St Ignatius High School - Ignatian Yearbook (Cleveland, OH)

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Rough Season for Sluggers Conference Losses Prove to be Deadly Although the St. Ignatius Varsity Baseball Team possessed a respectable 14-7 record, any hopes of another ACC crown faded due to six losses in conference games. The team's high points wrere against Lakewood and Euclid. During the regular season, senior Steve Gelinas tallied a season high twelve strikeouts in a 6-1 victor)' over Lakewood. The Cats played possibly their best game of the year in trouncing the always tough Euclid Panthers 11-1. The highlight of the state playoffs were sectional victories over Benedictine, 7-1, and over North Royalton, 5-3. The Cats advanced into the district semifinals against Lakewood. West Side All-Star pitcher Paul Mancino was pitted against another All-Star hurler. Ranger Tom Mayer. Mancino, winner of the MVP award for the second year, rose to the occasion by throwing a one hitter while striking out eleven for a 2-1 victory. The district championship was rescheduled four times due to the inclement weather. When the sun finally peaked through, the Cats were set to face conference rival Fronl: Paul Mancino, Frank Huemmer, Jim Klemens. Bob Stager, Vince Tinniretlo, Scott Kalish, Bill From, Mark So da, Keith Karaba, Dare Gulosky, Jim O'Donnel Bjck: Head Coach Vince Benander, Frank Lozada, M$r. Chris Moye, Enc Croft, Mark Pfaff, Pal Needles, Jim Bellinger, Bill Wolf. Steve Gelinas, Jim Kastelic, Paul Puskonus, fohn Lekan, Mike Smith, Asst. Coach Nick Restifo. Padua. Behind workhorse Mancino, the Cats gained a 7-3 lead in the fourth inning. However that lead suddenly disintegrated to an 8-7 deficit. Showing great character the Cats went to extra innings, but like the rest of the season, a win was not in the fates. Padua snuck home the game winner for a 9-8 victory. This season was a tough one for the Ignatius Baseball Team. This season was a tough one for the St. Ignatius Baseball Team. Although they compiled a fine 14-7 record, their season was marred by the fact that they were not able to capture the conference title. This all however should not overshadow all the fine individual performances throughout the year by players such as Paul Mancino, Steve Gelinas, John Lekan, and Bill Frain just to name a few. Coach Benander and the returning seniors are looking toward next year and will prepare diligently in the offseason to battle their foes yet again next spring. Below: The Play to End All Plays- Catcher Mark Sojda appears to have things under control. Nevertheless the umpire calls the runner safe. Thus Padua wins the district championship 9-8 in extra innings. Bottom: King of the Mound, senior Paul Mancino shows what it lakes to be the best. 18 Wildcat Recap

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WILDCAT RECAP Wildcat Recap 17

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J.V.'s Overcome Inexperience Strong Pitchers Lead Team Mr. Benander A Decade of B-Man Reminiscing through his 10 year coaching career of the varsity baseball team, Mr. Benander confidently claims that the good outweighs the bad. He attributes most of this success to the extraordinarily high caliber of athletes that Ignatius consistently produces. Along with their physical talents each player displays a positive mental attitude and a desire to excel. Mr. Benander feels that the only drawback to the sport itself is the fact that during the course of the season he spends long hours with his team which means less time for his family. Mr. Benander's personal highlights last year are the victories over Euclid and Padua and making it to district finals. A math teacher for upperclassmen, B-Man has not lost his zeal for the game after ten years. He is anxious for spring to arrive each year. With spring comes the familiar sounds of the batting cage. Mr. Benander gives new meaning to the term B-Ball. Below: B-Man attempts that familiar trick of patting one’s head and rubbing one’s stomach. With only three players returning to the latest edition of Ignatius J.V. Baseball, and under new mentors Mark Hodermarsky and Karl Ertle, the inexperienced team took the diamonds and proved to be a force to be reckoned with. The sophomore freshman combination of Wildcats quickly dampened their first opponent's hope for a victory. St. Joe's left Brookside Park that cold, rainy April day hitless, scoreless, and depressed due to the sparkling opening day no-hitter of freshman hurler Joe Bryan. With that win already under the belt, the Cats then roared to defeat foe after foe, while suffering four losses in seventeen games and missing out of the championship by one game to Padua. The Cats pitching staff kept them competitive all year. They were led by sophomores Craig Hovan (5-0), and Vinnie Riley and the freshman hurlers Joe Bryan and Joe Galang that balanced the staff, and made the future look bright. Behind the plate. Rusty Shemo's experience and leadership guided the young arms through many tough spots. Leading the offensive attack were three players, all of whom could be depended on for two or three hits per game. Rusty Shemo, John McGowan, and DH Mike Andrae were all above .400 hitters with Andrae ripping apart opposing pitchers with a high .400 average. Counted on for the power were slugger John Michalski and reserves Stan Patriski, Marcial Ingal, Mike Karnuta, and Jim Nairus. Left: Kevin Kimble does his imitation of Casey at bat. Below: John McCcnvan tags out an opposing player. Varsity J.V. Baseball 29