by Berea, OH- While last year’s baseball game between Padua and Holy Name saw April showers, this contest saw sunny and 75 conditions as the Bruins won the day 9-7.
The Green Wave opened the game batting with Harrison Frank being elevated to the lead-off spot. Adam Humenik, who batted first at STVM yesterday, hit second and produced a one out single. Padua pitcher Nick Hofener settled in as he forced Dom Marchetta and Nick Nemeth to pop out on the following two at-bats.
In the home half of the inning, lead-off hitter Makhi Williams reached on a walk. Lucas Palange followed with a single. The Bruins had two on with one away following a strikeout from Yuri Bellina. Cleanup hitter Spencer Siedlecki smoked the ball into center field, but right to Nemeth. The ball was hit deep enough to advance Williams to give Padua the lead 1-0.
Hofener found his stride in the second as the Heidelberg commit retired the side in order. The Bruins once again looked dangerous as they loaded the bases. However, Marchetta was able to snatch a grounder from Palange and toss it to first to close out the inning unscathed.
With one out in the top of the third, Michael Oleksik smoked the ball into left field for a one-out triple. On the following at-bat, he would score as Frank grounded out. Padua made sure to rebound from the top half of the inning as they plated three runs. Trey Martin extended the Bruins’ lead to 3-1. Two at-bats later, Manny Lebron scored two runs on an RBI single. Heading into the fourth, Padua led 5-1.
Marchetta started the inning off with a single. He then used his speed to get into scoring position for Brendon Preisel to hit him home on an RBI single. Garrett Niemiec entered the game in the bottom of the fourth to pitch in place of Marchetta. He took no time to settle in as he retired Palange, Bellina, and Siedlecki in order.
Holy Name trailed 5-2 heading into the fifth and they needed a spark. Mikey Tworzydlo singled to start the inning. Frank would follow suit two at-bats later. After Humenik popped out, Niemiec reached on a walk. Cameron Ragazzo would enter the game to pinch run for him. On the following at-bat, Nemeth would hit an RBI single to cut the Bruin lead to two. Joey Ragone would follow in Niemiec’s footsteps and reach on a walk as well.
At Holy Name, the Preisel family is very well known. Currently Avery and Brendon Preisel attend HN. However, the argued most famous of the family Connor Priesel graduated in 2022. He now is a pitcher at The University of Miami in Oxford, OH. Connor had plenty of clutch hits for the Green and White throughout his tenure with the team. Today, it was Brendon’s turn. He would hit a two out two RBI single into right center, giving HN the lead 6-5. This led to Padua calling in sophomore Chase Bart to finish the inning. He got the job done quick as he forced Russell Masetta to pop out on his first pitch.
After allowing four runs in the top half of the inning, the Bruins turned around and scored four runs of their own. RBIs came from Williams and Bellina while one run scored on a passed ball and another on a balk. Heading into the sixth, Padua lead 9-6.
Williams would relieve Bart to begin the sixth inning and was tasked with closing the game out. Tworzydlo kicked off the sixth with a single on the first pitch he saw. However, Williams settled in and struck out Josh Kell. Frank would reach on a fielder’s choice error, but Humenik and Marchetta could not get on base. Ragone came on to pitch for HN in the bottom half of the frame. While walking two batters, he still pitched well enough to keep the Green Wave within three.
Holy Name battled in the top of the seventh. Nemeth walked to get the ball rolling while Ragone doubled. Williams then had to take on Preisel. He did his job as he got the sophomore to strikeout swinging. Ragazzo would then pinch-hit for Masetta and was expected to bunt. However, he swung at the first pitch he saw. While he grounded out, Ragazzo did what was expected of him as Nemeth scored. Unfortunately for HN, Tworzydlo struck out to end the game as Padua hung on to win 9-7.
One of the best rivalries in all Northeast Ohio produced yet another classic this afternoon. Both teams played great baseball with minimal rest. HN had a 2:30 PM first pitch yesterday while the Bruins began their Saturday contest shortly after 5PM. League play awaits both sides tomorrow afternoon as the Green and White travel to Lakewood while Padua hosts Lake Catholic.
Holy Name Key Players
#5 Mikey Tworzydlo: 2-4, 2 Singles
#17 Michael Oleksik: 1-2, Triple
#18 Brendon Preisel: 2-4, 2 Singles, 3 RBI
Padua Key Players
#11 Lucas Palange: 1-3, Single, Walk
#17 Mahki Williams: 2-4, 2 Singles, RBI, SB, Walk, 2 IP, 3 K’s, 1 ER, 2 H
#23 Yuri Bellina: 1-2, Single, 2 SB, RBI, HBP
Player of the Game: Mahki Williams
