Bang the drum: St. Vincent-St. Mary defeats Archbishop Hoban 5-2 in crosstown baseball rivalry
St. Vincent-St. Mary third baseman Zack Kurkey and catcher Daniel Krabill celebrate after STVM defeated Archbishop Hoban 5-2 Friday night at Canal Park in Akron. (Photo: Ryan Isley)
AKRON, Ohio – AKRON, Ohio – The sound of a beating drum at Canal Park on Friday night could probably be heard at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School a mile away as the Fighting Irish student section sat in pounded the drum during the most crucial moments of STVM’s 5-2 win over crosstown rival Archbishop Hoban.
STVM starting pitcher Andrew Reynolds held the Knights offense at bay, allowing just one hit in the first six innings, giving his offense a chance to make something happen.
“I was trying to go through my routine and throw strikes,” Reynolds said. I wanted to give my guys a chance to go get some runs and we got it done. It was awesome.”
The Fighting Irish got the scoring started in the second inning when Shane Andrewszyk got a two-out single, stole second and took third on an error. Aidan Zwisler came up behind him and delivered an RBI single.
They then added a run in the third inning when catcher Daniel Krabill drove in Max Milkovich with an RBI single to make it 2-0 after Milkovich had led off the inning with a single.
“I was just looking to put the ball in play. I had a guy on third so I knew anything in play would score a run.”
STVM extended the lead with three more runs in the fourth inning off Vanderbilt commit Noah LaFine.
Tyler Slone led the inning off by getting hit in the head with a pitch, Nick Tura walked and then Adamczyk got hit above the ribs with a pitch to load the bases.
Slone scored on a wild pitch and Tura and Adamczyk both scored on a bunt single to extend the lead to 5-0.
It was during the three-run fourth inning that the STVM student section really started to come to life.
“The energy was just crazy,” Adamczyk said. “We fed off the fans, that’s why we love this game so much because the fans are going to be here. They bring that drum that we love, and it fuels us.”
Hoban put something together in the seventh inning against Reynolds by loading the bases with one out as Nate Shimmel singled, Masud Jennings reached on an error and Tanner Carson singled.
Colin Coyne drew a bases loaded walk and Parker Falkenstein had an RBI groundout to cut the STVM lead to 5-2 with two outs but Reynolds retired the next batter on a flyout to end the game.
Reynolds went the distance and allowed two runs on three hits, struck out a pair and walked a pair.
“We really got in a rhythm after the first inning,” Krabill said. “He worked his fastball and slider and worked the corners inside and outside. Andrew did a great job, and all the credit goes to him.”
