The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1959-06-05
RYAN and Baseball
Still Mir Well

THAT Jack Ryan seems to come up with a good
baseball team every year at St. Charles
Such is the typical comment heard each spring
as the St, Charles baseball squad mows down oppon-
ent after opponent. The comment actually is a tribute
TO the st. Charles coach, whose Il years at the East
Side school makes him the dean of Central Ohio
coaches.
II can be said without exaggeration that Ryan
has won more baseball titles in high school and Ameri-
can Legion action, than any other coach in Central
Ohio.
Just looking at a few exploits of the lkeable
coachr Ryan has coached st. Charles into the finals of
the Central District baseball tournament finals on
il occasions during his coaching career.
His baseball teams won the Metro League title
every year of its f~iyeyear history. Under Ryan, st.
Charles didn't lose a Metro League game between 1855
and 1853, when the loop was disbanded.
AS if to prove things really are normal in the
sports understanding the fans have been wonder
ing since the sedate New York Yankees seem to be
having Ito put it mildly difficulties-St. Charles won
the Central Catholic League baseball championship
this spring, the first season of the leagues operation.
For further proof that normally prevails in the
sports world, 81. Charles also won . co-championship
In the Central District Class AA baseball tournament
and closed out Its regular season with q sparkling
23-7 record.
Ryan, regarded by many fellow coaches as the
best three-sport coach in Central Ohio, likes baseball
the most.
His reason for picking baseball as his first love
is that 1.-THE little fellow has a chance" In this age of
big bruising football players and string-bean cagers,
his words seem to ring true that baseball indeed is
one sport where a smaller fellow can perform as an
equal with the big boys.
What is Ryan's winning formula in baseball?
Basicaliy, its fhe same formula he has used over
the years in coaching all three major ~sports-gefting
the maxium mileage out of the material he has. Rival
coaches often have cited this trait of RYan's, especially
after their teams we're upset or given q run for
their money" by St. Charles.
In addition, baseball remains a major sport al
st. Charles whereas in many other schools it has prac-
tcaIly lost this role.
Other factors contributing to Jack Ryan's base
ball success include: dedication to the game, his fair
ness and even temperament (also displayed in other
sports and the classroomG and he's a careful tutor,
who doesn't push" his players beyond their limits,
An example of this latter trait was shown this
past season. AT the start of the baseball season, st.
Charles lost a few games and appeared to be on the
way to a losing season. Then suddenly, the Cardinals
displayed great pitching, clutch hitting and took the
fullest advantage of every opportunity As a result,
ST. Charles won games practically every time the team
took 10 the field.
Ryan seems TO come up with a pretty good mound
corps every year. Some years he has an outstanding
hurlsr like Jim oNeilI u946-4sE Joe Rotunda tearly
fiffiesl; and Ernie Butch" DeMssteis, a few years
ago. rs gotten SO that good pitching seems TO be a
St. Charles trademark.
The Cardinal offense can be described as a go
go type. To use a cliche, the 81. Charles team will
steal you blind" on the field. In fact, Ryan develops
such an alert baseball team that the players would
steal first base If you turned your back.
of base-running, stealing, sliding
ana bunun8 are tauSht carefully by Ryan. The enc
result is that oftentimeS st. Charles will win on a few
scattered hits-maybe on only one or two. Other runs
are scored on sacrifices, walks, squeeze plays, oppon-
ents' errors or defense lapses, etc.
As a result of the baseball tradition built up by
Jack Ryan at st. Charles, the school attracts many
fine prospects Moreover, many proud fathers realize
that If their sons have any athletic potential, Jack
Ryan will develop it.
What about st. Charles baseball chances next
year? Well, Ryan has practically the entire 1859 squad
back for action--LVF