2012 Season
The 2012 Amherst Steele Comets finished the season 19-9 overall, 10-4 in the Southwestern Conference, 1st place (tied with Avon Lake, Brecksville-Broadview Heights and Westlake). The 19 wins were second most in school history tying the 1982 team coach by Norris Smith. (Twenty wins occurred three times, 2004 coached by Erich Frombach and back-to-back seasons in 2007 & 2008 coached by Allan McConihe).
At one point in the season (4-14-12), the Comets were 6-5 but finished the last month (seventeen games) of the season going 13-4 to reach championship status. The Comets were also sectional champions after defeating Lakewood St. Edward's on 5-10-12.
Comets showed resiliency, never losing more than two games in a row and had a record of 5-3 in one-run games, 2-1 in extra inning games. The best week of the season, an Ohio spring in which there were uncharacteristically NO rain-outs, was week of 4-14-12 through 4-21-12 in which the Comets outscored their opponents 85-26 including mercy-ruling five of seven opponents and posting a 6-1 record in that span.
Fine season led by seven seniors in the form of Kenny "the Cat" Menefee, Maximo Meggitt, Aaron Bledsoe, Jake Waryu, Kyle Tucker, Seth Zavodny and Ryan Lamb.
2011-12 Important Dates and Calendars
Jason Dusho Memorial Scoreboard
The Amherst Steele High School Class of 1991 has been hard at work raising funds to donate a new scoreboard for the baseball field in honor of their classmate Jason Dusho. On September 2, 2007 the class of 91 hosted a benefit steak fry and raffle that raised $10,380. Helping out with the fund raising was Clear Channel Detroit, the radio station that Jason was employed with.
Phase I of the Field of Dreams Upgrade Project is completed. There is a
new brick backstop, new block dugouts and massive concrete pad for the
stands. The fiery brown dugouts have an earthy tone that matches the
brick backstop and the color of the new additions of the high school. The
upgrades make Amherst Steele Varsity Baseball Field, sponsored by Amherst
Aerie Eagles #1442, one on the the best facilities in Lorain County.
Signs have been ordered to placed on the back of both the home & visitor
dugouts. The signs on the home dugout will acknowledge 1st Team
All-Conference, All-Ohio and sectional, district and conference
championship teams in Amherst Steele Baseball. The three signs are on the
visitors' dugout will list the people who made contributions to the
project. A grand thanks to those who made contributions to the project.
The kids benefit and really appreciate the acts of kindness.
Game Cancellations
2011 Comets Playing College Baseball:
Kyle Hagerich - Mercyhurst University
Austin Walts - Ashland University
Tyler Bires - Ashland University
David Purcel - John Carroll University
Andy Dito - Lakeland Community College Baseball
2010 Comets Playing College Baseball:
Connor Weir - Danville Community College in Illinois
Xavier Bonilla - Lakeland Community College
2009 Comets Playing College Baseball:
Tony Naso - Slippery Rock (PA) University
Mike Fabri - Baldwin Wallace
2008 Comets Playing Professional Baseball
Ryan Rua - Texas Rangers
Ryan Rua
Thursday, December 1, 2011 is "Ryan Rua Night" at Lake Erie College in Painsville, Ohio. Former Amherst Steele 2008 Graduate and Lake Erie Storm baseball player Ryan Rua is being honored by having his number (#2) two retired at tonight's Lake Erie Storm men's basketball game.
Rua was drafted back in June in the 17th round by the Texas Rangers, after a stellar career at Lake Erie College. Rua left the Storm on the top of many statistical categories, including the highest career slugging percentage (.683) and career home runs (39). Rua played for the Coach Brian McGee (Amherst Steele c/o 1996) and earned GLIAC 1st Team All-Conference and MVP honors in 2010. Rua also starred in the wood bat summer leagues in the summer in Cincinnati and Rock Hill, South Carolina.
After being drafted, Rua reported to Spokane, Washington to play a short time for the Class "A" short-season Spokane Indians. Rua was then sent to play rookie ball for the AZL Rangers in Arizona. In 2012, Rua will report to Surprise, Arizona for spring training.
In high school, Rua was a 1st team All-Southwestern Conference pitcher for the 2008 team that won a district championship.
Ryan Rua is the son of proud parents Randy and Stephanie Rua of Amherst, Ohio.
2004 Comets Playing Professional Baseball
Antone DeJesus, Gateway Grizzlies of the Frontier League - Sauget, Illinois