Kirtland’s Matthew Finkler and Gilmour Academy’s Ethan Pawlak have been named Ward’s Lawn Care & Landscape Co., Players of the Week for the week ending April 5.
Finkler was dominant at the plate and on the mound in Kirtland’s first two games, a 25-0 win over Richmond Heights and a 13-10 loss to Gilmour.
He was 4-for-4 with eight runs scored, a double, a home run, seven runs batted, two stolen bases and he drew three walks and was hit by a pitch twice.
The Bowling Green football signee also threw a five-inning no-hitter with 12 strike outs against the Spartans.
“Matthew looked like he was in mid-season form,” said Kirtland coach Luke Smrdel. “He came out and had great command and hit his spots and got ahead of batters. He was very dominant.”
Through three games, Finkler is batting .800 with seven RBI and is 2-0 on the mound with 26 strike outs and has yet to allow an earned run in 12 innings pitched.
Pawlak, a senior outfielder, batted .625 with two doubles, four runs scored, four runs batted in and five steals in a 12-6 win over Cuyahoga Heights and the 13-10 victory over Kirtland.
Last season, Pawlak played shortstop but moved to center field to bolster the Lancers’ lineup.
"Ethan has been a steady producer in the middle of our lineup for four years,” said Gilmour Academy coach Jay Fowler. “He has selflessly gone infield to outfield, then infield and now back to the outfield for us. He does whatever we ask him to do to make the team better. As a result, he may be the best center fielder in the area."
Through three games, Pawlak is batting .500 with two doubles, four RBI and six stolen bases.
Pawlak has received several scholarship offers to play baseball in college.
COACHES, NOMINATE YOUR PLAYERS
Coaches, click HERE to nominate your athletes for Ward’s Lawn Care & Landscape Co. Players of the Week. Athletes from all Northeast Ohio schools are eligible for the award and nominations are due by 10:00 p.m. every Monday.
