If anyone doubted that Jacob Ray was the top hitter in City League baseball this season, his work at the plate in yesterday's league playoff semifinal served as proof in his favor.
Perhaps the only thing that prevented the St. John's Jesuit senior shortstop and cleanup batter from hitting for the cycle in a 9-2 win over Whitmer was that he didn't get a fourth at-bat.
After hitting the fence in left-center with both a first-inning double and a fourth-inning triple, Ray slammed a two-run homer to spark St. John's five-run sixth at Scott Park.
The top-seeded Titans (24-3, 11-0) advance to meet Central Catholic in today's noon championship game at Scott Park. The second-seeded Irish (18-6, 10-1) reached the final for the third straight year by beating Clay 15-5 by mercy rule in six innings in yesterday's second semifinal.
Central won the CL championship in 2008 and lost to Clay in last year's final. The Titans' last City title came in 2004.
Ray is hitting .534 (39-for-73) with six home runs and 37 RBIs, ranking him No. 1 in the City League in all three categories.
"I was hoping I got another chance," Ray said of the near cycle, "but I'll take what I got any day.
"How you practice is how you play, and I had a good batting practice. Then you come out and try your hardest, and good things happen. Right now I'm seeing the ball really well."
In the first inning of the first semifinal, Ray capitalized on a second chance to put the Titans up 1-0. After Panther catcher Scott Pfeiffer was unable to catch his high foul pop-up near the plate, Ray slammed his double to score Jesse Adams from third.
Whitmer (12-15) evened things in the second when Jack Linch led off with a double past Adams in center and scored on Chris Reaper's single to right.
The Titans - who were stunned by an 8-6 upset by Bowsher in the Division I sectional finals - plated the go-ahead run in the fourth inning off Whitmer starter Tyler Sanders.
Ray scored after his triple via Eric Croak's sacrifice fly for a 2-1 lead.
In the fifth, Panther reliever Brent Greenwood walked Jay O'Bryant, yielded a bloop double to Adams, and both runners scored on wild pitches.
Panther pinch-hitter Wayde Bockert tripled home Reaper to get Whitmer within 4-2 in the top of the sixth before the Titans blew things open in the bottom of that inning.
Ray's 350-foot drive to left made it a 6-2 Titan lead.
"Before he hit that ball out of the park, he missed a bunt sign," Titans coach D.J. Eckhart said. "I hope he misses the next bunt sign. He's been hitting incredible all year long. Hopefully it continues one more day."
Sophomore pitcher Dan McKinney (8-0) added a double, Josh Holzemer a triple, and O'Bryant a two-run double in the decisive frame.
"That really changed the complexion of the game," Whitmer coach Gary O'Connor said of the wild pitches. "It changed how [Greenwood] tried throwing.
"Instead of keeping it down, he tried bringing it up [after the wild pitches]. When you leave it up for St. John's, they're going to smack the ball off the fence like they did."
McKinney (8-0) scattered seven hits and walked four.
In the second semifinal, Central mounted a 6-2 lead after five innings, halted a Clay rally, then pounced on the Eagles.
Clay's momentum, which got them within 6-4 on four singles and a walk, turned on one batted ball from Ross Achter.
What looked destined to become a two-run single was instead gloved by diving Central second baseman Nik Tschantz. He flipped to shortstop Kyle Burkhardt, whose throw completed the double play. Jeremy Spalding got Greg Shanks on a fly to right to prevent further damage.
"They were two huge plays for us in the game," Central coach Jeff Mielcarek said. "One in the first inning by [diving third baseman] Drew Lehman to stop a potential inning that we created on our own, and certainly Nick and Kyle turning the [sixth inning] double play."
Central then busted loose for nine runs on seven hits to end things an inning early. Burkhardt delivered a two-run double to make it 12-5, and Kenny Wise, Troy Toland, Tyler Trame, Matt Cochell, Tschantz, and Drew Lehman all picked up singles during the uprising.
"I'm amazed at these guys," Mielcarek said. "They have not quit all year. We've had so much adversity this season. Even though we had a lead, [Clay] was knocking on the door, and we just kept battling. I'm very proud.
"It's just fun to be there [in CL final]. Every year's a different year with a new group, and I'm happy for these guys."
The Eagles' five pitchers in the game surrendered 13 hits and seven walks, hit one batter, and the Clay defense added five errors.
Contact Steve Junga at:
sjunga@theblade.com
or 419-724-6461.
First Published May 31, 2010, 10:58 a.m.
