He was willing and happy to do so."

Last season, Holdsworth showcased a strong ability to work counts at the plate and take advantage of pitchers' mistakes. In the field, Holdsworth is ultra-dependable. Holdsworth finished the 2018 campaign with a .429 on-base percentage, 16 runs, 5 extra base hits, 8 RBI, and a team-high 20 walks.

In 2019, Holdsworth will switch positions but will still have a chance to produce every day. 

"This year, we'll move him back to the infield, which is a more natural position for him, because that's where the need is for the team," Ganor said. "That's been his biggest attribute for us – his versatility and ability to do whatever the team needs him to do." 

That trait will serve him well at the University of Nebraska, where Holdsworth will continue his academic and athletic careers. 

Holdsworth's senior season with the Wildcats begins on March 25, as the squad heads south to play 4 games in Florida to kick off the year.