Hudson Explorers Baseball

Remembering Coach Starkey

2010-02-04T13:31:00.002-05:00

MACK PICONE STARKEY, 50, died February 3, 2010, after a courageous year-long battle with esophageal cancer.

He is survived by his loving wife, Tina Picone Starkey, step-children Amanda and Dante Sudilovsky, of Twinsburg; sisters, Tammy Starkey of Elyria, Teresa Starkey of Lorain, Tina Bowley of Tampa,FL, and brother Mike Starkey; he is the beloved son-in-law of Nick and Chris Picone, of Solon; brother-in-law to Julie and Rob Albrecht and Donna and Nick Picone, Jr., of Aurora, and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, Ruth (Macy) Ohmes.

Mack lived his life with passion and purpose and continued to live life to the fullest, until the very end. His determination to follow his dreams led him to many adventures in his life. As a boy growing up in Elyria, he taught himself magic and began performing at comedy clubs in Cleveland. He continued to perform magic as an entertainer on Royal Caribbean and later as Shuffles the clown and the Magic of Mack, in Cleveland. His talent took him to New York, where he founded an improvisational group. Mack was happiest performing on stage and making an audience laugh. Mack served in the army and the National Guard in both Ohio and California. He had the opportunity to travel to Asia and Europe with his job as a computer project manager.

He reconnected with the love of his life, Tina, in San Francisco and they were married on Eternity Beach in Hawaii in 2002. At 45, Mack returned to Kent State where he had been a student 20 years previously, and completed his undergraduate degree. He went directly into the Masters Teaching Program and graduated with Honors the following year. He taught high school math at the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Correction Facility and most recently at St. Martin de Porres High School in Cleveland. Even on the most difficult days of teaching, Mack was inspired by the potential he saw in students. He often said that he understood how important it was to have someone believe in them. And he did.

He loved the game of baseball and had the opportunity to coach the freshman team at Hudson High School. Friends and family generously contributed for Mack to attend one day Indians experience at Progressive Field. He was thrilled to live out his dream and meet his baseball idols. He was an avid baseball fan, scoring every game he attended and loved his Indians, no matter the outcome. He collected baseball, Kiss and magic memorabilia and enjoyed Sudoku, reading and Farmville. A huge movie fan, Mack collected his favorites and loved gathering the family for movie nights and popcorn. He was an optimist. Even in the face of a dire prognosis, Mack found a way to keep living.

During this chapter of his journey, Mack was humbled by the kindness and generosity of friends, family and those he had never met. He said that he had seen the best in people and that it had restored his faith in man and God.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to St. Martin de Porres High School, 6111 Lausche Ave., Cleveland, OH 44103, in honor of Mack Starkey.

Friends may call at THE FERFOLIA FUNERAL HOME, 356 W. AURORA RD. (OH RTE. 82), SAGAMORE HILLS, FOR VISITATION FRIDAY, 2 - 4 AND 6 - 8 P.M. Family and friends are invited to gather at Hudson Community Church, 750 Streetsboro St. (Rte. 303), Hudson, where a Memorial Service will be held Saturday, February 6, 2010, at 1:30 p.m.

Supplemental Spiritwear Order

2010-01-13T15:38:00.000-05:00

HUDSON- Tom Long, supplier of Hudson baseball and softball spiritwear, has green-lighted a supplemental order of spiritwear.

Here is how it will work:

1.) Use the same form as before (on Spiritwear webpage)

2.) Forms must be turned in to Coach Schilling or mailed to Mr. Long no later than Tuesday, January 26, 2010.

3.) Goods will be distributed to players no later than Friday, March 05, 2010.

Things to remember: If we don't get sufficient volume Mr. Long will not accept the order and will refund all money.

Sunday, 1/10: Open Gym at Akron U

2010-01-09T19:34:00.000-05:00

AKRON- Sunday's open gym will be held at the Stile Athletics Field House on the campus of the University of Akron. Parking is located on the south side of Infocision Stadium in Lot 9. Parking is not permitted on Union St., Vine St., or in Lot 6.

Access to the Field House must be made through the main entrance on the west side of the building from Union St.

Click here for a map of the University of Akron athletic facilities parking. [PDF]

HABC Fundraiser: Night at the Races

2009-09-15T12:02:00.002-04:00

The Hudson Athletic Booster Club is holding its fall fundraising event on Saturday, October 10, 2009. The event will be held at Emidio and Sons Banquet Center and will kick off at 7:00pm.

The $40 ticket price includes dinner and drinks (beer/wine/pop). There will be 11 races to wager on, as well as live and silent auctions. There is also an opportunity to "buy" a horse for $20 each. Horse owners win $50 if their horse wins a race. Owners must be present to win.

If you have any questions or would like to pay by credit card, call the hotline at 330-528-0201.

Registration form

Program Advertising Form, Advertising Examples

Emidio and Sons Banquet Center Map

Coach Schilling inducted to Hall of Fame

2009-06-25T10:29:00.002-04:00

CLEVELAND- At a ceremony at Progressive Field on Wednesday between innings of the Northeast Ohio Baseball Coaches Association All-Star Game, Coach Schilling was inducted into the NEOBCA Hall of Fame.

Schilling follows George Sosebee (1982) to become the second Hudson coach to receive this honor. Euclid and Cuyahoga Falls are the only other schools to have multiple coaches with the NEOBCA distinction.

Schilling eclipsed the 300 win mark in 2004 and sits just six wins short of 400 (394-210). He has also guided the Explorers to eight league titles, 15 sectional championships, two district crowns, and one regional title.

