Overall, it’s been a strong spring for Oakville baseball.
Currently sitting at a 15-8 record, as of May 8, the Tigers can attribute this in large part to outstanding pitching performances and a dependable defense.
“Our pitching has been really good,” Oakville head coach Rich Sturm said. “I think our defense has been solid.”
While the team has been anchored by those strengths, Sturm acknowledges that the team’s offense is still a work in progress.
“Offensively, we are still evolving,” he said. “I think we are making progress and heading in the right direction.”
The Tigers have already found themselves in two intense 1-0 contests this season. On April 1, they edged out Marquette 1-0 thanks to a masterful performance by junior pitcher Jack Werkowitch, who tossed a complete game, allowing just three hits and striking out 11. CJ Lake delivered the game’s only RBI, continuing his strong season at the plate, batting .349. Lake is tied with Adam Kilburn for the team lead of 14 RBIs.
Along with Lake and Kilburn, Max Simokaitis is enjoying a strong offensive season with a .411 average and 11 RBIs. Sam Kestler is also hitting the ball well for the Tigers, with 9 RBIs so far this season.
Despite their offensive strides, the Tigers dropped a tough 2-1 game to St. Louis University High School (SLUH) on April 28. Despite the loss, Jack Werkowitch again turned in a strong outing, scattering five hits over six innings. The ace now boasts a stellar 4-1 record with a 0.95 ERA with 39 strikeouts on the season.
Werkowitch isn’t the only pitcher throwing the ball well for the Tigers. Kaleb Owens is currently 4-0 with a 0.54 ERA in 26 innings pitched. So far, he has struck out 37 batters this season.
“It was a very well-pitched game,” Sturm said of the SLUH game. “To only score one run in high school games is pretty rare.”
Looking forward, Oakville faces a tough stretch ahead with contests against Rockwood Summit on May 9 and Christian Brothers College (CBC) High School on May 15. With limited practice opportunities, due to sharing facilities with other teams, preparation is a challenge.
“We talk about it all the time,” Sturm said. “We only have one field to share between three teams, so when we are off, we may only get the field for 30-40 minutes tops. We only have one cage for three teams as well.”
With district play around the corner, the Tigers’ bats will have to back up the strong pitching if Oakville wants to find success in postseason play. Sturm believes the team’s offense will be key to sustaining success throughout the rest of the season.
“I knew coming into the season that our strengths would be pitching and defense,” Sturm said. “Our offense is starting to turn the corner, and that will be key for us.”
