April 21, 2008

This Week in Walsh University Athletics

Monday, April 21, 2008

Thursday, 24

Men's Golf at AMC Championships (Apple Valley GC, Howard, OH) 7:30 am

Friday 25

Men's Golf at AMC Championships (Apple Valley GC, Howard, OH) 7:30 am

Saturday, 26

Baseball (H) Urbana University 1pm

Track at Hillsdale Relays/Oberlin College

Softball (H) Ohio Dominican University (DH) 1 pm

Times and schedule subject change

BASEBALL: Cavs (19-16, 12-9 AMC) Stumble, 5th in AMC

After moving into third place in the American Mideast Conference, Walsh (19-16, 12-9 AMC) fell back into fifth place after losing back-to-back American Mideast Conference double headers with Mount Vernon Nazarene University.  This week, the Cavs play a make-up single game (AMC) at home with Urbana University on Saturday at 1 pm.

Walsh banged out 19 hits in a 15-4 non-conference win over Geneva College last Tuesday. It was the fifth straight win for the Cavs. Ryan Indorf (Sr., Massillon, OH/Washington) homered, doubled, singled and drove in four runs in the win.  Jason Pettigrew (Sr., Massillon, OH/Jackson) had two doubles and a single and drove in two runs and Mike Suliks (So., Norton, OH/HS) had a double, two singles and three RBI.  Mike Muenster (Fr., Gates Mills, OH/Notre Dame Cathedral Latin) picked-up the win to even his record at 2-2.

Mount Vernon Nazarene University (21-13, 10-6 AMC) snapped Walsh's five-game win streak with a double header sweep on Thursday.  The Cougars took the opener 6-4 and then the nightcap 12-2.  Chris Norris (Sr., Massillon, OH/Jackson) was the starter and loser in game one, falling to 5-2.  Walsh trailed 4-0, before rallying with three runs in the top of the fifth inning, keyed by a two-run single by Ryan Indorf.  The Cougars would score two in the bottom of the inning to extend the lead to 6-3.  Walsh added a single run in the sixth to close the scoring.  Mount Vernon settled the issue in game two with nine runs in the bottom of the third inning, on their way to a 12-2 win.  The Cougars sent 15 men to the plate in the nine-run third.  Mike Dougherty (Jr., Canton, OH/McKinley) (2-3) started, and lasted into the third inning, and was charged with the loss.

For the second time in three days, Mount Vernon Nazarene University (23-13, 12-6 AMC) swept a double header from the Cavs.  The Cougars held on to win game one 9-7, then took the nightcap 6-1.  Walsh rallied from a 9-1 deficit, only to fall short in the opener.  Eric Shimko (Fr., Canton, OH/McKinley) was the starter and loser for the Cavs. Jeff Nicholas (Sr., Navarre, OH/Perry) hit a three-run homer for the Cavs and Duston Walter (So., Malvern, OH/HS) slugged a homer and drove in two runs.  Mark Kelly (So., Norton, OH/HS) had three hits and Mike Suliks doubled and singled.  Alan Frame (Sr., Atwater, OH/Waterloo) started and took the loss in game two.

Tim Hromada (So., North Royalton, OH/Padua Franciscan), who shares catching duties with Duston Walter (So., Malvern, OH/HS), is hitting .400 in 22 games.  Walter is hitting .360 in 23 games.  First baseman Jason Pettigrew is hitting .375 and is second with 33 RBI.  Ryan Indorf has a team-leading 39 RBI and is hitting .369.  Indorf also leads the team with five homeruns and has 12 doubles.  Eight of Walsh's nine regulars are hitting over .300, as the Cavs sport a team batting average of .330.  Right-hander Chris Norris is 5-2 with a 4.22 ERA and Steve Weirich is 3-2 with a team-leading 2.60 ERA.

SOFTBALL: Cavs (27-7, 17-1 AMC N) Clinch AMC North

Walsh clinched the American Mideast Conference North Division regular season championship last Saturday, after sweeping a pair of games from Point Park University. It is Walsh's first AMC title since 2003.  The AMC North champion Cavs are 27-7 overall and 17-1 in conference play.  Walsh received votes (7, 28th) for the second straight week in the NAIA rankings last Wednesday.  This week the Cavs host Ohio Dominican University in a non-conference double header on Saturday (1 pm). 

Walsh swept an AMC North double header at Notre Dame College on Monday.  The Cavs won game one 5-4 in eight innings and then captured the nightcap 8-6.  Dana Hartings (Sr., Chickasaw, OH/Marion Local) was the starter and winner in game one.  She fanned seven and did not walk a batter.  Alyssa Knupp (Fr., Massillon, OH/Tuslaw) hit a solo homer in the eighth inning to snap the 4-4 tie.  Krystal Sherry (So., Brunswick, OH/Holy Name) homered and Brittany Sostre (Fr., Parma, OH/Valley Forge) hit a three-run blast in the sixth inning.   Sherry picked-up the win in the nightcap, going 5.1 innings.  Sherry helped herself with two hits and three RBI and Chelsea Saunders (So., Hinckley, OH/Highland) drove in two runs.