Cinadr makes pro debut

2009-06-24T10:22:00.002-04:00

FISHKILL, NY- Jeff Cinadr made his professional debut on Tuesday for the Hudson Valley Renegades, the short season-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Cinadr threw an inning and two-thirds in hitless relief, giving up a walk and a run as the Renegades fell to the Brooklyn Cyclones, 7-3.

Cinadr picked by Rays

2009-06-11T17:21:00.002-04:00

TAMPA- With the 1099th pick in the 2009 Major League Baseball Entry Draft, the Tampa Bay Rays select right-handed pitcher Jeff Cinadr from the University of Toledo.

In his senior season with the Rockets Cinadr, a 2005 graduate of Hudson High School, led the Rockets in pitching appearances and was second on the team in saves. Jeff limited opposing hitters to a .213 batting average and struck out 34 batters in 39 innings.

Glass slipper shatters

2009-05-23T00:12:00.003-04:00

HUDSON- The Cinderella-story of the 13-seed Explorers ended on Friday as they were topped by #1 Brecksville-Broadview Heights, 5-0.

The shutout loss was only the second for Hudson on the season -- the other being the first game of the season against mighty Strongsville.

Despite being on the hook for the loss, starter Eric Lukingbeal threw a nice game and kept the Bees within reach, giving up four runs in 4 2/3 innings of work. Zack Barley finished up the game on the mound, surrendering one run in 2 1/3 solid innings.

The Brecksville hurler Mancuso was effective at holding the Hudson bats in check. The Explorer offense scattered three hits over the game, two from 9-hole hitter Anthony Wallis.

The Explorers put a nice finish on a challenging season. The program bids adieu to lone senior James Stribrny, but will look forward to returning a roster full of seniors and juniors with significant varsity experience in 2010. A banquet date has not yet been announced.

Wahoo! What a win!

2009-05-22T15:00:00.002-04:00

HUDSON- The Varsity overcame a 7-3 deficit heading into the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat the Solon Comets, 8-7, in the District Semifinals.

Zac Edwards had a rough start to his outing, giving up three runs to the Comets in the first inning. Edwards did settle down in the middle of his outing, giving up just one run over three innings. He would cough up three more runs to Solon as he started to run out of gas in the fifth inning.

Tyler Merrill finished up the game with two scoreless innings and picked up the win.

The remarkable seventh inning was a product of the entire lineup. Feng, Wallis, Lentz, Woods, and Toth all reached base and scored, while Ramsay and Calabrese reached and were stranded as the game ended. Andrew Mercer successfully laid down a sacrifice bunt and Forrest Johnson drove in the game winning run (Toth) on a sacrifice fly to right field.

The Explorers advance to the District Championship on Friday at 4:30pm at The Ballpark and will face the Brecksville-Broadview Heights Bees.

Varsity ekes out win over Firestone

2009-05-20T09:44:00.001-04:00

Green grabs win over Varsity

2009-05-19T16:50:00.000-04:00

JV bitten by Bulldogs

2009-05-19T15:51:00.000-04:00

Varsity topples Twinsburg

2009-05-16T19:56:00.003-04:00

TWINSBURG- Despite gray skies and intermittent rain, the Varsity (11-16) traveled north and beat the Twinsburg Tigers (19-5), 10-3, in the Sectional Finals.

Hudson jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but would surrender the lead in the bottom of the second when three Tigers made it around the bases.

The young Explorers showed their resilience as they responded with four runs of their own in the next half inning to go up, 5-3.

After the rough second inning, Eric Lukingbeal (2-2) settled down and cruised to the complete game victory. Lukingbeal did not surrender a walk in the game.

Despite the lead and the Twinsburg pitching carousel (five pitchers in seven innings), the Hudson offense was not finished. They added one run in the fifth and another four-spot in the sixth.

The Varsity advances to the District Semifinals next Thursday, May 21 at 7:00 pm against the Solon Comets. District games will be played at The Ballpark in Hudson.

Varsity advances to sectional final

2009-05-16T01:26:00.001-04:00

Sectional game pushed to Friday

2009-05-14T15:46:00.002-04:00

CUYAHOGA FALLS- Rain on Wednesday night and Thursday morning has forced the postponement of the Sectional Semifinal game with the Black Tigers to Friday, May 15.

Varsity buzzes Medina

2009-05-13T10:04:00.000-04:00

Bees best JV

2009-05-13T09:06:00.000-04:00

Mayfield eclipses Varsity

2009-05-12T12:16:00.001-04:00

JV muscles past Mayfield

2009-05-11T19:55:00.001-04:00

JV smashes St. Ignatius

2009-05-10T15:18:00.000-04:00

Varsity sweeps unusual DH

2009-05-09T15:15:00.000-04:00

JV cuts down CF

2009-05-09T13:17:00.000-04:00

Blue Devils scrape past Varsity

2009-05-08T11:22:00.001-04:00

Varsity adds game

2009-05-07T12:33:00.001-04:00

KENT- The Varsity has added a game for Thursday, May 7. They will travel over to Kent State to take on Tallmadge at Schoonover Stadium. Gametime is 5:00pm.

5/6: All games postponed

2009-05-06T16:44:00.002-04:00

HUDSON- Due to late afternoon showers, the Wednesday games against Cuyahoga Falls have been postponed to Friday, May 8.

The JV will take on the Black Tigers at 4:30pm at The Ballpark and the Freshmen will travel with the Varsity to Waterworks Park for 4:30pm tilts.

The Varsity will then complete an unusual doubleheader when the return home to host the Highland Hornets under The Ballpark's lights at 7:00pm.