HOOVER BASEBALL NEWSLETTER – FEBRUARY 2018
Welcome back Hoover baseball fans! The calendar has turned to February and the 2018 season officially starts on February 19th with tryouts and subsequent practices. Meet the Team Night is scheduled for March 8th. Coach Jeff Hite, in his 14th season, looks to replace 11 graduating seniors from last year’s team. Hoover’s 2018 regular season schedule is posted on and
Southern Trip Tradition Renewed – Final arrangements are underway for Hoover’s baseball trip to the Mingo Bay Classic in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (March 25-29). The Vikings will play four games versus Rock Ridge (VA), South County (VA), Yorktown (VA) and one additional game yet to be scheduled. Coach Hite is hoping this trip allows his 2018 team a chance to build chemistry early and get much needed game experience in better weather than is customary in Northeast Ohio. This season’s trip revitalizes regular southern trips to Floridathat occurred during Coach Mel Long’s era ending with his retirement in 2004. Previous to that, Coach Gordon Knisely scheduled a spring trip in 1975 and took his team to the northern panhandle of West Virginia. Unfortunately, rain, cold and underclassmen mischief cut the trip short to just two days and the team didn’t play any games.
Alumni Update – February signals the start of college baseball seasons and eight former Vikings are currently pursuing college baseball careers. They include Tony Iero (Ohio University), Will Haueter (Northern Kentucky), Sam Russo (Butler), Tyler Drabick (Kent State), Cameron Mayle (John Carroll), Nick Binnie (Cornell), Nathan Fox (Ashland) and Kevin Scheppler (Walsh).
Family Connection – The Sturznickel brothers, Tim and Mike, share something in common that likely will never be duplicated again. Older brother Tim was part of the 1992 team that made it to Final Four losing in the state final game at Ohio State’s Trautman Field to Defiance. Mike was a member of the 1999 Final Four team that lost a tough 4-3 contest to nearby Cuyahoga Falls in the state semi-final game played at Canton’s Munson Stadium.
Special 1957 Season Pitching – The final season as NoCaHi Vikings featured an amazing pitching staff of four pitchers each pitching a one-hitter. John Erskine tossed his one-hitter against Dover but unfortunately lost the game 4-3. Jim Kindy accomplished the feat by blanking Hartville 17-0. Bob Berrodin pitched his one-hitter in a classic 1-0 victory over rival Jackson. Dale Stevens was the fourth hurler with a one-hitter against Middlebranch in a 5-0 win.
Name Recognition – Jeff Myers received some special recognition just prior to his graduation from Hoover in 1965. His nephew born June 8th was named Jeffrey Allen in honor of his uncle’s successful career as pitcher and first baseman for the Vikings.
Lack Of Support – In most instances, if a starting pitcher only gives up five hits, the outing is positive. Such was not the case for James Yonally at Cook Park on April 24, 1946. Yonally was the losing pitcher in a 17-0 loss to Canton McKinley. The Vikings defense committed a whopping 11 errors in the game and mustered only four harmless singles.
With Deepest Sympathy – The Vikings baseball family mourns the passing of Richard Seemann, a member of the NoCaHi teams of 1946-1948. Condolences go out to the Seemann family.
As always, Go Vikings!
Craig Haueter (), (330) 936-1695