Walsh split an AMC doubleheader at Point Park University on Friday.  Walsh lost the first game 2-1, their first AMC North Division loss of the season.  The loss also snapped the Cavs eight-game winning streak.  Dana Hartings fanned 12 in the loss. Walsh defeated Point Park in game two 4-1. Krystal Sherry picked-up the win. Hartings went 2-4 with a homerun and two RBI. Chelsea Saunders had a double while going 2-3. Kelly Jackson (Sr., Akron, OH/Ellet) went 2-4.

Walsh clinched the AMC North Division crown with a double header sweep of Point Park University (10-14, 5-9) at home on Saturday.  Walsh won game one 2-0, and game two 5-3.  Dana Hartings won the opener pitching a seven-hit shutout.  Hartings fanned seven in the win and also drove in the Cavs' first run with a first inning double.  Brittany Sostre drove in the second run with a sixth inning double.  Krystal Sherry went the distance to win game two.  Hartings gave Walsh a 1-0 lead in the first inning with a single.  After Point Park tied the game in the top of the second, Walsh regained the lead (2-1) in the bottom of the inning, when Sostre scored on a throwing error.  Walsh then took the lead for good in the bottom of the third on Alyssa Knupp's two-run homer, her sixth of the season.  Walsh added its final run on Sherry's sacrifice fly in the sixth.

Dana Hartings is 16-3, with a 1.79 RA and has completed all of her 17 starts.  At the plate, she is hitting .416 with a team-leading eight homeruns, to go with 37 RBI.  Outfielder Chelsea Saunders, who is on an 11-game hitting streak, has taken over the team batting lead at .457.  Krystal Sherry is hitting .432, with seven homeruns, and a team best nine doubles, five triples and 42 RBI.  On the mound, Sherry is 11-4 with 12 complete games.  Walsh has clubbed a career-high 30 homeruns on the season and is batting .364. 

MEN'S GOLF: Cavs Win Host Invitational/Play at AMC Championships Thursday & Friday

Walsh (19-25) won the Walsh Invitational at Prestwick CC last Monday, and finished fifth at the Malone College Invitational (Tannenhauf GC) last Friday and Saturday.  This Thursday and Friday, they travel to Apple Valley Golf Course for the American Mideast Conference/NAIA Region IX Tournament in Howard, Ohio.  The Cavs finished fifth last year, and last won a championship in 2002. 

Walsh finished first in the three-team Walsh University Invitational.  The Cavaliers (316) finished three strokes in front of Malone College (319) "B Team" and twenty-four strokes ahead of the University of Northwestern Ohio (340) to take home the victory.  Sam Troyer (Jr., Sugarcreek, OH/Garaway) paced the Cavs, shooting a 75, followed by Mike Lenartowicz (Sr., Canton, OH/Perry) with a 78, Kevin Tournoux (Sr., Lakewood, OH/HS) 80, Jessie Green (Jr., Sugarcreek, OH/Garaway) 83, and Brant Harbert  (So., Uniontown, OH/Green) 89.  Walsh also had six individuals compete.  Ethan Williams (Fr., Quaker City, OH/Buckeye Trail) led the pack, shooting a 79.  Chris Evans (Jr., Toronto, ONT/Notre Dame Catholic) followed with an 82, Tom Eich (So., Youngstown, OH/Cardinal Mooney) 85, Pat Moro (Jr., Warren, OH/JFK) 89, Nick Gallo ( Jr., Wickliffe, OH/HS) 92, and Dominic Reolfi (So., North Canton, OH/Hoover) 94.

Walsh (19-25) shot a final round 307, and finished fifth (303-307=610) at the 36-hole Malone College Invitational today.  Malone, who led after the first 18 holes, won with a two-day total of 572.  Sam Troyer paced the Cavs with a two-day total of 147 (72-75).  Jessie Green (Jr., Sugarcreek, OH/Garaway) finished at 151 (73-78), Mike Lenartowicz 154 (78-76), Kevin Tournoux 158 (80-78) and Ethan Williams 165 (82-83).  Three members of Walsh's "B" team played, with Nick Gallo carding a 166 (85-81), Pat Moro 171 (86-85) and Brant Harbert 173 (87-86).

Heading into this week's AMC/Region IX championships, Mike Lenartowicz leads the Cavs with a 77.3 average.  Sam Troyer is next at 78.0 and Mike Tournoux is at 79.8

WOMEN'S GOLF: Cavs 8th at Wittenberg Invitational

Walsh (18-37) finished eighth (398) at the Wittenberg University Invitational last Tuesday.  This week the Cavs are idle.

