Category: News

5-22-2010 vs. Lyons Township Lions

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
NCWHS Wildcats	0	0	0	0	2	0	1	3	9	3
Lyons Township	0	0	0	1	0	0	2	5	5	1

Walk Off Beats the Wildcats

A walk off three run homer with two outs in the bottom of the 7^th inning led the Lyons Township Lions to a 5-3 victory over the Normal West Wildcats at Lyons.  The Wildcats looked to have the game in hand, but a couple of late errors gave the Lions extra opportunities and they took advantage, scoring four runs in the last at bat.  The loss drops the Wildcats to 25-7 while the Lions move to 23-10.

 The game was a matchup of team aces that lived up to its billing.  Kyle Vaughn tossed the first four and two thirds innings, giving up one run on three hits.  Jason Cullen came on and got the Wildcats out of the 5^th inning with a runner on and closed the door in the 6^th before giving up four unearned runs in the 7^th on only two hits.  The outfield worked hard all day, recording thirteen outs, including a diving stab by Tyler Emmerson in right field.

After falling behind 1-0, the Wildcats came right back in the 5^th inning to take the lead.  Kyle Vaugn led off with a walk and got moved to second by Michael Collins.  With two outs, Jason Cullen singled to right to score Vaughn.  Jacob Birlingmaier then doubled off the center field wall to score Cullen with the go ahead run.  The Wildcats added a run in the 7^th when Brock Stewart singled, Cullen singled to left and Birlingmaier brought him in with a single to center.  Birlingmaier led the Wildcats with three hits while Stewart and Cullen had two each.  Birlingmaier also had two runs batted in.

The Wildcats return to action on Monday at home for Senior Day against Decatur MacArthur, which was rained out last Thursday.

5-18-2010 vs. Decatur MacArthur Generals

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NCWHS Wildcats	0	0	0	1	4	0	5	10	9	4
MacArthur Generals	2	0	7	0	0	0	2	11	10	1

Wildcats Fall to the Generals

The Normal West Wildcats came all the way back from a 9-0 deficit, but couldn’t make it stand up, losing to the Decatur MacArthur Generals 11-10 in a Big 12 Conference game at Decatur.  The loss drops the Wildcats to 25-7 overall and 11-1 in the conference. 

The Generals broke out early with two runs in the 1^st inning and seven in the 3^rd inning before the Wildcats could get on the scoreboard.  A Wes Sery one out single, followed by walks to Erik Sipes and Brandon Zwaga loaded the bases and Trey Rogers broke the goose egg with a sacrifice fly to center.  In the 5^th inning, the Wildcats gained momentum when Kyle Vaughn singled and Alex Jefferson doubled him home with a shot to right center.  A Brock Stewart infield followed by a fielder’s choice put runners at the corners.  A wild pitch scored Jefferson and then Erik Sipes cracked a two-run homer to left.

 In the dramatic 7^th inning, Jefferson, Stewart and Jason Cullen walked to load the bases with no outs.  Wes Sery’s grounder was misplayed by the General second baseman to bring in a run before Erik Sipes lined a double down the left field line to score Stewart and Cullen.  After Sery scored on a wild pitch to tie the game, Tyler Emmerson smashed a triple to right center to put the Wildcats in the lead. 

The Generals, however, were able to score two runs in the bottom of the seventh on a triple and a double.  The winning run scored on a controversial infield out as the batter potentially interfered with a throw from first base to home.  The base umpire had signaled interference, but after a conference with the plate umpire, waived it off to end the game.

 Kyle Vaughn, Wes Sery and Erik Sipes led the Wildcats with two hits while Sipes had four runs batted in.

Alex Jefferson took the loss on the hill.  He worked 3 2/3 innings after taking over for Michael Collins to start the 4^th, giving up two runs on two hits and a walk and striking out six.  Collins went three innings, allowing nine runs, but only two earned on eight hits with two walks and a strikeout.

The Wildcats get another chance at the Generals on Thursday at West Varsity Field, where they will be celebrating Senior Day.

5-15-2010 vs. Danville Vikings

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Danville Vikings	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	4	8	2
NCWHS Wildcats	0	0	3	3	0	0	X	6	4	1

 

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Danville Vikings	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	2	8	0
NCWHS Wildcats	2	2	0	0	2	0	X	6	10	0

Wildcats Sweep the Vikings

Adam Seifert slammed the door on the Vikings, entering the game in the top of the 3^rd inning with no outs and runs on second and third and a 3-0 deficit.  After allowing one runner to score on an error by himself, he got a strikeout and a pop up to get out of the jam.  Brock Stewart’s three-run homer to center field in the bottom of the inning got the momentum fully on the Normal West Wildcats side as they clinched the Big 12 conference championship with a 6-4 first game victory over the Danville Vikings.  Jason Cullen kept the Vikings bats silenced with five shutout innings to start the second game as the Wildcats went on to a 6-2 win.  The Wildcats are now 25-6 overall and 11-0 in conference.

Seifert gave up a one out double and then a single in the 5^th inning to put runners in scoring position, but a fly to center field and a strikeout ended that threat.  Over his five innings, Seifert allowed only the two hits and struck out six to get the win.  Erik Sipes started for the Wildcats and was charged with four runs on six hits with a walk and a strikeout. 

After falling behind 3-0, the Wildcats broke out in the 3^rd inning.  Seifert singled to right before Michael Collins walked.  Stewart then smashed one straight over the center field fence for a real momentum boost.  In the 4^th, Alex Jefferson tripled over the centerfielders head to start the rally.  Wes Sery singled up the middle to score Jefferson and went to second on a Danville error.  Trey Rogers sacrifice bunt was misplayed by the Vikings and Adam Seifert got hit by a pitch to load the bases.  Kyle Vaughn lifted a sacrifice fly to left to score Sery and after a balk, a Stewart fly down the left field line scored Rogers.

The Wildcats were held to four hits from Stewart, Jefferson, Sery and Seifert.  Stewart had four RBIs.

In the second game, Cullen handcuffed the Vikings with some defensive help.  In the 1^st inning, a Rogers to Collins to Sipes 4-6-3 double play ended the inning.  Cullen picked off a runner who had singled in the 2^nd inning and regularly got key outs with runners on base.  Cullen picked up the win, giving up five hits and a walk with three strikeouts.  Brandon Brittin closed the door in the last two innings, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk.

Alex Jefferson got the offense started for the Wildcats with a double to right center.  After stealing third base, he scored on a Stewart single to right.  Jason Cullen followed with a single to left and Jacob Birlingmaier placed a bunt single perfectly down the third base line to load the bases.  Erik Sipes drove in Stewart with a fly ball to center.  In the 2^nd, Brandon Zwaga singled to left and scored on an Adam Seifert double to right.  After Jefferson bunted him to third, Seifert scored on a Collins single.  In the 5^th inning, Stewart led off with a single up the middle and stolen base.  Erik Sipes got plunked and then Wes Sery brought them both home with a double to left center. 

Stewart and Jefferson (two doubles) led the Wildcats with two hits while Sery had two RBIs.

Despite the unexpectedly rainy weather, the teams and fans were treated to a playing of “It’s a Sunshine Day” from the Brady Bunch between innings during the second game.  The Wildcats travel to Decatur on Tuesday to take on the MacArthur Generals at 4:30.