The Eastlake North baseball team opened its 2026 season with a strong showing in Myrtle Beach, finishing 2-1 against solid competition while flashing both depth at the plate and promising signs from an inexperienced pitching staff.
After a one-run loss to open the trip, the Rangers bounced back with wins over Tallmadge and Chagrin Falls, scoring 26 runs across the three games and getting contributions throughout the lineup.
“We’re really inexperienced when it comes to pitching,” said Eastlake North head coach Mike Duncan. “I was concerned with them, but they came up big time. They threw really well.”
The offense proved just as encouraging. Drew Morbeto led the way with a huge weekend, collecting six hits and scoring four runs across the three games. Brent Reichard consistently set the tone at the top, while Braylon Rolf, Brady Pennza, and Ethan Grinstead all delivered key at-bats throughout the trip. Billy Murphy and Colin Hutson added timely production, and Vinny Marsico reached base at a high clip, including a three-walk performance in the finale.
“Everybody was battling up and down the lineup,” Duncan said. “If the guy in front of them made an out, the next guy up was really bearing down. We had a lot of guys get a couple of hits, and we had a number of guys get their first varsity hits while we were down here, so that’s great to see.”
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With momentum built, North now turns its attention to the Ohio opener on Monday at Mentor.
“I think we just need to keep the same approach that we had down here,” Duncan said. “We just need to grind out our at-bats and keep battling to win the next pitch and take it from there.”
Moore Catholic 6, North 5 (Friday)
North opened the trip with a tough one-run loss despite out-hitting Moore Catholic 9-7.
Morbeto paced the offense, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored, while Reichard added a double, RBI, and run. Marsico chipped in two hits, and Rolf also doubled.
The Rangers battled late, scoring three runs over the final two innings, but fell just short.
On the mound, Gavin Rieder took the loss, while Vince Latini provided stability out of the bullpen, allowing just one run over 4 1/3 innings.
North 10, Tallmadge 8 (Friday)
North responded in a big way Friday night, using a nine-run stretch over the second through fourth innings to take control.
Morbeto stayed hot, going a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs and an RBI. Rolf drove in two runs and scored twice, while Murphy delivered a big game with three RBIs. Sean Tahsler added two runs and an RBI.
The Rangers built a big lead before holding off a late Tallmadge push.
“It was getting late at night, and we had a big lead, so we were giving some other guys a chance,” Duncan said. “That one almost got away from us.”
The game came down to the final inning, where Eddie Kovach-Uzl shut the door.
“He said, ‘Coach, I can finish this,’” Duncan said. “And he did. That was awesome.”
Joey Andolina earned the win with 2 2/3 strong innings in relief.
North 11, Chagrin Falls 1 (Saturday)
North closed the trip in dominant fashion, rolling past Chagrin Falls with a balanced offensive attack and strong pitching.
Hutson led the way with two hits, two runs, and an RBI, while Pennza added two hits, including a triple, and drove in two. Grinstead chipped in two hits and a double, and Marsico reached base four times with two RBIs.
Reichard scored twice and drove in a run, while Murphy and Rolf each added RBIs.
On the mound, Nate Sagendorph earned the win, allowing just one run over four innings, and Morbeto closed it out with two scoreless innings.
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