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Donko’s arm leads Ursuline to easy win
Photo
Harry Finelli of Ursuline slides into home plate to score ahead of the tag by South Range catcher Mitch Dolak during the fourth inning of their baseball game Thursday at Cene Park in Struthers. The Irish downed the Raiders, 18-3, behind pitcher Sam Donko, who allowed only one run, scattered three hits and struck out nine in his four innings on the mound.
Donko’s arm leads Ursuline to easy win
By Greg gulas
STRUTHERS
Before Thursday, the last time the Ursuline High baseball team gave up a run was last May 25 when the Irish dropped a 12-11 decision to Grand Valley in the Division III regional championship.
After five shutouts to open the season, South Range finally figured out how to cross the plate on the Fighting Irish.
However, the Raiders’ defense couldn’t contain Ursuline’s high-octane offense as the Irish (6-0) belted out 17 hits, batting around twice in the first four innings, en route to an 18-3 victory.
It was a welcome return to the diamond for pitcher Sam Donko and battery-mate Matt Lacko, who along with their Irish teammates had been idle since April 9.
“The kids were very excited to finally get back on the field,” Ursuline head coach Sean Durkin said. “Being off for nine days can be both a blessing and a curse and I was pleasantly surprised at how we swung our bats today.
“The enthusiasm showed as we banged out 17 hits, hitting the ball hard while remaining aggressive at the plate the entire game,” Durkin said. “I just hope that’s a sign of things to come for us as a team.”
Donko (3-0), who allowed just one run, scattered three hits while striking out nine during his four innings of work.
“We knew that we would hit, but our pitching thus far has come alive and that is a good sign,” Donko said. “They didn’t get as much action last year, but have really come together thus far this season.
Donko also tripled, walked twice and scored three runs offensively.
“I’m pretty satisfied with myself right now, both on the mound and at the plate,” Donko said. “The most important thing is that we won and that is what satisfies me most.”
Lacko, who laced two doubles, walked once, plated three runs and scored three times, just wanted to get back into the swing of spring with his teammates.
“I expected a much closer game but our bats came alive early and it just took off from there,” Lacko said. “We’ve had too many days off so everyone was just eager to get back into game mode and play some baseball.”
Durkin called Donko and Lacko “gamers” — players that he expects to take a leadership role.
“We expect a good game out of Sam [Donko] every time he takes to the mound,” Durkin said. “He hasn’t started in nine days and the good part is that he threw just 65 pitches in his return to the hill.
“Today we were hitting up and down the lineup and like Sam when he is on the mound, we expect good things as well when Matt [Lacko] steps into the batters’ box,” Durkin said. “We expect him to come through for us when the bat is in his hand.”
The Fighting Irish scored early and often, using Donko’s triple and Lacko’s double to key a four-run opening frame.
Harry Finelli’s two-run triple in the second then gave the Irish a 7-0 lead after two innings, increasing their lead to 14-0 when they sent 11 batters to the plate in the third inning.
Donko’s mound dominance and solid defensive play those first three innings helped Ursuline extend their season-opening scoreless streak to 38 innings.
The streak came to a screeching halt in the fourth frame when the Raiders’ Zack Thorpe opened the inning with a double, then scored after a wild pitch by Donko and passed ball by Lacko.
South Range (7-2) added two more tallies in the fifth inning, one on a sacrifice fly by Bill Goodall and the other which was assisted by two of Ursuline’s three miscues in the inning.