Roster
Bn- Pat Tabeling, Pete Watson, Sam Stephens, James, Dominick (The Dominatrix)
The team was seen as talented, but no one knew how good the team would fair. In the 1st game of the year The Cherokees opened up against vs. defending Champion Impett Park Animals featuring Joe Powe and the Colemans twins. John Bakalar hit a Home Run in the second inning that stunned Impett and Brandon Santiago would pitch a beauty of a game to win 4-2. The Cherokees would go on to win their next 5 games to start 6-0 and go into a heated rivalry game vs. LBC (Lakewood Baseball Club) in their 2nd big test. LBC would get the better of The Cherokees 6-3 to improve to 7-0 and take sole control of 1st place. The Cherokees bounced back to win 3 in a row to stand at 9-1. Over the next game they went 3-2 to go 12-3 heading into the game everyone had on their schedule...LBC on the last day of the year for 1st place. The game was played under the lights at The Turf and had all the makings of a classic with 75 or more watching LBC and The Cherokees battle for 1st. Mike Allen matched up with JV ace Devin Keaney in a pitching duel. The Cherokees got timely hitting and took a 5-4 lead on an Aramis Matos squeeze bunt to give Mike Allen the lead. Brandon Santiago was brought in to close it, but was unable to as LBC tied it in the 7th at 5. The game would go into extras and in the bottom of the 8th LBC won a passes ball to score the game-winning run. The lost was heart breaking as they were swept 2-0 by LBC and finished in 2nd but would get another crack at them. In the 1st round The Cherokees played pushover West 130th in the first round, but Rumors swirled over W. 130th having a ringer as a pitcher were untrue and The Cherokees won easily 8-4. In round 2 Greller and foe Kevin Moran was the opponent, whom The Cherokees swept 2-0 in regular season play. Mike Allen tossed a beauty to win 5-1. Next was the game The Cherokees wanted...LBC. In the Division Championship game pitted Joe Link vs. Brandon Santiago. In the 1st inning Matt Trotto hot a 3B and John Bakalar knocked him in for the 1st run. The game settled into a pitchers duel and The Cherokees got 2 more runs late in the game on an error to go up 3-1. LBC would get another run but that was the closest they would get as The Cherokees were the Division Series Champions and moved onto the League Championship vs. Impett Park. The Championship game would have lots of confusing as the game was moved to a field that both teams never used, at Impett Park. Mike Allen got the nod and was solid with The Cherokees giving him support going up 4-1 heading into the bottom of the 4th. Then things hit the fan. Impett Park surged a furious comeback aided by Impett's 1st base coach stealing signs. Mike Allen was then pulled for Pete Watson to put out the fire but was unable to stop their offense. John Bakalar was then brought in with the bases loaded down 5-4. the Cherokees then got an out, making it two down. The next batter would then hit a bases clearing triple to make it 8-4 and take all the wind out of The Cherokees. That was basically the end for The Cherokees as Impett would tack on some insurance runs in the later innings to make it 12-4. The Cherokees then scored 2 runs in the top of the 7th to cut it to 12-6 before the last out, as it was too little too late. Overall the season was a sucess as a 1st year team put togther competed and finished 12-4 and was Runners-Up in West Dennison. The All-Star were Mike Allen, Jeff Cheiky, Aramis Matos and Brandon Santiago. The team finished 15-5. The franshise now knew it could win a title and that was the focus heading into the next year.
