The Huskies made a lot of noise in the CVC Valley Division a season ago.
The Huskies made a lot of noise in the CVC Valley Division a season ago.
With early wins against Kirtland and defending CVC champions Edgewood, they started the season off strong and would eventually finish 12-8 overall and 8-4 in the CVC, good for a third place finish in their conference.
Today’s team returns eight letterwinners, including 1st Team All-Conference honoree Troy Domen, 2nd Team All-Conference Logan Strever, and honorable mention honorees Carter Tucker and Jackson Puruczky.
With those eight returners, first-year head coach Dan Wolf has a great opportunity to shake things up again in the conference. Wolf comes to Cardinal after spending some time with the Skippers of Fairport Harding.
Despite the departure of pitcher Jake Bean, who now represents the Golden Flashes at Kent State University, the Huskies still have plenty of talent left on the field. Pitchers like Troy Domen, Jackson Puruczky, Logan Strever, Carter Tucker and Austin Jones will all find time on the mound.
Depending on who gets the start, the Huskies defense could look a little different for each game.
Behind the plate could be four-year letterwinner Jackson Puruczky and second-year winner Hunter Gresch. Both spent time catching for the Huskies’ plethora of pitchers. Gresch posted a .308 batting average.
Around the field, junior Matt Hissa and Domen will hold down the middle infield positions of second base and shortstop, respectively. Hissa recorded a .800 fielding percentage a season ago and made his appearance in 19 games. Domen produced a .443 batting average, recording 31 hits and 15 RBIs in 79 plate appearances.
Over at third base, the Huskies will see a number of athletes including senior Logan Mullet and junior Carter Tucker. The junior could also see some moments at shortstop. At the other hot corner, the Huskies have Austin Jones or Jackson Puruczky to represent first base. Puruczky fielded at a team-best 98.4 percent, posting just three errors in 19 games.
Logan Strever, Chuck Soltis and Reese Soltis will all represent the outfield. Strever posted a .368 batting average, recorded 21 hits and drove in 14 RBIs. Junior Zack Caldwell will also represent the outfield.
Logan Mullet, who made an impact on the football field, will look to carry that same talent over to the baseball field now. Junior Nicholi McDaniel could also see playing time, as could sophomores Blake Strever and Talon Duncan in the outfield and at the catcher positions, respectively.
Freshmen Evan Jones, Jackson Plonske, Chance Molnar and Jaiden Fix also join this season’s squad.
Domen opened on the season hill against the LaBrae Vikings on a brisk, sunny day.
After it looked like he would get out of a two-out, two -on situation in the first inning of a 5-0 LaBrae win, an infield miscue cost him an unearned run.
With two out in the bottom of the first frame, Domen drilled a sharp liner to right for a hit, but Hunter Gresch sent a low liner to left that was caught at the knee by the left fielder to end the inning.
In the second frame, a walk and wild pitch on a strikeout with one out gave the Vikings runners at the corners. A fly ball tallied one run, and a home run down the left field line that rattled the dugout on the softball field tallied two more, and the Vikings added another unearned run in the fourth for the final scoring of the day.
The factor Coach Wolf alluded to came into play in the third and sixth innings for the Huskies.
With two out in the third frame, leadoff man Reese Soltis beat out a bouncer to the hole in shortstop for a single. Charles Soltis sent a soft liner to center that fell in, and Domen beat out a soft bouncer between shortstop and second base to load the bases with two out.
Gresch sent a screaming line drive to left center, but the left fielder, looking directly into the sun, stayed with the ball for the final out.
The Huskies loaded the bases again in the sixth, and saw a golden opportunity to score come up short, again showing Coach Wolf’s concern about the bats.
Gresch drilled a one out single to lef field, Puruczky followed with a drive to right center that fell in, but Gresch was thrown out at third on a perfect relay for the second out. Carter Tucker sent a sharp grounder into left for a single, junior Austin Jones drew a walk to load he bags again, but a strikeout ended the threat.
Charles Soltis and Domen each had a pair of hits for the Huskies, but nobody could come up with the clutch hit needed.
Domen and Puruczky combined to fan 14 Vikings, it was clear that the Huskies will have some solid pitching this season.
Reese Soltis lead off the lineup while in left field, Charles Soltis was in right, Domen was on the hill, and Gresch was behind the plate. Puruczky started at first base, Tucker played at third, Blake Strever was the shortstop, Zach Caldwell was in centerfield, and Matt Hissa started at second base.
The rest of the Cardinal team includes Jaiden Fix, Evan Jones, Logan Mullet, Talon Duncan, Jackson Plonske, and Nicholia McDaniel.
