A Season in Review

A season's end means only one thing, it is time that we reflect on the trials and tribulations that the NDCL Junior Varsity Lions encountered throughout their 2012 campaign. Finishing with an overall record of 10-8-1 (7-3-1), the JV Pride won 5 of their last 6 games to finish with a record above.500!

Including a 12-11 season finale victory over rival Walsh Jesuit, that could not have summed up the spring in a better way if it had been scripted. After leading 11-4 going into the top of 7th inning, the Lions fell privy to the late inning jitters as Walsh plated 7 runs to even the score at 11. After a one out double by clean-up hitter Anthony Leonetti and an intentional walk to center fielder Ryan Proud, in stepped Sophomore First Basemen Chandler Walnsch. Walnsch, who finished the season with a .290 batting average, was down in the count 1-2 yet proceeded to single to right-center field. After a brilliant base running read by Leonetti, I had no intention of putting up the stop sign in the 3rd Base Coach's box. With the ball beating him to the plate, our burly catcher had no choice but to come in with a hard (but legal) slide, causing the ball to squirt loose and an immediate mobbing to commence at home plate!

Like I said, a game that in my eyes perfectly summed up the JV Pride's season: a great start, rough middle road, and fantastic finish!

Here are a few statistical categories, to better gauge the Lions season as a whole:

Hitting
BA: .347
Runs: 151
Hits: 172
SB: 48/55
BB: 84
Ks: 90
OBP: .470

Pitching
ERA: 4.67 (Based on 7 inning scale)
Ks: 131
BB: 98
WHIP: 1.82
AVG: .248

The last thing on the Lions plate for 2012 is the Spring Sports Banquet on June 5th, where the coaching staff will recognize a Team MVP, Most Improved Player, and Coaches' Award Recipient. However, more details to come on that in the week following the banquet.

With the season finally in the books, I personally now look forward to my next venture. Approximately one month until I depart for the IMG Baseball Academy in Bradenton, FL! See details on that here.

Lastly I do have some short closing remarks on the 2012 season; if these young men learned half as much from me as I in turn learned from them, that I would undoubtedly consider that a successful season! Thank you guys, it was a great ride and I was privileged to be apart of it! Good luck to all of the JV Lions in their summer seasons, time to get ready for the 2013 journey, stay hungry fellas!

Pride!

A Tale of Two Seasons

At the half way point in the 2012 NDCL Baseball season, the Junior Varsity Lions sit at 5-5 (5-2 in North Coast League action) through 10 games. It feels as if just last week we were still conducting tryouts, it is truly amazing how fast a season goes by. With 12 scheduled games left, the JV Pride have finished Season 1.

Season Number 2 starts this Monday (4/30) against rival Walsh Jesuit High School. The NDCL JV Lions showed a few flashes of brilliance in Season Number 1. However, brilliance at times, was muddled by sub-par play and a few losses suffered via the OHSAA mercy rule. 

As a whole, the Lions have been relying on timely hitting and aggressive base running to win ball games, averaging 8.5 Runs and 2.3 Stolen Bases per game. The pitching staff has seen its struggles on the bump throughout the season but have come on strong as of late with four quality starts (4 or more Innings Pitched and 3 Runs or less given up) in the last five games.

If the JV Pride can continue to build on the recent success on the mound and swing the bats as they have thus far, then the chances of an NCL Title are definitely within reach. However, nothing in this sport is given to you. If you want something, you have to go out and take it! 

Catch your dream, don't chase it!

Here is a sneak peek at where the JV Lions are statistically through 10 games:

Hitting

BA: .346

Runs: 85

Hits: 87

SB: 23/24

BB:42

Ks: 48

OBP: .450

Pitching

ERA: 5.40 (Based on 7 inning scale)

Ks: 73

BB: 44

WHIP: 1.80

AVG: .252

With five games in six days coming up for the Pride, Season 2 will undoubtedly fly by just as fast as Season 1 did. This upcoming week could prove to be pivotal as the Lions fight tooth and nail, or should I say tooth and claw, to capture a regular season North Coast League Championship.

NDCL will take on Walsh Jesuit Monday (4/30) and Tuesday (5/1), followed by Cardinal Mooney (5/2) and end the week with Shaw High School (5/4) and St. Ignatius (5/5). For continual updates, game results and recaps, follow my Twitter Feed and keep an eye on NDCL's Baseball Website.

Rivalry Week

With four games now in the books for the NDCL JV Baseball Lions, leading to a .500 record of 2-2, the Junior Varsity Pride is gearing up for a two game set (4/16 & 4/17) against spirited rival Lake Catholic (Mentor, OH). Now albeit my first year in the program, the significance of the NDCL/Lake rivalry was instilled in me very early on. Our Strength and Conditioning Coach, Doug Murray, on day one of voluntary team workouts (November 5, 2011), said (and I quote) "If you guys want to beat Lake, it starts now."

Notre Dame Cathedral Latin Baseball has seen much success during Head Coach Jim Clark's 17 year tenure, but year in and year out, before the program can concentrate or prepare for their (what seems to be annual) state playoff run, they first prepare to Beat Lake.

After sweeping Benedictine (Cleveland, OH) in two offensive routs, the JV Pride dropped two games in a row to St. Ed's (Lakewood, OH). With the roster back at full capacity, after a few hurlers were temporarily lost to the Varsity Spring Trip and various Easter vacations, the Lions now have their sights set on a two game series that has been circled on the proverbial calendar since the season's schedule was posted.

The Lions will host the Cougars for Game 1 (4/16) at 5:00 pm and then travel north to play Game 2 (4/17) on the road, with a start time of 5:00 pm as well.

For updates on Rivalry Week and the rest of the 2012 NDCL Baseball Season, follow the official Cameron Castro Twitter Feed, here.

Keep an eye out for these hash-tags: #NDCLJV #BeatLake #Pride #RivalryWeek

And also be sure to check out game results on the school's athletic website!