McKinley recovering after heart attack

The Hawken athletic family took a hit last week when softball coach Pat McKinley suffered a heart attack during the Hawks' 6-1 victory over Fairport Harbor.

McKinley, 52, is recovering at the Cleveland Clinic after undergoing bypass surgery on Saturday.

Assistant coach Pam Smrdel will be mainly responsible for taking over for McKinley, with fellow assistant John Luskin helping out.

Smrdel, who has been an assistant to McKinley for seven years, said the surgery was a success and McKinley is in stable condition.

"He's doing fine," Smrdel said. "For me, it's relieving. He's on his way back.

"It was unnerving. Everyone just wants him back."

Smrdel said McKinley hasn't gotten down about the situation.

"He definitely has a positive attitude about everything," Smrdel said.

Hawken athletic director Jim Doyle said he was glad to hear McKinley had successful surgery.

"He came out very well," Doyle said. "That's very positive. He's in recovery."

Doyle said McKinley could be home in a week possibly.

Smrdel said McKinley said he wasn't feeling well in the fourth inning. He started getting sick before his wife drove him to Lake East Hospital.

From there, he was life-flighted to Lake West Hospital before transport to the Cleveland Clinic.

Smrdel said she thought it had something to do with an upper respiratory infection that McKinley was working through last week.

"It was out of the blue," Smrdel said. "We never expected it. He ran practice all week without a problem."

Hawken continued its schedule without McKinley as the Hawks lost, 10-0, to Independence to fall to 1-2.

"I think the kids had Coach on their minds," Smrdel said.

Hawken takes the field again at 4:30 p.m. Friday at home against rival Gilmour Academy.

Doyle said there is no timetable on McKinley's return.

"That's not part of the conversation at this point," Doyle said....