By Chris Check
Northeast Ohio Scout

Cincinnati St. Xavier ran into a buzz saw of an offense Saturday in the first game of the Ohio Jesuit Tournament.  Walsh pounded out 13 hits including 3 home runs in a mercy rule shortened 12-2 victory.

St. Xavier took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when senior leadoff centerfielder Chris Daugherty singled, moved to second and third on a passed ball and wild pitch, then scored on junior shortstop Eric Jaun’s sacrifice fly to right field. The Bombers then pushed it 2-0 when sophomore right fielder singled in sophomore left fielder Noah Merhle in the top of the second inning.

Walsh responded by taking a 3-2 lead on a three-run homer off the bat of junior first baseman Dominic Mittiga, scoring junior pitcher Ryan Feltner (Ohio State recruit) and catcher Conner Regan, both who single sharply.  The Warriors added another run in the bottom of the third on a solo shot by sophomore right fielder Dominic Canzone to right center field.  Meanwhile, Feltner was settling in on the mound shutting down St. Xavier over the next two innings.

The Warriors’ big fourth inning put the game out reach quickly as a one out rally produced seven runs.  The rush to the bat rack started with Mittiga’s second hit of the day followed by senior third baseman Kyle Holdsworth’s (Ashland recruit) RBI double. Junior shortstop Riley Minorik walked and left fielder Nick DeLeone doubled in two runs, senior Ohio State Recruit Nate Romans singled, and junior center fielder Blake Jenkins's connected on a big three run home run. Later, Canzone collected his second hit of the day and his pinch runner Gino Sassono scored on a passed ball.

The knockout blow came the very next inning as Mittiga eventually scored on pinch hitter Nick Rutherford’s bases loaded single to end the game.  Junior Ryan Feltner got the win with four innings of work as senior left- handed pitcher Trevor Ray (Ohio Wesleyan recruit) finished the game on the mound with a scoreless inning.

To view scouting notes about games across Ohio, please visit the Ohio High School Scouting Blog. The blog gets updated throughout the week.

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LEADERS

ST. XAVIER

Chris Daugherty, 3 H, 1 R

Noah Merhle, 1 H, 1 R

JP Bitzenhofer, 1 H, 1 RBI

WALSH JESUIT

Nick DeLeone, 1 H, 1 R, 2 RBI, 2B

Nate Romans, 2 H, 1 R

Blake Jenkins, 1 H, 1 R, 1 RBI, HR

Ryan Feltner, 1 H, 1 R, 4IP, 4H, 3K

Conner Regan, 2 H, 1 R, 1 RBI

Dominic Mittiga, 2 H, 3 R, 3 RBI

Kyle Holdsworth, 1 H, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2B