The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
NDCL topples Lake, secures regional berth
Notre Dame‑Cathedral Latin booked another Division II regional berth with a D‑II district final win over archrival Lake Catholic. Nate Barnes has a full recap and reaction from Jefferson.
Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin coach Jim Clark tells his players to hit the right pitch. Whether it’s the first, fourth or seventh pitch thrown during a Lion’s atbat, Sam Frontino and his teammates are ready.
Sometimes, if the right pitch isn’t delivered, they’ll happily accept a walk — or wear one on the thigh.
NDCL’s meticulous approach, combined with a few errors by Lake Catholic fielders, allowed the Lions to compose big innings which led to an 11-2 victory over the Cougars in the Jefferson District final May 16.
Frontino reached base in four of his five plate appearances. He recorded two singles, one of which sent a run home, and was hit by a pitch twice.
“I just wait for my pitch,” Frontino said. “When it was there I just tried to put a good swing on it, and it worked out.”
Lake Catholic scored on an NDCL error to take a 1-0 lead after two innings. The Lions countered to go ahead, 2-1, on Frontino’s RBI knock and Joe DiMattio’s sacrifice fly.
NDCL asserted control in the fourth when the Lions sent 12 batters to the plate and scored six runs. Sam Perovsek drove in two with his single, Julian Mangelluzzi drew a basesloaded walk to force in another, DiMattio’s RBI single and two more crossed on a Lake Catholic error.
The Lions nearly won by the run rule when they added three in the fifth to take an 11-1 lead. Frank Lanning’s sacrifice fly in the home fifth scored Nick D’Angelo to extend the game, but the Cougars drew no closer.
Perhaps as crucial to NDCL’s victory as its offense was the work of Brenden Hofacre, who allowed two runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. After the Lions’ offense placed crooked numbers on the scoreboard in the third and fourth, Hofacre quickly retired the side in order in the home half of each inning.
NDCL next plays in a Division II Hudson Regional semifinal at 2 p.m. May 25 at The Ball Park at Hudson. The Lions await the winner of the Akron District final May 18. NDCL’s victory completed a sweep of its three games against Lake Catholic this season.
“I just think we’ve got a good team here,” Clark said. “We were in the regional last year, and I feel like the kids felt like they had something to prove and get back there and do something in that tournament next week.”
NDCL was eliminated by Poland Seminary, 8-2, in a regional semifinal last year. Frontino remembers how Poland’s hard-hitting bats started the game hot, and the Lions were unable to compensate for an early deficit.
“This year, it’s going to be different,” Frontino said. “We’ve got the sticks this game, so I’m confident in our team, looking forward to it.”
Lake Catholic coach Dennis Woods needn’t look beyond the six errors, five walks and three hit batsmen issued by the Cougars to figure out how his team’s postseason.
Tears welled in the eyes of an emotional Woods after the game as he distributed, one-by-one with a hug, district runner-up medals to his players. Lake Catholic’s roster turned over significantly from last season’s team, one of Woods’ best groups in his 16 years on Reynolds Road.
Yet, despite a lineup consisted almost entirely of new contributors, this year’s Cougars advanced further than last season’s heavilyfavored group which lost its first playoff game to Geneva in a sectional final.
“I never thought we’d be 19-8 at this point in time,” Woods said. “In the district final? No. This group of kids played hard, I appreciate what they did and I’m proud of them.”