Well, just four games into the season and that’s how the Chagrin Falls baseball team feels. The Tigers have already had several players suffer injuries including some that will keep them out for the season.
The old saying goes, “If I didn’t have bad luck, I’d have no luck at all.”
Well, just four games into the season and that’s how the Chagrin Falls baseball team feels. The Tigers have already had several players suffer injuries including some that will keep them out for the season.
Chagrin Falls coach Michael Sweeney, who is now in his 25th season, still sees many talented players on his roster.
“We have been hit hard with injuries so far,” Sweeney said. “We have three players who could be out for the season who would be in the starting lineup. Two of them are definitely out for the season. This will force many of our younger players to have to grow up in a hurry. We may have to play many different combinations and pitch many different players before we find out who gives us the best chance for success.”
The Tigers have started out 1-3 after going 11-18 (3-7 in the Chagrin Valley Conference) last season.
“We have a couple of JV (junior varsity) kids playing,” Sweeney said. “We’re asking them not just to play, but to be a big part of the team. It’s tough. Have we gotten better? Yes, we have gotten better. We’re struggling to throw strikes, but we only had one error in our first three games. We’re struggling to hit. We’re a young team so it’s tough putting seven full innings together.”
Junior Jack Watson would be the Tigers’ number one starter, but is injured and will probably miss the whole season. Taking over as the first starter for the Tigers is senior Finn Johnson. Last season Johnon was 3-1 with a 2.86 ERA with 31 strikeouts and only seven walks in 29 innings. Johnson also catches and even plays shortstop as he drove in nine runs last season.
“Finn has made huge improvements each year as he does an outstanding job wherever we put him in the field,” Sweeney said. “He has become a tremendous all-around catcher. He does an excellent job of framing, blocking and throwing out runners.
“Finn is also an excellent shortstop. He has improved steadily as a hitter and as a pitcher.”
Following Johnson in the rotation will be senior Henry Myers, who went 2-1 last season with a 3.11 ERA. He struck out 19 covering 18 innings. Last season he made just two starts as he was used mainly as a reliever. He pitched in 10 games in relief.
Both Johnson and Myers have missed the first four games of the season due to injuries, but Sweeney expects them both to return very soon as sophomore Ash Martin is also probably out for the season.
“It’s not just people out for the season, it’s not just major (injuries),” Sweeney said. “We have a lot of minor ones too. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Other pitchers who should start for the Tigers are junior Eric Nemunaitis, sophomore Ethan Nielsen, freshman Rice Johnson and junior Joey Tenebria.
Sophomore Will Murray has led off while playing shortstop. He started slowly as a freshman last season, but came on strong as Murray finished with 10 RBIs and 10 stolen bases.
“Will has tremendous hands and is an outstanding shortstop,” Sweeney said.
Murray also made eight relief appearances last year as he earned a save with a 1.50 ERA.
Nemunaitis should start at second base while Rice Johnson plays third base and freshman Jack Hopkins plays first.
Batting third for Chagrin Falls is junior center fielder Henry Cimperman. Last season, Cimperman hit .292 with 26 hits, four doubles, scored 25 runs and stole 11 bases.
“Henry has turned into an excellent all-around player,” Sweeney said. “Henry is an excellent defensive center fielder. He gets great jumps on the ball and can go get it. He is probably our most consistent hitter. Henry has a chance to be one of the better hitters in the area.”
Joining Cimperman in the outfield will be senior right fielder Brandt Stevens and freshman left fielder Dylan Pribanic. Last season Brandt hit .250 with four doubles and 15 RBIs.
“Brandt is a relentless worker and has steadily gotten better and better,” Sweeney said. “Brandt has turned himself into an excellent outfielder with a strong arm and is a middle of the order hitter for us.”
Senior Nathaniel Newton will catch a lot for the Tigers, but Sweeney said he has the ability to play most of the positions on the field including pitching.
Fellow senior Mason Hart will be the primary DH for the Tigers and helps provide Chagrin Falls with power.
Providing depth for the Tigers will be sophomores Robbie Quinn (outfield) and Noah Schaefer (infield).
