Euclid plays host to CABA High School World Series - they call it the "greatest show on dirt"
For the 24th year in a row, Euclid will be the primary host city for the Continental Amateur Baseball Association’s (C.A.B.A.) annual classic – the High School “World Series” -- beginning July 23 at Euclid’s Memorial Park.
The tournament, which in the past has showcased dozens of talented young players who later went on to fame and fortune with major league teams, will feature about 50 teams from 12 different states across the eastern and mid-west United States. Each team will play six games in a round-robin format over the first three days, with the top 16 advancing to a double-elimination playoff that will determine the overall champion.
Round-robin action will include games at 8 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m., and “under the lights” at 8 p.m. at Paul Serra Field, behind Euclid City Hall. The tournament will follow a similar schedule for games played at Kurt Stanic Field, next to Euclid High School, except there will be no 8 p.m. games since the field isn’t lighted. Memorial Park Diamond No. 4 will also host round-robin games, as will ballparks at Richmond Heights, Eastlake North, Willoughby South, Mentor, Lake Catholic, Ravenna, Kenston and Kent State University.
The Bergen Beach squad from Brooklyn, N.Y., is expected to bring another “powerhouse” team, says Euclid’s Ed Carpenter, national director of the C.A.B.A. High School World Series. “And I think the Miami team will definitely be a contender.”
The Boys from Brooklyn—whose contingents in the past have featured such players as Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Damon, Josh Hamilton, and current Cleveland Indians outfielder Shelley Duncan—have won the tournament 15 times in the past 21 years. The defending champions, however, are the Top Tier Americans from Lake Forest, Ill.
Tickets for the World Series are $6 per game. However, die-hard baseball fans can purchase a $30 pass that will get them into any of the 160 games to be played at 10 different locations. Seniors (over 60) and kids under 12 will be admitted free.
Although the tournament schedule hadn’t been finalized as of the Observer’s press deadline, Carpenter said the Euclid team’s first two games would likely be played at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. on July 23, followed by Saturday games at 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. And there is a distinct possibility that Euclid’s night-time opponents would be none other than Brooklyn and Miami.
The Euclid squad, representing American Legion Post 343, will include a nucleus of youngsters who played for the Euclid Panthers’ summer-league team—primarily players expected to compete on next year’s high school varsity. That team, which plays in both the Elmer Flick high school league and an American Legion league, has been coached by Norb Hongosh and is often referred to as the Euclid Admirals.
Among the top players on the relatively young summer team are Josh Roberts (P-3B) and Randy Wente (P-SS) who will be seniors at Euclid High next year. Juniors-to-be include: Vinnie Klun (P-SS), Johnny Law (P-OF), Tony Jelenic (P-1B), and Kirk Rosenlund (C-OF). One of the team’s rising stars is Johnny Abrams (P-OF), who played for the Panthers as a freshman last spring. “He has a passion for the game,” says Coach Hongosh.
The top pitchers on the squad have been Vinnie Klun and Johnny Law. “They’ve lost a couple of heartbreakers,” the coach notes, “but they’ve kept us in a lot of games.” Among those making an impact at the plate have been Kirk Rosenlund (batting over .400), Josh Roberts, and Vinnie Klun.
This is Hongosh’s first year as summer team coach and one reason he’s enjoying the role is that his son, Norbie, is on the squad. “It’s been an opportunity to spend some good quality time with my son,” the coach notes. Norbie, who will be a senior at St. Ignatius in the fall, is a versatile ballplayer who can handle any infield position and has also played center field.
For the C.A.B.A. World Series, the Euclid roster will be bolstered by recruiting a number of top players from other area high school teams, as well as bringing back three Euclid High players who graduated this past spring—Matt Palko, Doug Koller, and Tommy Price. Palko earned co-MVP honors for his Lake Erie League play last season.
Luke Smrdel, an assistant coach for the Euclid High Panthers who will serve as an assistant for the World Series squad, describes the last-minute recruiting strategy this way: “We’re trying to build up the team’s pitching staff as much as we can,” he explains, “and we also want to strengthen the corner infield and catcher positions.”
As of last week, players committed to joining the Euclid squad for the World Series included: Jake Turner (Brush High), Tim Zele (Benedictine), Andrew Hyrn (St. Ignatius), and four players from Mayfield High: Larry Pinto, Rey Guerrini, Christian Verde, and Rob Razante. Discussions were also under way with two players from Solon and one from Lorain Southview.
Brian Leroy, the current Panther head coach, will step in as head coach for the World Series team. In addition to Smrdel, Mike Fording will also serve as an assistant coach.
Just about everyone connected with the Euclid team insists that a major goal this year will be to survive the round-robin action and qualify for the double-elimination championship playoff. Last summer, the local team posted a disappointing 0-6 record in round-robin play.
“This year, I’d like to see our kids go as deep into the tournament as possible,” says Hongosh, who played for Euclid High from 1974 to 1976. “It would be good for Euclid baseball. If the kids come to play, they could do it.”
Assuming the weather cooperates, the double-elimination round this year is scheduled to begin July 26, with games held at four sites: Serra Field and Stanic Field in Euclid, plus fields at Eastlake North and Mentor high schools.
The C.A.B.A. High School World Series is expected to attract coaches and scouts from more than 125 colleges and universities, as well as scouts for Major League Baseball teams. For more information, visit the tournament website: www.cabahsws.com.