Baseball fights tough, but Ashland outlasts the ‘Cats, 6-5, in opener

A view from the dugout at 40-degree Ned Plank Field on Monday afternoon. Baseball was back, but the 'Cats fell to Ashland, 6-5.

By John Fanta ’13

ASHLAND, OH  The Arrows of Ashland pointed in the winning direction right from the start of Saint Ignatius’ 2013 season opener. In their 6-5 win over the ‘Cats, Ashland earned their 1,000th program victory in history.

The Wildcats started slowly, as Matt Lynch’13 made his first ever varsity start, and on opening day the nerves were active throughout all of the Wildcats. Lynch, who brings the heat when he tows the rubber, had never actually started a game but was a reliever as a junior. He gave up four runs in the first, as Ashland right fielder Jake Allton hammered a lead off triple into right field, and scored on a Lynch wild pitch. Ashland’s Vogel stole second and came home off David Van Hove’s RBI single. Van Hove went to second due to an error. Lynch walked a third straight as a run came home for Ashland, which made it 3-0. Ashland’s Nick Zurcher bounced into a fielder’s choice at second, and the Arrows took a 4-0 lead.

Lynch threw a 41-pitch inning and just had trouble getting a complete rhythm going. Shane Skuhrovec came on in relief in the bottom of the third and threw solidly. Ashland’s Jake Allton bounced an RBI groundout to make it 5-0 Ashland in the bottom of the 4th. Saint Ignatius tried to create opportunities, but could not get anything going.

In the top of the 4th, Saint Ignatius shortstop Tyler Finkler led off the inning with a double into right center field that rolled to the wall.  Despite the big double, Saint Ignatius went scoreless in the 4th and was still down, 5-0. In the top of the 5th, Cole Nieto drew a lead0off walk for the Wildcats, and Pat Gulick grounded into a fielder’s choice to second. Quillen Austria stepped up for the Wildcats and stole second and third. Trailing 5-0, Conor Hennessey reached on an infield single, which brought home Austria to make it 5-1, Ashland. Tyler Finkler and Dan Rowbottom both found the outfield with two RBI singles to make it 5-3 heading into the bottom of the 5th.

After going in order in the bottom half of the 5th, the pressure shifted to Ashland’s bullpen. Back-up catcher Kevin Hagen pinch hit and delivered for the ‘Cats. He rocked a double into left. Cole Nieto pinch ran and scored off two errors by Ashland to make it 5-4. Pat Gulick found himself at 3rd after all of the errors, and Conor Hennessey roped an RBI single into right field. Heading to the bottom of the 6th, it was a whole new ballgame as the comeback was complete to make it 5-5. Wildcat junior reliever Nick Fabian gave up two singles with two outs in the bottom of the 6th and then threw a pitch that he regrets. He lost a breaking ball that went wild and rolled to the deep backstop in Ashland, and that brought home the go-ahead and eventual winning run for the Arrows. Saint Ignatius could not do anything in the top half of the seventh and fell to 0-1 on the season.

A view from the dugout at 40-degree Ned Plank Field on Monday afternoon. Baseball was back, but the 'Cats fell to Ashland, 6-5.
A view from the dugout at 40-degree Ned Plank Field on Monday afternoon. Baseball was back, but the ‘Cats fell to Ashland, 6-5.

 

From my Point of View

Jitters: Matt Lynch has never been in the role he was in on Monday, as he was a reliever all of last year.  He made his first varsity start on opening day. Any opening day brings the jitters. The start brought even more. Hats off to Shane Skuhrovec and Nick Fabian, who both relieved pretty solidly, and to Matt Lynch who hung in there despite a tough first inning.

Long Season: It’s a season with 30+ games (weather providing). There’s nothing more to take from this defeat than to get back at it Wednesday. The Wildcats are on the road at Amherst HS for a 4:30 pm first pitch, as I will have updates just like I will for every game. Go to @SIHSSports and @JohnFanta13 for those.

A Trip Awaits: On Friday and Saturday, the Wildcats will play four games in two days.

Friday in Chillicothe: vs. Bishop Watterson at 1 pm

Friday in Chillicothe vs. Grove City at 5 pm

Saturday at Dublin Jerome with a doubleheader at 11 am and 1:30 pm

All games are on the Saint Ignatius Broadcasting Network. Tweet me your questions all this weekend, as it is just me on the air so I will do my best to help you out. E-mail me at [email protected]. My color partner on Friday is President Fr. Bill Murphy, SJ. It should be a wonderful time with the president of West 30th and Lorain on the SIBN Friday.

JV Team Goes to 1-0: New Coach Tim Clark earned his first win at Saint Ignatius. The Wildcats roared by the Arrows, 12-0.

 

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