Season of doubt works out

By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Three previous state tournament appearances, including one as a player, couldn't prevent Sean Durkin from questioning his own ability as a coach.
Doubt sometimes has a way of taking over your thoughts, and it leaves you with an uneasiness about your profession.
Durkin, the sixth-year coach of the Ursuline High baseball team, came face to face with it.
"You start to wonder whether you forgot how to coach this game," he said.
Durkin endured his team's 3-13 record last season and its 2-8 start to this season. Then the ill feelings began to creep in and so did the frustration.
"I don't think I've ever, as a coach, gone through anything like this," Durkin said.
But Durkin believed in his players, and they learned to believe in themselves.
That faith paved a path to Columbus, where the Irish (12-15) will play St. Henry (28-3) in the Division III state semifinals Friday at 10 a.m.
Irish improvement
"We just didn't know if the kids knew how to win," Durkin said. "It's one thing to lose close games, but you have to learn how to win some. We started to do that at the end of the year."
It took that long for the Irish to decide on a consistent lineup and develop an identity.
Because the team's defense was shaky, Durkin and his staff mixed players and positions until they found the right combination.
"When the year started, we felt we had decent pitching," Durkin said, "but we were giving teams four and five outs an inning. Once we were solid defensively, our pitching started to carry us."
Credit that role to senior pitchers Josh Conkey (7-2) and John Metzinger (4-2).
It was the right arm of Conkey, who will pitch at Ohio Northern next season, that Ursuline rode through the Massillon regional. He will get the start against St. Henry, the state's top-ranked team.
"He's pitched against a lot of those good teams [on our schedule]," Durkin said. "He's our leader, there's no question about it. He's a brilliant kid."
Ursuline is a young team. Of the 18 players on its roster, five are seniors.
are seven sophomores and a freshman, David Patrick, who starts in center field.
Lowly times
There were growing pains. After a 3-2 loss on April 24 to Cardinal Mooney, a game in which Ursuline had opportunities to win, Durkin and his coaches were at a loss for words.
"We were just sitting there," Durkin said, "wondering whether we were ever going to turn this thing around."
It happened. Ursuline blanked Niles 4-0 the next day -- playing well defensively -- and began its ascent heading into May.
"We just thought that if we could keep them together when the tournament started, we would have a shot to do something in Division III," Durkin said.
After six tournament victories, including a 12-inning regional semifinal win over Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph, the Irish are within reach of their third state title.
Hard to believe, isn't it?
"It's been an amazing metamorphosis," Durkin said. "The kids are feeling confident. Now, they're expecting something good to happen."
richesson@vindy.com