Roster
Bn- Justin Warmuth, Pete Watson, Sam Stephens
The team's first game would open vs. Esterbrook and would develop into a strong rivalry vs. Cliff Hawkins team. Brandon Santiago took the hill and struggled as Esterbrook's offense was just too much as they took the first game 11-9. The next game John Bakalar set a franchise record 14 K's in a victory over Ken Johnson. The next game Mike Allen won over rival Impett Park 5-3. A talented and fast Glenville team then gave The team it's 1st run-rule lost 16-6. After that The Spider's were 2-2, but then won 9 of their next 10 to finish the year at 10-3 and in 1st place. With key victories vs. Impett Park and Esterbrook. In the first round the team faced Clark, whom they had previously beaten. Brandon Santiago toed the rubber and pitched well but the whole team seemed to overlook Clark, as they would fall 4-2. Along the way The Spider's played in The AABC Tournament early in the year and was swept by Cleveland EPI, Lake Erie Snappers and Steel Valley City being outscored 21-3 in three games. Once The Spider's got over their slow start they played in The Mentor Firecracker 4th of July Tournament in Mentor. The Spider's opened up against one of the premier teams in the Country in Diamond1. Many players knew Diamond1's coach from haven taken instruction, and someone Head Coach John Vajda knew well. Before the game Mr. Vajda gave an inspirational Pep talk on the passing of Ted Williams to fire up the troops. Mike Allen started and pitched out of some trouble along the game and it was 6-0 going into the top of the 4th. Diamond1 pulled their Starting pitcher thinking The Spider's were a pushover despite in the midst of a perfect game. The Spider's then crawled their way back led by The Spider's speed at the top of the order led by Jim Conway, Mike Allen and Matt Trotto. Allen then got in a groove and held D1's bats down and The Spider's pulled out a 7-6 win stunning Pete Berrios and his Diamond1 team. The win fueled The Spider's to go undefeated in the bracket and make it to the playoffs. IN the 1st round they played Cleveland Heights and took an early lead but was unable to keep it and wound up getting blown out 10-3, but was a valuable experience playing against good competition and would propel them into a Division Title. John Bakalar, Brandon Santiago, Mike Allen, Matt Trotto and Eriv Vajda were all named All-Stars. The team finished 13-8.
Roster
Bn- Justin WarmuthThe Spider's season opened on a strange note as Gunning Park forfeited a doubleheader to make The Spider's 2-0 just liek that. The next game was vs. rival Esterbrook. John Bakalar tossed a 2 hit shutout to win 2-0 behind Brandon Dugan's clutch RBI late in the game. Dugan then when out and beat The Apaches and Alex Beavin 5-1, roughing up Beavin behind Jim Binkley's big day. The Spider's then 4-0 faced rival Impett Park on an early morning doubleheader with Brandon Santiago and John Bakalar taking Games 1 and 2. In the first game Impett came back on their last at-bat to win 5-4. Joe Link then blanked The Spider's 4-0. The next game The Spider's couldn't hold on late to lose to Clark and old teamatte Tito Flores 5-4 in extra's. The next game would change everything. The Spider's set to play The Hispanic Club. Brandon Santiago was the starter and got lots of support in the top of the 1st. Brandon then took the hill and had a runner on 1st when his life would change forever. The runner took of for second and the count on the batter was full and the umpire didn't say ball or strike loud enough and the Jeff Cheiky fired the ball to try to knab the stealing runner, but Brandon thought it was a ball and walked off the mound. The Throw hit Brandon in his eye and caused severe bleeding and he was rushed to the hospital. The game would go on somehow with The Spider's crusing to a 13-1 win behind Mike Allen. Brandon however would go into a long surgery with hope that he would be able to see again. The Spider's vowed to win The Championship for their All-Star pitcher. The Spider's would win the next two to make it three in a row to improve to 8-3. The Spider's then suffered a tough lost to Morgana 8-7 with runners in scoring position but unable to get them home. John Bakalar then beat Esterbrook 8-5 for his secind win vs. them and improve to 3-0 lifetime vs. them. Mike Allen then beat Morgana 6-2 to end the year 10-4 and in third place behind 1st place Clark followed by Esterbrook. To open the playoffs The Spider's faced Gunning who beat them on the last day of 2002, but had forfieted every game since. The playoffs would be no different, as they forfeited and The Spider's moved on to Impett Park and Joe Link. Link who had The Spider's since losing them to them 3-2 in The West Dennison Champ owned The Spider's now. Brandon Dugan came up huge and got some great defense from 2B Eric Vajda and won 5-0. The next game was the NL Championship game vs. Esterbrook who knocked off 1st place Clark in the game before. John Bakalar took the hill vs. the team he was 3-0 lifetime against. The Spider's gave him support right away to ease his comfort. Pitching with a lead, Bakalar went to distance, allowing only 1 run in the 5th with the