Jarred Cooper '09 to Play at CCC-West

Jarred Cooper will continue his academic and athletic career at Cuyahoga Community College.  The former Bengal has made the final roster and pitching staff  for the Western Campus Team. CCC-West  is a part of the National Junior College Athletic Association  and Ohio Community College Athletic Conference.  Home games are played at the Western Campus which is located on Pleasant Valley & York in Parma.

Toronto Blue Jays Scout Visits With Bengals

On Wednesday afternoon Toronto Blue Jays area scout Nick Manno spent time with the Bengal Baseball Team.  He discussed his career path as a major league baseball scout, what he looks for when watching games; which included some helpful hints for our players as they prepare for the upcoming season.  Manno told the players that physical talent is critical while scouting but a players "make-up" is just as important.

Manno is a graduate of Padua Franciscan High School and Mount Union College.  

He was a student athlete for Mr. Gressock while in high school.  He also played for Coach Sliwinski and was a teammate with Coach Mordarski.  Professionally he has worked for the Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals as a scout and player development director.  He then held a position at the Major League Baseball Office as a coordinator of operations prior to taking his current position with the Blue Jays. During his playing days Nick was a "slick fielding" second baseman who hit  from the left-side of the plate.

Manno finished his visit by giving the team a little Benedictine history lesson.  His dad, Bruce Manno, is a 1971 Graduate of Benedictine High School.  As a young man Bruce told his  mom that one day he would work in professional  baseball. He then worked his way from a student at Cuyahoga Community College to the low minor leagues. Nick told us his father was very detail-oriented and meticulous, especially when it came to field maintenance. His hard work landed him a job with the Milwaukee Brewers and later with the St. Louis Cardinals where he was a part of a World Series Championship.  Bruce is currently the assistant general manager of the Atlanta Braves.

Three Seniors Named to "Watch List"

Seniors Taylor Branisel, John Hromulak and Ryan Kovar were recently named to the Collegiate Baseball "watch list".  Each January the publication releases it's state-by-state list of high school players to keep an eye on. The list features players from all 50 states.  All three players return for their third year of varsity baseball.

Season’s Greetings

Ryan Kovar signs with Wheeling Jesuit University

Senior Ryan Kovar signed his National Letter of Intent with Wheeling Jesuit University, a Division II school in Wheeling, West Virginia.  Ryan will be a 3 year Varsity player for the Bengals (Catcher/DH).  Ryan was a 2nd Team All-CRBC player and the 2009 Coaches award winner.

In 26 games last spring Ryan hit .355 with 2 Home Runs and 21 RBI.

Joe Bova Student of the Week

Congratulations Joe on being named the Parma Sun Post Student of the Week.  Joe is currently a senior and 2nd year player on the Varsity Baseball team. Joe will play 1B/OF and pitch for the team this coming spring.

Meet Coach Sliwinski

Position: Head Varsity Baseball Coach
Grade School: St. Columbkille
High School: Padua Franciscan
College: Cleveland State University
Favorite MLB Player: Brook Jacoby
Favorite MLB Team: 1978 Los Angeles Dodgers

Coach Sliwinski enters his 16th season as Head Baseball Coach for the Bengals.  His high school coaching career started in 1992 at Cuyahoga Hts. High School.  From 1995-1998 he was the head coach at Padua Franciscan before joining the Bengals staff as a varsity assistant in 1999.  Sliwinski was named the North Coast League Coach of the Year in 1995 and the Greater Cleveland Baseball Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 2004. His over-all coaching record stands at 298-223-1.

From 1995-1998 Sliwinski spent his summers coaching and conducting clinics for the East-West Baseball Ambassadors.  Traveling to Puerto Rico, Holland, Germany, Belgium and Russia to teach the game of baseball. 

Coach Sliwinski is also very active in the state and local coaching associations.  He served as past president of the Greater Cleveland Baseball Coaches Association, he still serves on the executive board of the association..  Coach is still on the Hall of Fame committee board member for the Northeast Ohio Baseball Coaches Association and Poll Voter for the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association.  For 10 years Coach Sliwinski worked for the Cleveland Baseball Federation as a field monitor, equipment manager and camp/clinic instructor.  A founding member of the Diamond Connie Mack League, Coach Sliwinski has served various duties for the amateur baseball league.