Holy Cross young but talented

Indians have to develop pitching staff

BY TOM RAMSTETTER | [email protected]

 

The Holy Cross baseball team has some success to build on in 2008.

Before a heartbreaking 12-8 loss to end last season, the Indians had surged to a 21-10 record behind a talented senior class, led by standout left-handed pitcher Jimmy Ryan.

Ryan finished the regular season with a 6-1 record, a 1.45 ERA and 75 strikeouts in 53 innings

However, Holy Cross fell to 35th District rival Covington Catholic in the first round of the district tournament with Ryan on the mound. Ryan couldn't hold an early 7-3 lead and the Indians' season ended in disappointing fashion.

Without Ryan, Holy Cross will field a young yet hungry team intent on enjoying even more success.

"We will be young and lack a great amount of varsity experience, having graduated 10 seniors," said coach Mike Holtz. "With the graduation of that group, we lost our top three pitchers, and the bulk of our offensive production."

Also gone from the rotation are Joe Sullivan, Scott Baker and Matt Abeling, each of whom also played in the field. Ryan and Sullivan were outfielders. Baker and Abeling were infielders.

"With that said, we have a solid group of players who are hungry to continue the momentum of the departed Class of 2007," Holtz said.

The top returning pitcher is sophomore Andy Roenker, who posted a 4-4 record in 2007 with a 2.04 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 31 innings.

"A lot of it is going to fall on me and Ryan Stewart," Roenker said. "My role is to throw as many strikes as I can and help the team that way. I've been working on improving my breaking ball. I've been throwing since December. Somebody's going to have to step up, so it might as well be my time."

Roenker said he and Stewart, a junior, are the only two pitchers who return with varsity starting experience.

Last season, Stewart was 0-2 with a 5.86 ERA. He batted .275.

"We need to develop depth in our pitching staff," Holtz said. "We return two pitchers from a staff that had an ERA of 2.76. Roenker and Stewart will be counted on to lead the young staff."

Holtz said the Indians will be strong defensively, and that should help his novice pitching staff.

The Indians' top offensive returner is senior outfielder Alex Weber, who hit .286 in 2007. Other than Weber, the Indians will be looking for production from everybody on the roster.

"Last year, we had a lot of power hitters," Roenker said of the lineup. "This year, we have a lot of batting-average hitters. We have a lot of speed. Everybody's job is to get on base."

Roenker said the loss to CovCath in the district tournament is still fresh in the minds of his players.

"Our main goal this year is we want to get past CovCath and Beechwood," Roenker said. "We definitely have a tough district. Our goal is to get by both of them this year."

Holy Cross opens against visiting Dixie Heights on March 24 at 5 p.m.

Congrats to Andy, who is a nice young man and a hard worker on the diamond. He will have some big successes on the mound during his high school career.