by John Fanta ’13
Eastlake, OH – It was a beautiful April day for baseball at Classic Park (home of the Captains), as Saint Ignatius baseball came in winners of three in a row. Coach Brad Ganor was feeling “that his team was coming off the wall” after the doubleheader sweep of Mansfield (13-2) Madison and Midview (4-2). In their first game ever at Classic Park in Lake County, the Wildcats came ready to play, but Willoughby South did as well.
It was a game that just went of an hour and twenty minutes, as pitching was at a premium. Nick Fabian threw six strong innings and Shane Skuhrovec hit a solo shot and a 2-run single to give the Wildcats’ their fourth straight win, 3-1, over the Willoughby South Rebels.
It was a game that went pretty normally in the first two innings, but then in the bottom of third, Shane Skuhrovec led off with a drive that would not stay inside the fence at Classic Park. The ‘Cats were up 1-0, until Skuhrovec came up in the fourth and delivered a 2-RBI single into right field. That would be enough for Nick Fabian to keep on surging forward. He only gave up a run, which came in the sixth, but the Wildcats were in control heading into the seventh. The “sophomore battery” of MJ Nara (pitcher) and Alex Panstares (catcher) came in and locked down the Rebels as Nara earned his second save of the season. The Wildcats’ busy week continues with a showdown with rival St. Edward Wednesday at Classic Park at 4:30 pm, weather providing.
Forecast: 90 % chance of rain, temps dropping into the high 40’s for a high.
The Wildcats will then head to the corner of Carnegie and Ontario to Progressive Field, where they encounter Avon Lake on Friday.
Schedule Adjustment: Saturday’s doubleheader game two, in which the Wildcats were supposed to face Avon at Strongsville High School, has been canceled. Coach Ganor’s team will still play at 10 am vs. Strongsville, and they may play against the Mustangs at 12:30 pm again, but that is to be determined.
Owner of the Captains, Peter Carfagna, in the House: Saint Ignatius grad Peter Carfagna came on the SIBN on Tuesday to talk Wildcat baseball and the partnership with beautiful Classic Park. He stressed the importance of “Magis” (more) in everything that we do. You’ll be hearing a lot of Mr. Carfagna this spring. And I thank him for the food and Captains gear as well! The SIBN has full coverage of all of the baseball games this week with live video. Stay tuned.
