Friday, April 22, 2016
By Greg Gulas
STRUTHERS
For the first time since 2004, the Catholic High School Baseball Tournament will return to the Mahoning Valley with six Diocesan teams set to compete Saturday and Sunday at Cene Park.
Local teams include Cardinal Mooney and Ursuline with Akron Hoban and St. Edward joining the Cardinals in Pool A, and St. Thomas Aquinas and Gilmour Academy joining the Fighting Irish in Pool B.
“Bob Cene Park is excited to have this tournament back at our facility as it has been quite a few years since it was last played here,” said tournament director Bob Beam. “We expect great, fundamental baseball from the teams that comprise this year’s field and are so fortunate to have a place that can showcase the abilities of our area’s student-athletes.”
Cardinal Mooney (5-5) and Ursuline (8-4) will get the action started on Saturday at 11 a.m., with the Cardinals taking on Akron Hoban on field No. 1, and the Fighting Irish meeting Gilmour Academy on field #2.
“I’m really glad the tournament is back because all six teams are excellent and there will definitely be a play-off atmosphere to it,” said Cardinal Mooney head coach Al Franceschelli, now in his 10th season with the Cardinals. “We started off slow, have won three of our last four games and are starting to come around. Our defense is excellent and we have turned our share of double plays already. Speed is also a plus.”
Leading the Cardinals offensively is second baseman Jack Lynch (.375) while pitcher Devin Curd is 3-1 overall, also hitting at a .350 clip from his familiar left field slot when not on the hill.
It will be a homecoming of sorts for Akron Hoban coach Andy Capraruolo, a 2000 Boardman High School graduate who is in his first season with the Knights (7-4).
“I played at Cene Park, worked there for a summer and consider the facility one of the very best in the state,” Capraruolo said. “It will be great to come home and play some of the very best competition as we prepare for the upcoming sectional tournament. We’re fast and very athletic, but need to get on base if we expect things to happen.”
Pacing the Knights is Isaiah Jackson and Jacob Bonner, the team’s “Mr. Verstility” who can play four or five positions when necessary.
Ursuline is 8-4 in head coach Matt Weymer’s first season, heading into weekend play having won three oftheir last four outings.
“We’ve struggled as a team at the plate, but we’re coming around and swinging our bats better of late,” Weymer, the former Springfield Local head mentor said. “Our schedule is challenging, night in and night out and it won’t be any different this weekend, but we’re really looking forward to the challenge.”
The Irish are paced by pitcher Vinny Lucente (2-1), whose earned run average is under 2.00 while Vito Petrillo has also been stingy in allowing opponents runs.
Offensively, right fielder Logan Pullin, second baseman Alex Schlosser and catcher Drew Potesta are players to watch.
St. Edward enters play 8-4, but has won seven of their last eight outings after going 1-3 on their spring trip to the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
“This will give us a taste of tournament play,” head coach Matt Rosinski said.
Joey Weisenseel, an all-state performer as a sophomore who missed his junior year after tearing his ACL, is the player to watch for the Eagles.
“Joey is our shortstop and lead-off batter and we go as he goes,” he said.
St. Thomas Aquinas enters with an 11-3 overall mark, riding an 11-game win streak.
“We play Cardinal Mooney and Ursuline once a year, but it will be nicer to play five teams from the Diocese in one weekend,” head coach Joe Bishop stated. “We don’t hit for power, but we consider offense the strength of our club.”
The Knights feature All-Ohio honoree Michael Greene in center field with Zach Courder, the team’s closer, also sporting a .500 average through their first 14 contests.
A mass also is planned for Sunday at the field.