offense pounding out 10 runs to win easily 10-1. The Connie Mack Championship and The Apaches awaited. In a game tapped on Tv, The Spider's faced The Apaches and many familiar faces from Lakewood, St. Ed's and St. Ignatius. Jim Conway got it started for ATC with a leadoff 3B, he would come in to score giving Allen a 1-0 lead. Allen pitched well but in the 3rd The Apaches struck for 2 runs on an error and a couple dying quails. In the 5th The Spider's responded putting up a 5 spor keyed by a Jim Binkley double to tie it, Kevin Moran's single to give them the lead. and Chris Lucas 2-Run single to pour it on. In the 7th John Bakalar was brought in to close it out and the game ended on a double play by SS Matt Gallovic. Mike Allen was at first and caught the last out. Allen pitched 6 strong innings and went 2-3. However, Matt Gallovic was named MVP of the Game. The Spider's accomplished their goal and it was an emotional win as, Branbon Santiago was given the Championship Trophy at the end of the game. The year was a dream and a journey as The Spider's overcame alot of obstacles to win their 1st Championship. The Spider's also made a return to the Mentor Firecracker tournament. They won their 1st game vs. Ashland behind John Bakalar strong pitching. In the second game the world seemed to be against The Spider's. Mike Allen was the pitcher and was the hard luck loser and The Spider's continually got hosed on every call and fell 4-2 to Josh's Jay's. Matt Trotto hit two 3B's in the game, 1 short of a Connie Mack record. The last game Brandon Dugan pulled out a 4-2 win vs. Ashland powered by Home Runs by Jim Binkley and Jim Conway. For the year The Spiders finished overall 16-5. The All-Stars were John Bakalar, Jim Conway, Brandon Dugan and Brandon Santiago was named an Honorary All-Star.
Roster
Bn- Justin Warmuth, John Vajda, Ray Carr, and Roy Carr
In the first game John Bakalar matched up against state-ranked Becky's Tavern, who was made up of John Caroll and Walsh players as well as ex-college players. Having being told The Spider's would be lucky to win 5 games their first year despite coming off a championship, The Spider's came into the league cocky and loud. In the game vs. Becky's, The Spider's stunned the league behind a 3-2 win. They then whooped Drew's Dodger's behind CSU pitcher Mike Allen's performance 14-4. Theo Hudson played flawless defense and tripled in his debut. The next game facing another state ranked Cleveland A's featuring the Glavin twins from Mentor, Alex Beavin lost a heartbreaker 2-0. After that they went on to win 4 in a row and stood 6-1 and in 1st. The A's then brought The Spider's down to reality with a 12-1 drubbing. The next games were an oddity. The Spider's faced winless Frank's Union/Froggy's. Froggy's threw a lefty ringer throwing gas and would no-hit the Spider's 8-0 with Beavin the hard-luck loser. The pitcher then left after the game and The Spider's in the second game scored 5 runs in the 1st innning and were accused of playing with illegal players. Alot of talking insued and The Spider's put up 4 more in the second to take a 9-0 lead. Froggy's manager then demanded to see all of the teams contracts. A fight then broke out and then umps forfeited the win to The Spider's 9-0 in the bottom of the 2nd for Froggy's players leaving the bench. The win put them back in the hunt at 7-3. Another win over G & S Construction led to a show down with Drew's Dodger's with The Spider's pulling out a 5-4 win behind John Bakalar. The Spiders then beat Impett 6-5 to be 10-3. Mike Allen then lost to Drew's Dodger's 2-1 w/o John Bakalar or Matt Trotto and allowed only 2 hits all day in a game Mr. Vajda played RF. Beavin then beat Impett in relief of Ray Carr and John Bakalar then beat state-ranked Geiger's in a wild 9-8 game to improve to 12-4. This set up a makeup doubleheader vs. state-ranked Garfield Blue Streaks. In game 1 Garfield pounded The Spider's 11-1 in 5 innings. In game 2 The Spider's held a 1-0 lead going into the bottom of the 7th. Garfield hit a solo HR to tie it and eventually won it in the bottom of the 9th by Jay Rogers GW hit. John bakalar then tried to regroup the team vs. another state-ranked Black Sox team led by former CSU Star OF Ernest Simpson and St. Bonaventure Star C Damian Blakely. Bakalar and The Spider's got pounded 17-8. Garfield then pounded The Spider's one last time 12-2 for good measure. The final game The Spider's lost 10-5 to the A's. The Spider's were in 2nd at 12-4 but lost 5 in a row to end up 12-9 and were in 3rd behind the A's in 1st and Garfield in 2nd. In a double elimination tourney, The Spider's needed to win a 1st round game to get in and the opponent was The Black Sox. John Bakalar (6-1) got the nod and pitched well taking a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the 4th. Then a number of errors and solid hits would end close The Spider's year. Black Sox lefty ace Cordero, who pitched for the Chicago Cubs in 1998, allowed 1 run int he second but then manhandled The Spider's lineup. The Spider's finished the year 12-10, but was ranked as high as #29 in the State as well as 37th and 44th. All-Stars were Matt Trotto, Mike Allen and Alex Beavin.
