A tale of two dugouts: St. Ignatius players enjoy their time from the first base dugout while St. Edward sophomore Scott Moviel is in anguish from the umpire’s quick trigger. (Photos by Larry Bennet)

Rivalry moves to the Majors
By Zachary Dzurick
Sports
Published May 11, 2005

Click here for an archive of West Life Sports Editor Zachary Dzurick's "Red Right 88" weekly columns.

Last year at the Cleveland Indians Hardball Classic, St. Ignatius pitcher Jeremy Farrell mastered St. Edward for six innings, shutting out the Eagles on one hit. But the Eagle bats awoke in the seventh as St. Edward rallied for the win.

This year it was Westlake native Chris Rigo who confused the Eagle batters. The senior retired nine Eagles in a row at one point and the Wildcats took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the fifth. Again, St. Edward rallied with two in the fifth and one in the sixth. But this year St. Ignatius answered both rallies with ones of their own, winning the game 5-3.

Saint Ignatius revenged last season’s defeat at the Jake to Saint Edward. (Photo by Larry Bennet)

Rigo earned the win surrendering seven hits and striking out four in six innings. Sophomore Derek Dietrich saved the game in more ways than one. After senior Kevin Murphy singled to lead off the top of the seventh, St. Edward pitcher Logan Morrow erased him by coaxing Farrell to hit into a double play. Dietrich then lined a two-out double to center. After a questionable fielding play gave junior Kevin Kumazec an infield single, junior Kevin Haas lifted a lazy fly ball to right field. The ball was dropped allowing two runs to score. Dietrich then closed out the game by striking out three of the four batters he faced in the bottom of the inning.

The game was not without controversy. Playing at Jacobs Field, one could wonder about the nerves of the players and coaches but it was the umpires who went a little major league in their emotions.

Moviel started the game for St. Edward. With one on and two outs, he plunked Dietrich in the top of the first. In the bottom half of the inning, Rigo retired the first two hitters and then hit St. Edward shortstop Logan Hronis. No harm, no foul. Neither batter was in any danger of injury. Yet, the umpire warned both coaches.

Each pitcher worked out of jams in both of the first two innings as both teams stranded four runners. Murphy, the Wildcat's number two hitter, led off the third inning. Moviel hit him with a fastball. With the heart of the Wildcat line-up on the way, there was no way Moviel was trying to hit Murphy. Everyone in the park knew it but the home plate umpire who tossed Moviel instantly and then tossed Eagle coach John Weyland in the ensuing argument. Even St. Ignatius coach Brad Ganor was disappointed that Moviel was ejected.

"I think they were just trying to pitch inside," Ganor said. "It is disappointing. You are at Jacobs Field, they are not going to hit a guy and put him on with our three and four hitters coming up. To toss a kid out in this game is not fair. The umpire took away our ability to throw inside and that changes the game. It is disappointing because I would have liked to seen Moviel go a little bit further.

You can double that emotion for the St. Edward side.

"We have played and scouted Ignatius many times," Weyland said. "We believe their hitters crowd the plate and I preach that we have to pitch inside. We hit their guy in the first inning and when they hit our guy in the bottom of the inning, I didn't complain, I was happy to have a base runner. But he gave warnings. If there was going to be a warning, it should have been after Scott accidentally hit the second guy. To think we are trying to injure another high school player is preposterous."

"I was not trying to hit him," Moviel said. "This is Jacobs Field. Why would I want to end the moment? I want to savor the moment. I was mad at myself for hitting him. That is a free base."

Logan Morrow pitched five innings in relief of Moviel. He allowed seven hits and just one earned run. He was a tough luck loser because of mistakes in the field.

Ganor said last year's late collapse didn't enter into his mind. He admitted things looked tough after Farrell hit into a double play but Dietrich has been stepping up all season.

"We tried to stay even keel," Ganor said. "Derek has been clutch all year. He is an outstanding hitter and then we got a lucky play in right. Derek has the seventh in a close game every time. We have confidence in him."

"We are always fighting back," Dietrich said. "I knew I could get a hit and the guys behind me could get a hit. I love the pressure. I like performing and getting the job done. It is amazing to play here at the Jake."

Rigo was appreciative of Dietrich getting the big hit and finishing up the seventh.

"Derek has been huge all year," Rigo said. "It was the right hit at the right time. Then to close it, Derek throws hard and throws a lot of strikes."

Rigo raised his record to 6-0 on the season. He agreed there was no animosity between the rivals and the hit batsmen were all incidental, but taking the rivalry to a major league stage was something special.

"It is one of the best feelings ever playing baseball against your biggest rivals at Jacobs Field."