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Ursuline, Wheelersburg have big matchup — literally
By Steve Wilaj
Talk about a big matchup.
Yes, when Ursuline squares off today against Wheelersburg at 10 a.m. at Huntington Park in Columbus, the game holds monumental value in that a trip to the Division III championship is on the line.
But even more, the showdown between the Fighting Irish (24-2) and the Pirates (27-4) features — literally — a big matchup.
Ursuline will send Sam Donko to the mound. The senior measures in at 6-foot-1 and 235 pounds.
His counterpart is no slouch. Coming in at 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds, Wheelersburg will have its senior workhorse, Derek Moore, toe the rubber.
However, in addition to being large in size, the ace starting pitchers have something else in common: they dominate on mound. Donko is 9-1 on the season. Meanwhile, Moore is yet to lose a decision in his high school career.
So, is Ursuline coach Sean Durkin preparing for a shootout? Not exactly.
“We expect it to be a low-scoring game,” he said. “The team that could scratch across a couple runs has a good shot.”
Good luck to the offenses. Donko features a mid-to-high 80s fastball, to go along with a curveball and a changeup. As for Moore, Durkin said he has a similar repertoire.
“He throws in the mid to upper 80s, has a big slow curveball that he likes to use and has very good command,” he said. “But we’re gonna throw our guy too. If our guy’s on, we like our chances.”
Luckily for the Irish, Donko embraces these opportunities and expects to be on his game.
“I like big games,” he said. “I strive for them.”
And while the Ursuline batters may disagree, the Iowa Western recruit is glad to go head-to-head with Moore.
“There’s no extra pressure, just more of an excitement,” Donko said. “I love facing good pitchers. It makes me want to do better and be the best that I can be. I’d rather face a good pitcher than a mediocre pitcher, really. It makes me strive to do better.”
In preparation, Wheelersburg — the defending Division III state champions — brought in Adam Wamsley earlier in the week to simulate Donko. Wamsley is a former Pirate who now pitches at Shawnee State.
As for Ursuline’s preparation and approach against Moore, senior shortstop Ryan Strollo said the Irish have to keep it simple.
“We don’t know a lot about him, but we just have to go in and have good at bats,” he said. “We’ve faced good pitching over the season — enough that he’s not going to overwhelm us.”
In turn, Strollo said the Irish have “all the confidence in the world” in Donko. In his last outing, Donko struck out 15 Keystone batters in a 6-1 victory in the regional semifinals.
“Sam’s gonna do what Sam does. If that’s good enough, that’s good enough,” Durkin said. “He’s not going to change who he is because of them. He’s just gonna be Sam Donko.”
The winner will play in the Division III final on Saturday at 10 a.m., which remains Ursuline’s ultimate goal.
“This isn’t our goal just to get to this game,” Donko said. “It’s to win the whole thing. So this one is just another game we have to play and win.”