Finn's 2 HRs lead Ursuline to final

The Irish rolled, 11-2, into tonight's state final against Marion Pleasant.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
COLUMBUS -- Any questions about the strength of this year's Ursuline High baseball team were quickly answered in Saturday's Division III state semifinal game at Cooper Stadium.
The Irish pounded Canton Central Catholic's unbeaten ace Eric Marzec for eight runs in two-plus innings as Ursuline advanced to its fourth title game in six state appearances with an 11-2 victory.
Propelling the Irish (24-5) was junior slugger Todd Finn, who twice cleared the right-field fence. Finn's first-inning grand slam put Ursuline ahead 4-0.
"It was a fastball low and in," Finn said. "I was just looking for something I could drive into the gap -- I wasn't looking for a home run."
Marion Pleasant next
Tonight at 8, the Irish will face Marion Pleasant (25-5), which advanced by defeating Sparta Highland, 2-1.
The championship contest is a rematch of the 2001 state title game when Marion Pleasant defeated Ursuline for its only crown and the Irish's only championship game defeat.
"[We lost] 9-1," Ursuline coach Sean Durkin said of the game five years ago. "We took a 1-0 lead and the wheels came off. We can use it but these kids were probably in sixth grade when it happened. They're not going to remember [but] Marion Pleasant is a great program and it's certainly going to be a battle."
Durkin said Saturday's game plan was to "sit on Marzec's fastball. We have good bat speed and it worked out well."
Six straight hits
Entering the semifinal, Marzec had permitted just 12 runs in 11 appearances that included 10 complete games. Eight of those runs were earned. The Irish tagged him with six consecutive hits for four earned runs before the Crusaders had recorded the game's second out.
With one out, Ryan Satterlee and Eddie Rohan hit singles on consecutive pitches and Matt Yarab beat out an infield single to load the bases.
Finn then launched Marzec's 1-0 pitch.
"What a great day," said Finn who finished with five RBIs. "The feeling in this dugout is just indescribable. The best part is we're playing for the state championship."
Added Durkin, "Todd is a very powerful kid and when he gets a hold of one it goes a long way."
Finn connects again
The Irish added two runs in both the second and third innings for an 8-0 cushion. Then Finn connected off reliever Grant McCoury for his second homer, his third in his last two tournament games and fifth of the season.
The Irish tagged Marzec (10-1) for nine hits and eight earned runs.
"For us to have a chance, we knew we had to get on him early, get into his head a little bit, take away his momentum," said Finn.
Mark Lapikas and Shawn Roman had three hits while Satterlee, Yarab and Joe Wielbruda had two apiece for the Irish.
Durkin admitted he was surprised by the ease of the victory.
"There were a couple of times during the game where the coaches looked at each other and said, 'Wow -- this is not exactly what we expected,' " he said.
Patrick delivers on mound
Senior David Patrick (9-1) tossed a six-hitter and said the early cushion took "away all the pressure. To have a four-run lead and to know our offense is going to be there just makes it a lot more comfortable to pitch, especially with the defense behind me."
After the game, Patrick, Satterlee, Pat Holcomb and Rick Malleske received their diplomas in a ceremony at home plate.
"There's nothing else like it -- I came in [the dugout] and started crying," Patrick said.
"It was unbelievable. I think it sunk in that we're playing for the state championship and it's [the seniors'] last chance to do it. It overwhelmed me."
williams@vindy.com