Roster
Bn- Jeff Cheiky, Dennis Paul, Cris Necsuleu, Pete Watson, Jason Canterbury, Todd McCurry and Nate Duplain,/p>
The team opened with a doubleheader vs. AL opponents American Roofing and The West Park Cardinals. In game 1 Alex Beavin took the ball and The Spider's put up a 4 spot in the top of the first and looked to cruise. However American roofing slowly crawled back and shut down The Spider's once potent hitting and won in extra's 5-4 despite Alex Beavin franchise tying 14 K's. In game 2 John bakalar looked to get The Spider's back on track but was shelled by The Cardinals. The Cardinals held a 7-2 lead going into the bottom of the 7th and The Spider's typed it keyed by Eric Vajda's triple to tie it. All the runs came with two outs. Then in the 8th with a runner on third The Cardinals hit a deep drive that Trotto caught but ran into the fence and lost it, as The Spider's fell 8-7. Steve' Sports and Becky's then run-ruled The Spider's. The Black Sox then won a close 8-6 game. After the game it was found that Jason Fischer tore his hammy. The Spider's then picked up Carlos Laboy and Theo Hudson again, thinking they would be a part of a CSU team. In 'Los first game vs. C-Town he hit The Spider's 1st Home Run since 2003, but more importantly got The Spider's their 1st win. Carlos would then get hurt again in a game vs. Steve's Sports and The Spider's picked up fmr All-County 2B Rob Gruss and move Vajda to SS. Rob's swagger rubbed off and The Spider's began winning games and finished the regualr season 9-11 and in 3rd place by beating C-Town 20-2 on the last day fo the year to clinch 3rd. The Spider's then played The Westlake Titans of Cleveland Roy Hobbs. Outfielder Matt Trotto made his first start since about 7th grade and faired well allowing 4 runs in 5 innings and leaving with a lead. Kevin Moran then threw 3 solid innings, to keep the game tied as Westlake scored a run of him to tie it. Pete Watson then came in, in the bottom of the 8th and Westlake won 5-4 on a squeeze play. It was a good test for The Spiders, despite missing starting OF's Mike Allen and Jim Conway and 3B Alex Beavin. In the first round of the playoffs The Spider's faced longtime rival Impett Park with John Bakalar starting. Bakalar gave the team 5 strong innings allowing 2 runs with Beavin throwing 2 in relief to close out a 9-2 team win. In the second round Beavin took the hill and was in and out of trouble but kept the team in it. When things got shaky the team needed an arm to come in but only had Pete Watson. The team came from behind 9-1 to tie it at 9 only to lose in the bottom of the 7th when Watson gave up the game winning hit. John Bakalar then started vs. C-Town Woodies in a do-or-die game. The Spider's who won the season series 3-1 took C-Town too lightly, as they jumped on Bakalar early. The Spider's went down 8-2 only to get 2 more runs but C-Town would get 2 more as well off reliever Alex Beavin. The team ended the year 10-14, their 1st losing year in their 5 year history. Mike Allen, John Bakalar, Kevin Moran and Matt Trotto were named to the All-Star team and all started in the game. The team didn't seem to have good chemistry with players not showing up to games so Allen, Bakalar and Trotto came up with the idea in the off season to regroup and go after only player's from Lakewood and win with those guys as they had done in previous years.