ROCKY RIVER -- As the ball dropped into senior Justin Chislow’s glove, the end of an era was signaled.  Clearly it was more than just any out, more than the end of just any game. Yes, LW won the game, as they have done so many times in recent memory, dismantling an unworthy non-conference opponent 16-0.  Yes, it also was the third no-hitter of the year—with seniors Billy Valletto and Sam Myers combining on the effort.  Yes, it meant the end of another excellent year under the tutelage of Coach Dave Sellke.  Yet, this out meant much more than all that; it meant the end of an era. 

All nine starters—eight of them everyday starters all year—and the head coach will not be returning next year.  Fans of LW baseball may be surprised that they know so few of the players on the field next year unless they have gone to some JV games this year as almost the entire varsity team will have graduated.

For now, however, we can revel in one more well played game on LW’s home field—one more dominant performance by the pitching, fielding, and hitting alike.  Four players—Valletto (3), Chislow (2), senior Mike Holick (2), and senior Mitch Zaharewicz (2)—had more than one RBI.  Every player in the lineup scored a run, and every player in the lineup got a hit. 

On the mound, Valletto picked up his sixth win on the year, throwing three innings and striking out five.  Myers relieved Valletto and walked four but did not allow a run or a hit, finishing the last two innings and completing the mercy-rule shortened five-inning no-hitter.