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Comets to pursue another league title
(by Tony Lange - April 07, 2011)
Comets to pursue another league title
By TONY LANGE
The Solon baseball team started its season 2-1 after beating Valley Forge, 15-0, and splitting a doubleheader with Chardon last Saturday, losing the first game, 9-1, and winning the second, 12-11.
With the loss of nine seniors from last year's team, this season's Comets are still trying to find their identity, head coach Damien Kopkas said.
"I think we're pretty much where I expected us to be at this point at the beginning of the year," he said.
The on-base percentage has been up in all three games, Kopkas said. During their one loss, the Comets had numerous opportunities and left about 10 base runners stranded, he said. "We just needed a couple big hits," he said. "Offensively, I've been very happy with the way we've been swinging the bat."
Pitching wise, Solon gave up 20 runs during the doubleheader, but the Comets only look to get better, he said.
"I think we're going to throw a lot of strikes this year," Kopkas said. "I see us playing a lot of low-scoring games just simply because I think our pitching is going to be one of our stronger points when it's all said and done."
With so many arms in the lineup, the Comets don't have a set rotation on the mound yet, he said. A lot depends on the weather and how many days rest there are between games during the season as rainouts get rescheduled. Solon has about 10 pitchers that can be utilized in various roles, Kopkas said.
"I feel like I have five or six guys that I can hand the ball to to start the game and be very confident in what I'm going to get on the mound any given day," he said.
One standout on the mound this season will be junior left-hander Matthew Smoral, who already verbally committed to North Carolina, Kopkas said. Against Valley Forge, he threw four no-hit innings.
Offensively, if Kopkas had to pick one name that he thinks will be a clear standout by the end of the year, it would be Eric Esborn, a senior who will bat in the cleanup spot, he said.
"He's very confident at the plate, swings the bat well and has a pretty good eye," Kopkas said. "He just has a gorgeous fluid swing, and, when he stays back on the ball and hits it on the sweet spot of the bat, the ball just jumps. He's going to be our leader in a lot of categories, I would assume, by the end of the year."
As a team, the primary goal this season is to win the Northeast Ohio Conference Valley Division, Kopkas said.
"That's always something that we look at to help us springboard into the state playoffs," he said. "That's something that we take a lot of pride in. The Solon program has either won or tied the last two years, and it's something that we are focusing on. We want to be able to say that we can three-peat by winning the Valley Division again this year."
Solon travels to St. Edward today (April 7) at 5 p.m. On Saturday, the Comets host Medina for a doubleheader at 1 and 3 p.m.
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