East Peoria 4-1-2011 Varsity

4-1-2011 vs. East Peoria Raiders

 

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Wildcats Regain momentum with win over Raiders

The Normal West Wildcats had the game in their grasp twice against the East Peoria Raiders, but it took a third attempt before they could secure the 7 – 4 victory firmly in a twelve inning marathon at windy Dave Rodgers Field in East Peoria.  After the Wildcat bats were very quiet for five innings, they came alive in the 6th to produce a 3 -1 lead.  The Raiders, though, got a two run homer in the bottom of the 7th to stay alive for the first time.  They rallied from two outs and no one on in the 10th to tie it again, but the Wildcats took control with three runs in the 12th to up their record to 5-3 on the season.

Adam Seifert looked like the hero in the 6th when his double plated two to put the Wildcats up 3-1.  Ryan Speller took that role in the 10th when his single put the Wildcats up 4-3, but he had to do it again in the 12th when his double to left scored Wes Sery with the eventual winning run.

04-01-11 v East Peoria Varsity
Wes Sery (click on photo to see full set)

It was a topsy turvy game with the first five innings being played in under an hour and the last seven taking a lot longer than that.  Matthew James had the Raiders in control after a first inning double had staked them to a 1-0 lead.  He struck out nine and only allowed an infield single and the double in the first six innings, facing only one over the minimum.  The Wildcats had only three singles themselves when James hit a two out double down the right field line in the 6th inning.  Erik Sipes stroked a single to right center to tie the game and then stole second base.  After a walk to Wes Sery, Adam Seifert doubled down the left field line to drive them both in. 

After the Raiders tied it in the 7th, the 8th and 9th were scoreless.  Adam Seifert came on for the Wildcats with a runner on second in the 9th and fought out of a jam with runners on second and third by striking one out and getting a grounder to end the threat.  In the 10th, the Wildcats got their run when James led off with a walk, got sacrificed over, and scored on a Speller single.  The Wildcats couldn’t hold the lead, though, and the game went to the 12th inning tied at 4. 

Wes Sery led off with a double to right center, was sacrifice to second and scored on a Speller double to the corner in left.  After Garrett Cook walked, Alex Jefferson brought them both in with a triple right center.  Jefferson led the Wildcats with three hits, while James and Speller had two each.  Jefferson, Seifert and Speller each had two RBIs for the Wildcats.

Seifert got the win for the Wildcats, going four innings in relief and allowing one run on three hits, two walks and three strikeouts.  James threw eight innings, allowing three runs on seven hits with no walks and nine strikeouts.  Adam McGinnis continued his strong play behind the plate, throwing out two attempt base stealers to make it 5 for 7 on the season.

The Wildcats return to action quickly with a split doublehead at home against Metamora and Ottawa on Saturday.

Springfield SH Griffin 03-31-2011 Varsity

3-31-2011 vs. Springfield Sacred Heart Griffin Cyclones

 

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Wildcats Fall to the Cyclones

The Normal West Wildcats lost 3 – 1 in a pitcher’s duel to Springfield SH Griffin at West Varsity Field on Thursday.  Dustin Detweiler pitched well for the Wildcats, but one error plagued inning made the difference as the Cats’ record falls to 4-3 on the season.

Detweiler was the hard luck loser, pitching the first five innings and only giving up three unearned runs on six hits with two walks, a hit batter and three strikeouts.  Ryan Speller pitched the last two innings, facing the minimum when his one walk turned into a ground ball double play.

03-31-11 v SHG Varsity
Dustin Detweiler (click on photo to see full set)

The Wildcats only run came in the 3rd inning when Speller led off with a single and stole second base.  A Garrett Cook ground ball caught Speller in a rundown between second and third, but allowed Cook to take second base.  Alex Jefferson then singled him home.  Adam McGinnis led the Wildcats with two hits on the game.

The Wildcats return to action tomorrow at East Peoria against the Raiders at Dave Rodgers field.

Pekin 03-29-2011 Varsity

3-29-2011 vs. Pekin Dragons

 

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Wildcats Fall to the Dragons

The Normal West Wildcats lost to the Pekin Dragons at chilly West Varsity Field 6-2 in a game the Wildcats would like to soon forget.  Sloppy fielding got the Wildcats down early and the offense couldn’t solve hard throwing southpaw Beau Barnes.  The Wildcats fall to 4-2 with the loss.

Kyle Vaughn was the hard luck loser for the Wildcats as unearned runs put them behind and they couldn’t get timely hits to drive in runners.  Vaughn tossed four innings, allowing six runs with four earned on six hits and two walks, three hit batters and four strikeouts.  Mac Byrd came on in the 5th and got three outs after a walk.  Matthew James finished up by striking out the first five hitters he faced and getting the sixth on a grounder.

03-29-11 v Pekin Varsity
Garrett Cook (click photo for full set)

 The Wildcat offense was pretty quiet.  It did draw seven walks and get hit once, but the only runs came on a Matthew James double to right, a strike out that got past the catcher to put runners at the corners and a Kyle Vaughn double over the center fielder to drive them in.  Alex Jefferson doubled for the Wildcats third hit.  Vaughn was on base three times with two walks to go along with his hit and Adam Seifert drew three walks.

The Wildcats get back in action quickly with a home game against the Springfield Sacred Heart Griffin Cyclones at 4:30 on Thursday.