Hanover Central defies odds, beats Morgan Twp 3-1, despite 5 errors

Team (Record) / Inning	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Morgan Township (3-7)	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	3	3
Hanover Central (3-4)	1	0	0	2	0	0	-	3	2	5

4-24-2003 in Cedar Lake - sunny, 51 degrees
WP - Jon Radosevich (3-1) CG No. 2, 7Ks, 0 walks
LP - Troy Ditoro (1-2) CG No. 2, 9K, 0 walks

Morgan Township - 3 singles, 3 walks
Brian Melton (MT) Single, run scored

Hanover Central - HR, single, HBP, 2 stolen bases
Todd Szayni (HC) HR, single, RBI, HBP

CEDAR LAKE (4-24-2003) If you get two hits and make five errors, you aren't supposed to win. That's no secret. But Hanover's got something. And while, right now, it's not much more than a feeling, Hanover Central seems to ready, willing and almost able to make a run at the Porter County Conference (PCC) championship.

"It's high school baseball," said HC coach Ron Szayni. "Any day we can look good. Any day we can look like we've never been on the field before in our lives."

The Wildcats (3-4) did a little more of the former than the latter in 50-degree weather Thursday out west of their school to record their first PCC win of the young season.

Again, it was the pitching of senior Jon Radosevich and the hitting of senior Todd Szayni that carried Hanover on a day which featured more errors than base hits.

"We've got a real good team," said Todd Szayni, who was supposed to give HC a 1-2 mound punch this spring until the younger Szayni hurt his shoulder. "When Billy (Rickey) gets back and healthy and when my arm's good, I think we're going to be pretty good."

Hanover is pretty good right now when Radosevich pitches. The slim right-hander put outstanding games back to back this month. After a 12-strikeout, no-hit 8-1 win over River Forest on April 16, the 6-foot curveballer tossed a seven strikeout, three-hitter against Morgan.

"The last time we were even close to having a winning record was our sophomore year," Radosevich said. "Yeah, it would be a big deal."

Hanover got a first inning run after Szayni's infield hit. The four-year varsity player stole second, broke for third when Morgan pitcher Troy Ditoro forgot to hold him close and scored when Ditoro's hurried throw to third got past third baseman Riley Chowning.

In the fourth inning, Szayni crackled a 375-foot home run to left center. An infield error, a balk and two wild pitches made the score 3-0.

Morgan rallied (with help) when Brian Melton's base hit got past HC left fielder Adam Suarez and Brooks Bucher's ground ball got past Wildcat shortstop Luke Besse. But Radosevich struck out Troy Ditoro and got Cory Molchan on a first pitch ground ball to shortstop to end the sixth inning. The Cherokees went down in order in the seventh against Radosevich, who threw just 80 pitches.

"Once they realize that the curve ball's getting in there," said coach Szayni. "then anything he throws on that first pitch they'll be swinging. He's usually around the plate. He didn't walk anybody. It was 78-80 pitches last time (against River Forest.) If we'd make some plays behind him it would be even less. But I've got people playing in places they don't normally play."

Morgan coach Nick Ditoro confirmed that, "We told them to look for the first pitch fastball," he said. "We'd been batting .397 as a team in our first nine games. But their kid (Radosevich) pitched a good game. He shut us down. They had one earned run and two hits. You can't ask for much more than that."

Morgan was without catcher Chris Snow, who will miss the rest of the season with a broken leg he suffered against Portage. The two wild pitches that plated the third Hanover run might not have happened if Snow had played.

"I've got a bunch of juniors out there" said Morgan coach Nick Ditoro, "and they're fine. We're not giving up on anything. This is just our first PCC loss."

CAT NOTES: Todd Szayni has not pitched for three weeks due to an injured shoulder.

"The doctor said don't pitch for a week," said Szayni, of his checkup last week. "He gave me some medicine to stop the inflammation in my shoulder. I thought I could go in today."

Luke Besse, who was injured in week one against Lowell, returned to the lineup at shortstop. With Larry Pempek, who had been hurt, coming back to catch, Todd Szayni moved to first base.

Senior Jeremy Spencer moved into the leadoff spot, which was fitting since left fielder Spencer running into the fence, and centerfielder Rickey trying to avoid colliding with him, cause Rickey to hurt his knee. Spencer wished that hadn't happened for more than one reason.

"I told Billy, now I have to bat leadoff," Jeremy said, "And I hate to bat leadoff."

Morgan drew Washington Township in the quarterfinals of the Porter County Conference (PCC) tournament. Hanover Central drew Wheeler. Hanover Central coach Ron Szayni has said that this, his sixth season, would be his last year. That is not a sure thing, though.

"I don't know. I was pretty sure I was (leaving). But the juniors have been talking to me, asking me if I would stay around," Szayni reported after the win over Morgan. "I don't know. I might. But that would be it."

Szayni says that there is a window of opportunity for the Wildcats to end Boone's domination of PCC play. "This would have to be it," he said. "Talent-wise this is the best we've been since I've been here."

2003 HANOVER CENTRAL (3-4, 1-1)

Ron Szayni (6th year) 2002: 9-18-1 - 2001: 9-13

4-11 -   2-12 (5 innings) at Lowell (8-3)
4-12 - 10-5 Gavit (2-5)
4-15 -   0-2 at Clark (7-2)
4-16 - 8-1 River Forest (3-6)
4-17 -   5-18 Wheeler (6-3)
4-21 - 9-11 WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP (4-3)
4-24 - 3-1 MORGAN TOWNSHIP (3-7)
4-26 - 16-6, 4-2 Beecher (dbl header)

4-28 (M) at BOONE GROVE- 4:30 p.m.
4-29 (Tu) Hammond - 4:30 p.m.

5-1 (Th) Gary West Side - 4:30 p.m.
5-5 (M) at South Newton - 4:30 p.m.
5-6 (Tu) at Wirt - 4:30 p.m.
5-8 (Th) at East Chicago - 4:30 p.m.
5-9 (F) KOUTS - 4:15 p.m.
5-12 (M) at HEBRON - 4:30 p.m.
5-13 (Tu) Calumet - 4:30 p.m.
5-14 (W) LaCROSSE - 4:45 p.m.
5-15 (Th) at Morton - 4:30 p.m.
5-19 (M) at North Newton - 4:30 p.m.
5-20 (Tu) Lew Wallace - 4:30 p.m.
5-21 (W) at WHEELER - 4:15 p.m.

PCC Tournament
5-24 (S) quarterfinals - (TBA)
5-26 (M) semifinals - 4:30 p.m.
5-28 (W) PCC championship - 4:30 p.m.

5-29 (Th) at Lake Station - 4:30 p.m.
5-30 (F) Gary Roosevelt - 4:30 p.m.

Lake Station (2A) Sectional
6-2 (M) quarterfinals (TBA)
6-5 (S) Semifinals (morning)
6-6 (S) Championship (afternoon)

Jimtown (2A) Regional
6-13 (S) semifinals (morning)
6-13 (S) championship (night)