Category: News

6-02-2011 vs. Moline Maroons (Sectional Semi-Final)

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Moline Maroons	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	1
NCWHS Wildcats	0	0	0	0	2	0	X	2	5	0

 

Wildcats Beat the Maroons in Sectional Semi-Final 2-0

Matthew James continued his stellar tournament pitching, shutting out the Moline Maroons in a 2-0 victory, sending the Wildcats into Saturday’s Sectional Championship against Edwardsville.  The game was locked in pitcher’s duel between James and Moline’s Seth Fuller through four and a half innings, until the Wildcats broke loose for the two runs they needed.  Kyle Vaughn had the key double to break the ice.  The Wildcats improve to 31-7 on the year, tying the school record for wins in a season.

James faced only one over the minimum through the first four innings, but faced a threat in the 5^th when Moline got a one-out single and a walk.  James struck out the next hitter for the second out and got a lazy fly to left to end that inning.  After a quick 6^th inning, the Maroons threatened again in the 7^th.  A leadoff single to center was followed by a shallow fly to center by Fuller.  Another single just past shortstop Kyle Vaughn’s glove put two men on before a ground ball to second base for an out moved them into scoring position.  James struck out a pinch hitter, though, on a 1-2 curve ball to end the game.  James gave up five hits over seven innings, walking only one and striking out nine.

The Wildcats bats were not frightened by hard throwing Western Illinois recruit Seth Fuller.    The Wildcats only managed five hits, but only struck out three times and produced a lot of good battles at the plate.  An Alex Jefferson single and Wes Sery walk in the first did not produce anything and a Matthew James leadoff double in the second did not break the ice when he was cut down on a nice play by Fuller on a squeeze attempt.  In the 5^th,  James led off with a single up the middle before Erik Sipes sacrificed him to second.  Garrett Cook’s ground ball to short was thrown away for a key play in the game to put runners on the corners.  Vaughn then doubled into right center to score courtesy runner Ryan Speller and move Cook to third.  Jefferson drove a sacrifice fly to right to score Cook and make it 2-0.

James led the Wildcats with two hits while Vaughn, Jefferson and Seifert had the other.  Vaughn and Jefferson had the runs batted in.

The Wildcats face Edwardsville in the Sectional Championship at Jack Horenberger Field at IWU on Saturday at noon.

5-28-2011 vs. Normal Community Ironmen

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Normal Ironmen	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	4
NCWHS Wildcats	0	0	0	1	0	0	X	1	7	0

Wildcats Win Regional Championship

It’s good thing Matthew James showed up for the Normal West regional championship game for the Wildcats.  He slugged a 4^th inning home run for the only run of the game and pitched a two hit shutout to lead the Wildcats to their first regional championship since 2007.  The 1-0 victory over rival Normal Community raises the Wildcats record to 30-7 and sets up a sectional semifinal showdown with the Moline Maroons on Thursday.

James had the Ironmen’s number all morning, retiring the first ten batters he faced before Trent Winland blooped a single over first base in the 4^th inning.  James struck out the next two hitters to end that inning.  After a perfect 5^th, opposing pitcher Max Osnowitz lined a single to center to lead off the 6^th.   A failed bunt attempt resulted in the first out, followed by a popup to short and a ground ball to third to get out of that inning.  In the 7^th, a ground ball to short was followed by two strikeouts to end the tense game.  James pitched seven innings, giving up two hits and no walks with nine strikeouts.

The Wildcats had lots of opportunities to get some comfort, but the Ironmen continually made good defensive plays to thwart them.  In the 1^st inning, Kyle Vaugn led off with a single and Alex Jefferson followed with a bunt that was misplayed by the pitcher.  Wes Sery walked to load the bases, but after a fly ball Adam Seifert’s line drive to short turned into a double play.  In the 3^rd, the Wildcats had runners at second and third with two outs when Brent Turner made a big play in the hole to throw the batter out at first and end the threat. 

The Wildcats took the lead 1-0 in the 4^th when James hit a shot right down the right field line.  With the wind blowing in pretty strong from left, it cut across the wind to get out of the park.  The Wildcats left runners at third base and second and third base in the 5^th and 6^th innings respectively as well.  In the end, only the one run was needed.  Kyle Vaughn and Matthew James led the Wildcats with two hits each.

The Wildcats face Moline in the sectional semifinal Thursday at 6:00 at Illinois Wesleyan.  The Wildcats split two games with the Maroons early in the season.

5-25-2011 vs. Bradley Bourbonnais Raiders

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Bradley Raiders	0	0	0	0	0	X	X	0	4	2
NCWHS Wildcats	4	2	2	0	X	X	X	8	7	1

 

Wildcats Open Regional with Win

The Normal West Wildcats opened State Regional play with an 8-0 win over Bradley Bourbonnais at West Varsity Field.  With an impending storm coming in, the Wildcats got off to a fast start on a Trey Rogers 1^st inning home run and cruised to a weather-shortened five inning victory.  The win ups the Wildcats record to 29-7 and advances them to the Regional Championship on Saturday.

 In the 1^st, Kyle Vaughn led off with a walk before Alex Jefferson sacrificed him to second and he moved to third on an infield out.  Adam McGinnis got him by a pitch and stole second to set the stage for Adam Seifert to drive in the first run of the game with a single to right.  Trey Rogers followed that with a long home run, just to the right of the scoreboard to make it 4-0. 

In the 2^nd, Vaughn got a one out infield single, stole second, and moved to third on a passed ball.  With two outs, Wes Sery walked and when he stole second, Vaughn scored as the catchers couldn’t hold on to the return throw.  Sery then scored on Adam McGinnis’ triple over the rightfielder.  In the 3^rd, the Wildcats tacked on two more Trey Rogers singled to left and Matthew James doubled over the rightfielder to driver in Rogers.   After Erik Sipes sacrificed him to third, a balk brought him home for the final run of the game.

Rogers and James led the Wildcats with two hits while Rogers drove in three runs.

Matthew James was in control on the mound, picking up his seventh win of the season.   He started and went four innings, allowing no runs on three hits, with 3 strikeouts.  Dustin Detweiler pitched the fifth with a hit, a walk and a strikeout.

The Wildcats will face crosstown rival Normal Community in the Regional Championship on Saturday at 10:00