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Irish Eyes Are Smiling
Ursuline continues well-rounded season with win over Struthers
STRUTHERS
In last Saturday’s doubleheader against Springfield, Ursuline’s Anthony Rohan pulled his hamstring.
The junior outfielder felt immediate pain as he crossed home plate, scoring on a hit from Sam Donko. A similar situation happened in the Irish’s 7-2 win against Struthers on Thursday at Cene Park.
There wasn’t as much of a sting, this time around.
After belting a double to the gap in left field, Rohan scored the first run on a Donko triple to the 370 sign on the center field fence.
“When I accelerated out of the box, it kind of grabbed me a little bit and I couldn’t speed up how I wanted to,” Rohan said, “because before the game I felt fine and I’m feeling fine now.”
He went 3 for 3 with a walk, but after the first at-bat, a pinch runner was used on the base paths as a precaution.
“He still hit the ball hard and got some clutch hits early,” said Ursuline coach Sean Durkin. “He set the tempo for us to get our first run and got us going a bit.
“I’m happy he didn’t aggravate it more because he’s a very important part of what we are.”
So is Donko.
Also a junior, the right-handed pitcher went six innings, struck out nine, walked none and surrendered his first earned runs of the year.
Donko sent the Wildcats (6-3) down in order in both the second and third innings. The fourth started out in tune with the previous two when he struck out Dylan Duchek and Roman Salinas to start the frame. But, next up, Mike Gunther ripped a triple, Nate Gigax blooped a single to right field and Jordan Sapp and Kolton Rudzick collected hits to string together two runs before Donko got Cody Bova to pop out to shortstop Ryan Strollo.
“He’s a good high school pitcher who’s had success and he’s tough to hit off of,” Struthers coach Mike Donatelli said. “He’ll make you work.”
Donko, himself, admitted that it was an off-day, but Durkin is impressed with his ace’s performance.
“He’s been terrific so far and were going to ride him as far as we can,” Durkin said.
It’s not a lot of weight, though. The Irish have a stacked offense that greatly lessens the load from the starting pitcher.
Every batter in the Ursuline (6-2) lineup reached base. Paul Pegues went 2 for 3 with an RBI, Joel Hake scored two runs, Harry Finelli and Tanner Berry each had key sacrifice flies and Strollo picked up a double.
“The other team’s pitcher has to be focused on every single batter in our lineup,” Rohan said. “Our top of the order is just as strong as the bottom — everybody is capable of making something happen.”
Before the Wildcats scoring efforts in the fourth, the defense turned heads in the third.
Senior shortstop Dylan Duchek robbed Donko of his potential second hit when he dove, full-extension to his right side and threw, across his body, from his knees over to first base. The play received perhaps the loudest cheer — from both sides — with many commenting that it was the best play they’ve seen in a high school game.
“The last couple of games, he’s made some tremendous plays,” Donatelli said. “He knows the game, isn’t afraid of getting the uniform dirty and makes routine plays just like he’ll make the unbelievable play. To his left or right, he’s strong up the middle.”
Dion Felger pitched the seventh for Ursuline and allowed just one hit — a Sapp single.