It was so nice to open the paper this morning and see this picture on the front page of the sports section. We're having a great season and a little press was fun to see!!!
Even though mine is no "star", he's the anchor of the outfield (center field) and does a great job there. These guys are his best friends and teammates and we're proud of all of them!!
Article published May 4, 2006
Sobol Super for ClayUses arm, and bat to subdue Cavemen
MATT KOPSEA
Tribune Staff Writer
SOUTH BEND
-- Mike Sobol wore out Mishawaka Wednesday afternoon. The junior left-hander scattered four hits with seven strikeouts over seven innings and also belted a two-run homer, lifting Clay to a 4-1 triumph over Mishawaka in Northern Indiana Conference baseball action at Coveleski Stadium. Sobol's blast over the right-center field wall off of Randy Schuster capped a three-run second-inning for the Colonials (9-4, 5-3 NIC).
"I was hoping to get a fast ball and make solid contact," said Sobol, who walked two and hit a pair of batters. "At first, I didn't think it was gone. But I guess the wind got a hold of it and carried it out." Mike Serge got the ball rolling for Clay with a leadoff single and scored on Mike DePoy's double off the top of the left field wall. Sobol (3-2) then delivered. "Mike's a fast ball type hitter and he was able to get one to his liking," said Clay coach Chip O'Neil. "When you have a pitcher like Schuster that's going to throw strikes, you want to come out swinging. I was happy because that's what we came out and did today."
Clay struck again in the fourth when Josh Willis led off with a round-tripper to left to make it 4-0. Limited to three baserunners through four innings, the Cavemen (8-7, 5-4 NIC) made a push in the fifth to get back in the game. Neal Hickle was hit by a pitch, followed by a single by Phil Wertz. A sacrifice bunt attempt by Matt Brothers paid off as Sobol threw wildly down the third base line, allowing pinch-runner Ryan Warmoth to score. With runners at second and third, Scott Versyp walked to load the bases with no outs. But Sobol buckled down. He got Mike Huling to fly out to right. Shawn Ferguson then hit a comebacker. Sobol threw home to catcher Serge for the first out, but Serge's relay to first baseman Nate Najdek went into the back of Ferguson. The home plate umpire, though, ruled Ferguson out for interference "He (the umpire) ruled that Ferguson had one foot inside the line and the rest of his body was on the line," said Mishawaka coach John Huemmer. " It was a questionable judgment call which I just happened not to agree with. But that wasn't the difference in the game. "We had six other innings in which we didn't do anything at the plate," Huemmer added. "Give credit to Mike Sobol for that. He pitched us outside and did a good job of getting ahead in the count with his off-speed stuff."Ferguson finished with two of Mishawaka's five hits, while Schuster (5-3) fanned four and walked four in his six inning stint.
Clay has a busy day ahead of them today when it travels to Riley at 4:30 p.m. and then comes back to Clay Field for a 7:30 p.m. makeup game with St. Joseph's.
