The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Abrahamowicz, Moore named co-recipients of Mr. Baseball
In a baseball season that featured plenty of talented seniors, two were chosen among the rest for Lorain County’s highest honor.
Amherst’s Xavier Moore and Elyria Catholic’s Andrew Abrahamowicz were named 2017 coMr. Baseball at the Lorain County Senior All-Star Game May 27 at Oberlin College.
Trevor Damron (Firelands) received a special mention.
“We grew up playing baseball together so we know each other very well, both had great careers, four years in high school and I feel like we both deserve the award,” Moore said of sharing the award with Abrahamowicz. “It’s definitely an honor.”
Moore, an Ohio State commit, finished the 2017 season with eight wins on the mound, including a 0.31 ERA and 86 strikeouts.
At the plate, Moore had a .359 batting average with 28 hits, five doubles, two home runs and 21 RBI.
The Amherst senior began his high school career at Lorain before transferring in 2016.
“When he transferred over (from Lorain), any time you get a player of that caliber that comes to your program he’s going to increase the level of competition not only with other teams but within your own team,” Amherst coach Matt Rositano said. “Last year and this year he was phenomenal, and outside of baseball he’s one of the nicest kids. (He’s) respectable, coachable.
“He’s going to play at the next level as a pitcher but he’s the definition of a twoway player . ... No matter where you put him in the lineup, he’s going to make everyone else better.”
Abrahamowicz, who will pitch for Nebraska next season, finished with six wins and a save and just two earned runs over 40 1/3 innings pitched while recording a 0.34 ERA with 64 strikeouts.
“I knew a couple of guys who were in the hunt,” Abrahamowicz said. “Obviously
Xavier, Nik Barkdull (Vermilion) had a great season and I mean tons of guys out there.
“Our county is really good. I didn’t know what was going to really happen, honestly.”
Abrahamowicz, a fouryear letterman for the Panthers, said since his freshman year the goal was always Mr. Baseball.
“This was definitely the goal since freshman year so I really wanted to accomplish this,” Abrahamowicz said.
“All the other awards are just a plus, (but) this is really what I wanted to do.”
Elyria Catholic coach Bruce Lisicky said he will certainly miss Abrahamowicz in the dugout.
“We’re going to miss him next year, but to have a guy like that who you know is going to carry you all year no matter who you’re going to throw him out there against, you’ve got a chance of winning that day,” Lisicky said. “He’s a great, genuine kid and a team player and it’s going to be tough to lose a guy like that.”
Moore and Abrahmowicz grew up playing baseball together, starting as early as second grade for the Lorain Longhorns and into today as teammates on the Lake Erie Warhawks.
As each move on to their respective universities, the Mr. Baseball honorees said they look forward to playing against each other in the Big Ten.
“We’re going to see each other,” Moore said. “Hopefully we’re pitching on the same day.”
Earning honorable mentions were: Ethan St. Clair (Avon), Tim Ackerman (Brookside), Jared Heidecker (Columbia), Drew Compton (Keystone), Collin Harris (Lake Ridge), Julien Rodriguez (Lorain), Jordan Cavanaugh (Midview), Charley Lovett (Open Door) and Nik Barkdull (Vermilion).
All-Star Game
Seniors from around Lorain County gathered May 27 for the annual Senior All-Star doubleheader at Oberlin College.
Tim Ackerman (Brookside) led the red team with two singles, a two-run double and a grand slam in Game 1, while Amherst’s Chad Jones went 3-for-4 with four RBI.