Hall of Fame
Talk about dodging bullets, Nick Cladis has had his record for most wins in a career challenged each of the past four seasons by the likes of Don Peters (29 wins), Tim Bojan (28), Steve Parris (25) and Cory Rogers (21). Nonetheless, the Bloom High School graduate's 30 victories has withstood the barrage of attacks to remain atop the heap. He also falls into the Top 10 slots of three other pitching categories: second in appearances (59), fourth in innings pitched (309), and sixth in strikeouts (203). Cladis was among the elite pitchers in 1983 in the Midwest when he joined Paul Assenmacher (now of the Chicago Cubs) and Tim Belcher (currently suited up in a Cincinnati Reds uniform) on the All-Area Six Team, finishing the season with a 9-3 mark and a 2.30 earned run average (second all-time). That included a 10-0, four-hit shutout against William Jewell (MO) in the World Series. Cladis sandwiched that season around nine victories in 1982 and eight wins in 1984. A two-time All-District 20 selection, as well, he finished his career with a 30-15 record.
