NDCL rallies to beat Warren JFK

Similar to many area baseball teams, Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin is fielding a young team this season, featuring two seniors, one year removed from a season lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a nonconference matchup with visiting Warren JFK on April 10, the young Lions played with the poise of a veteran unit, rallying from a five-run deficit to post a 13-8 victory.

NDCL (4-3) parlayed six hits and 11 walks into 13 runs. Junior Andrew Webb moved over from first base to the mound in the third inning, and shut out the Eagles on three hits, one walk and three strikeouts over the final five innings.

The Lions, who received solid contributions up and down their lineup, were paced offensively by junior shortstop Sam Slodic, who hit a three-run home run in the first inning, and reached base in all four of his plate appearances. Adding a single and two walks, Slodic crossed the plate four times for the Lions.

“We’re a young team, and it’s a good sign that we didn’t panic,” veteran NDCL coach Jim Clark said. “We were down five runs, and we just hammered away one good at-bat after another. I credit our guys for not giving up.

“Unfortunately, we spotted them some early runs, but it’s good to know that we have the capability of coming back.”

Warren JFK (4-3) grabbed an 2-0 lead in the top of the first when senior Cam Hollobaugh, headed to play for Walsh University next season, drove in a run with a single and came around to score on a double by freshman Caleb Hadley.

Juniors Anthony Clark and Ryan Moskal drew walks to start NDCL’s half of the first, then Slodic sent a 1-1 pitch over the fence in left field to give the Lions a 3-2 lead.

“It hit the sweet spot (of the bat),” Slodic said. “You knew it was going to be carried by the wind.”

Undaunted, the Eagles manufactured six runs in the top of the second to take an 8-3 lead. A RBI groundout by junior Alex Desalvo pushed one run across, then JFK staged a two-out rally.

The Eagles’ next six batters alternated walks and singles, and freshman Jaden Rishel, who had scored the first run of the inning, capped the rally with a two-run single.

Clark called on Webb to come on in relief of starter Moskal to start the third. Webb retired the next four batters before Hollobaugh singled in the fourth inning. But Slodic caught a line shot from Hadley at shortstop, and fired over to first base to erase Hollobaugh, who was leading off, and get NDCL out of the inning.

Webb gave up a walk in the fifth and a pair of hits in the seventh, but the Lions’ defense had his back on both occasions.

A strike ‘em out-throw ‘em out ended the top of the fifth when NDCL sophomore Phil Davidson caught a third strike then alertly fired a throw to second base to catch an Eagles base runner attempting to steal.

After Webb surrendered a double to junior Gavin Strum and single to Hadley in the seventh, the Lions executed a 4-6-3 double play to end the game.

“I was just going twoseam, trying to get that run in on a righty,” Webb said regarding his approach. “Changeups, and just putting it over the plate and letting them hit it, and letting our defense make plays.”

NDCL scored four times in the third to cut its deficit to 8-7, highlighted by a two-run double to left field by sophomore Aaron Tate.

The Lions took the lead for good in the fourth. After Moskal and Slodic led off with walks, senior Will Mann tattooed a deep sacrifice fly that was caught at the fence in right-center field, and both runners, who had stolen bases to get into scoring position, came around to score.

NDCL added four insurance runs in the sixth. Slodic scored on a close play at the plate on a basesloaded infield single, Davidson drove in two with a single to right field, and Webb scored from third after a throw went awry on an attempt to throw out Davidson on an attempted steal of second.

Warren JFK, which has a young team of its own with one senior and six freshmen, will get another crack at the Lions at Eastwood Field (home of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers) on April 17.

The heart of the Eagles’ lineup — Shrum, Hollobaugh, and Hadley, each had two hits.