Clay baseball coach Garry Isbell figured the fate of his first season as the Eagles' head coach would hinge on how well an inexperienced pitching staff matured.

“We lost three pretty good pitchers last year — Drew Kuns and Kyle Romstadt, who were both first-team All-City League, and Mike Toth,” Isbell said. “We didn't have a lot of experience coming back except for Austin Petroff, so that was a concern.”

Turns out, Clay's pitching staff has more than held its own.

The Eagles, the defending CL champions, started the season on a sour note thanks to a .170 team batting average that resulted in a 2-5 record. Since then, Clay (12-8, 7-2) has won 10 of its last 12 and qualified for the CL's final four tournament. Its team batting average has jumped to .297 heading into Wednesday's 5-4 sectional championship loss to St. Francis de Sales.

“We have to hit a lot better than .297 to be successful,” Isbell said. “We started off very, very raw at the plate at the beginning of the year.”

Pitching has been the Eagles' strong suit in 2010.

“They've done what us coaches have asked them to do,” Isbell said. “They've worked at their mechanics, their location, changing speeds. Every single person has put himself in good situations to be successful on the hill. They've worked their hind ends off and it's paying off.”

Jesse Castilleja, a junior, has pitched against the best competition Clay has faced and has a 3-3 record with a 2.36 ERA in 26 2/3 innings. He's allowed 28 hits and 18 walks to go along with 28 strikeouts.

“Jesse throws all of our big games,” Isbell said. “He's a pitcher who can be very effective. He's got an above average fastball and a very good breaking ball that he keeps low in the zone to keep batters off balance.”

Petroff, a senior, is 2-0 with a 2.53 ERA in 27 2/3 innings. He's allowed 20 hits and 17 walks, with 24 strikeouts.

“He has a low-80s fastball and a phenomenal breaking ball that is very effective,” Isbell said. “He's also thrown in our other big games. He and Jesse have been our top two guys.”

The Eagles are also getting solid contributions on the mound from seniors Andrew Dartt and Jordan Wamer and junior Jake Bedra.

Dartt (1-0) has thrown 23 1/3 innings and has a 1.21 ERA with 15 strikeouts and nine walks. Wamer (1-2) has pitched 16 innings and has a 4.38 ERA while allowing 10 walks with 10 strikeouts.

“If we're in a jam where our starter is in trouble and we're looking to get to our other guys late in the game, Andrew can come in and get us some outs,” Isbell said. “His role is as a middle reliever and closer. Jordan threw in three of our non-league games. He's a very tall guy, about 6-4, and he's on the plate very quickly. He has a nice breaking ball with a good change-up down in the zone.”

Bedra (1-2) has a 1.34 ERA in 15 2/3 innings and has given up 16 hits and 10 walks, with four strikeouts.

“Jake is always around the plate,” Isbell said. “He gets hitters out. He changes speeds well and he's got good command of all three of his pitches.”

A few weeks ago Isbell moved three players – freshman pitcher Jordan Grosjean, sophomore third baseman J.J. Miller and sophomore left-hander Ross Achter – up to the varsity level. All three have played well.

In six innings of work Grosjean (1-0) has struck out eight and allowed one hit and no runs or walks. He pitched two innings of scoreless relief in Clay's crucial CL win over Start on May 5, and he closed out the Eagles' sectional tournament victory over Waite.

“At the beginning of the year we anticipated him being with us by the end of the year. He was that good,” Isbell said. “We knew he had potential to pitch at the varsity level, but I didn't want to bring him up too soon and maybe get hit around a little bit. He keeps his change-up and breaking ball down in the zone very well for a freshman. Start is a very good team, and they were having problems catching up with his fastball.”

Achter is 2-0 with wins over Libbey and Findlay. He's pitched seven innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits and four walks, with three strikeouts.

“He's a lefty and he has a lot of movement on his fastball, with a great breaking ball,” Isbell said. “He's been great for us.”

Austin Achter, a junior left fielder, leads the Eagles in hitting (.456, 17 RBI) followed by junior outfielder/DH Sam Berry (.393), Wamer (.372), Petroff (.370) and Castilleja (.348).

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