Mentor coach Jeff Haase has been waiting for the Cardinals to play a complete game in all phases this spring.
Haase got what he was looking for in a 5-1 victory at North Royalton on April 28.
Michael Hritz pitched seven innings and allowed no earned runs, five hits and didn’t walk a batter while striking out four.
“We took that step today,” Haase said. “We got great pitching from Hritz. I saw the boys make huge strides. …. It was the most complete game of the season.”
Mentor senior Tyler Thompson went 2 for 3 with a run scored and an RBI, singling in the third and seventh innings. Dominic Dengel had a 2-run double. Nathan Birtley had a sac fly to drive in a run. Matt Eiswerth and Ricky Valeri each had two hits. Rob Mealey went 1 for 3 with a run scored for the Cardinals.
Mentor (9-5, 4-3 NOC) scored three runs in the fifth inning and two more in the seventh to put the win away.
The lone run of the game for North Royalton crossed the plate in the seventh inning on an error.
