The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Elyria Catholic reverses last year’s fortunes
Last season the Panthers began the year 1-3 and were giving up a lot of runs. This year Elyria Catholic has roared out of the gate with a 5-0 start. Plus Top of the Crop.
At this point last season, Elyria Catholic was looking at a 1-3 record and desperate for a change after allowing opponents to score 35 runs in four games.
After figuring out what had been missing the first few weeks of the season, the Panthers went on to win 14 straight, allowing just 24 runs in that stretch before losing to Amherst, 4-3, on April 30, and advanced all the way to a Division III regional final for the first time in 13 years.
Now, five games into the 2017 campaign, the Panthers are in a much different spot. Elyria Catholic is 5-0 with wins over Vermilion, Clearview, Elyria, Amherst and Manchester, and thinking back on the tough start his team had last season, Coach Bruce Lisicky said he and his team hadn’t even begun to think about making another trip to regionals.
“I don’t think they’re looking at the end right now,” Lisicky said before the start of the season. “I don’t think there’s really a whole lot of pressure on them. Last year we started off 1-3 and then we went on a nice run, and this year we have a tough schedule.”
The Panthers have been led on the mound by se- niors Andrew Abrahamowicz (0.88 ERA, 15 strike- outs) and Jeff Spencer (1.05 ERA, seven strikeouts), but perhaps their baserunning has been the difference.
The Panthers have totaled 36 stolen bases in five games, including 13 from senior Tony LoParo, and boasts four of the five sto- len base leaders in the area.
Now that what Lisicky called the “toughest week of the season” is over, his team is feeling confident the early struggles of last season may be a thing of the past, and despite a lack of experience in the outfield after losing All-Ohio centerfielder Sean Darmafall to graduation, the Panthers seemed to have picked up right where they left off — as a regional finalist-caliber team.
“We knew the beginning of our season was probably going to be our toughest week of the season,” Lisicky said after a win over Amherst April 2. “We’ll take it. We beat four really good ball clubs, especially Amherst with their reputation. It was a really nice win.”
Elyria Catholic hosts Parma April 5.
Hardball Classic
For the second straight year, Elyria Catholic will participate in the Cleveland Indians Charities High School Hardball Classic.
The Panthers will take on often sees the first few weeks’ games rained out, is always difficult to gauge. Teams are still finding their footing and an early-season record isn’t always an indication of where things stand . ... No. 1 Elyria Catholic, a regional finalist last season, claims the top spot after winning five straight in a difficult early-season schedule, while No. 2 Avon’s five wins include three SWC and two tough nonconference in Akron St. VincentSt. Mary and St. Edward. ... Nos. 3-5 are three teams which will likely contend for the top spot at some point this season, while at the bottom half of the Crop, things get a bit trickier . ... Let’s hope for some nicer weather in the coming week so that we might get a better picture of what area baseball will look like this season.
Note: Records as of April 4.
Hubbard at 3 p.m. on April 21 at Progressive Field. Player introductions begin at 2:50 p.m. If needed, a rain date has been scheduled for May 5.
Last season, Elyria Catholic beat Kenston, 8-1, in the 13th annual Hardball Classic.
Note
Coaches are asked to submit statistics and players of the week nominations each week, Tuesday, by 5 p.m to mmcnees@morningjournal.com.