Tammy Schumacher (Sr., Whitney Point, NY/HS) finished tied for seventh and led Walsh with an 88 (40-48).  Kaley Foster (Jr., Manchester, OH/HS) tied for 19th with a 93 (45-48), Kaitlin Sesock (So., Uniontown, OH/Lake) placed 52nd with a 107 (57-50) and Melanie Stone (Fr., Akron, Firestone) finished tied for 56th with a 110 (50-60).

MEN'S TENNIS: Cavs Take Pair of AMC Matches/2nd in AMC

Walsh (9-7, 4-1 AMC) won a pair of American Mideast Conference matches last week and are in second place in the AMC.  The Cavs bested Ohio Dominican University 6-3 on Wednesday and won 8-1 at Notre Dame College on Friday.  This week the Cavs are idle.

Number one singles Stephen Webster (Sr., Lexington, OH/HS) is 15-5 on the season and has won nine of his last ten matches.  He is 15-2 at number one doubles with Gary Innes (Fr., Randburg, South Africa).  Innes is 13-7 at third singles.  Greg Kerschbaum (Sr., Elyria, OH/HS) is 9-11 at second singles and 13-4 at second doubles with Jake Allmaras (Fr., Powell, OH/Olentangy).

WOMEN'S TENNIS: Cavs Extend Win Streak to Six/2nd in AMC

Walsh (8-9, 6-1) won all three matches last week to run their current win streak to six matches.  The Cavs defeated Shawnee State University and Ursuline College 9-0 and rallied to down Cedarville University 6-3 on Saturday.  In the Cedarville match, the Cavs lost two of three doubles matches, before rallying for the American Mideast Conference win.  The Cavs are in second place in the AMC.

Jenamarie Ianni (Jr., North Canton, OH/Hoover) won all three matches at first singles and is 9-7. Megan Navarre (Sr., Indianapolis, IN/Center Grove) is 8-6 at second and third singles.  Lindsey Cady (Jr., Canton, OH/GlenOak) is 8-8 at second and third singles.  Jen Yost (So., Massillon, OH/Jackson) is 7-8 at mostly fourth singles and Hilary Rossi (So., Warren, OH/John F. Kennedy) is 9-6 at five and six singles.  Madeline Lewis (So., Columbus, OH/St. Frances DeSales) is 7-4 mostly at fifth singles.  Ianni and Cady are 5-3 at first doubles.  Lewis and Navarre are 6-4 at mostly second singles.

MEN'S TRACK: Cavs Fifth at AMC Championships/McKee Qualifies for Nationals

Walsh finished fifth (82 pts) at the American Mideast Conference Track and Field Championships held Friday and Saturday at Malone College.  Malone won the meet with 222 points, with Cedarville University finishing second (198).  This week the Cavs are scheduled to compete at Hillsdale College and Oberlin College, both on Saturday.

Brendan McKee (Jr., Akron, OH/St. Vincent-St. Mary) finished tied for first in the 1500m run (3:56.33) and qualified for the NAIA National Meet, and Mike Groholy (Sr., Parma, OH/Valley Forge) placed second in the 5000m (15:32.42).  The Cavs 4x100m relay team of Andrew Saris (Jr., Smithville, OH/HS), Kevin Beichler (Fr., Smithville, OH/HS), Chris Weirtz (Fr., Hudson, OH/Western Reserve) and Jeff Tallman (So., Canton, OH/Perry) finished second (44.17).  Andrew Saris (Jr., Smithville, OH/HS) finished fourth in the triple jump (40-00.50).

WOMEN'S TRACK: Cavs Place Fourth at AMC Championships/Gospodinsky Shot Champion

Walsh finished fourth (111 pts.) at the American Mideast Conference Championships, held Friday and Saturday at Malone College.  Cedarville University won the meet with 214.33 pts, with Malone finishing second (211.33), and Notre Dame College (129) third.  This week the Cavs are scheduled to compete at Hillsdale College and Oberlin College, both on Saturday.

Holly Gospodinsky (Fr., Wadsworth, OH/HS) is the AMC champion in the shot put, with a toss of 41-3.  Danielle Cofojohn (So., Diamond, OH/Southeast) tied for second (40-6 1/2) and tied for second in the discus (130-9). 

Maria Mudd (Jr., Suffield, OH/St. Thomas Aquinas) finished second in the race walk (17:43.01).  Abbie Sullivan (Jr., Canton, OH/GlenOak) was fourth in the 400m hurdles (1:08.67), Megan Case (Fr., Louisville, OH/HS) in the 800m (2:22.11), Andrea DiNinno (Jr., Greensburg, PA/Central Catholic) in the 3000m steeplechase (12:02.03), Amy Stermole (Sr., North Ridgeville, OH/HS) in the hammer throw (116.02) and Brenna Kirkbride (Jr., Atwater, OH/Waterloo) in the 200m (26.87).