Author: Chris Seifert

04-09-2010 vs. Chatham Glenwood Titans

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
CG Titans	0	0	4	1	0	2	0	7	8	0
NCWHS Wildcats	1	0	4	3	1	0	X	9	11	3

Hot Wildcat Bats Beat the Titans

 

The Normal West Wildcats have been relatively quiet for two games in a row, but they came alive in a 9-7 victory over previously undefeated Chatham Glenwood.  Jason Cullen smacked a three-run home run over the left field fence in the 4^th inning to put the Wildcats up for good at 8-5.  It was Cullen’s second hit in as many innings as the middle of the Wildcat order all had two hits on the game.  Kyle Vaughn moved to 3-0 on the season with another strong pitching performance, as the first five runs he gave up were all unearned.  The Wildcats evened their overall record at 5-5.

Vaughn threw the first six innings on a nice day for baseball.  He allowed seven runs, but only two were earned on eight hits with a strikeout and two walks.  Erik Sipes earned his first save of the season, relieving Vaughn with a runner on first and no outs in the 7^th.  He got two strikeouts and a groundout to close out the win.

The Wildcats scored in the 1^st inning for the eighth time in ten games as Brock Stewart singled to left and Jason Cullen walked to move him up.  Jacob Birlingmaier stroked an RBI single up the middle to put the ‘Cats on the board first.  After going down 4-1 in the 3^rd inning, the Wildcats got four of their own.  Adam Seifert led off with a single to right and Brock Stewart doubled to left center.  Jason Cullen hit an RBI single to left put runners on the corners ahead of a Jacob Birlingmaier single off the pitcher to plate Stewart.  After  Kyle Vaughn sacrificed the runners up, Erik Sipes doubled down the left field line to drive them in.

In the 4^th inning, Seifert and Stewart walks were followed by Cullen’s 5^th homer of the year.  The Wildcats added their final run in the 5^th inning on a Michael Collins walk and an Adam Seifert double to left center.  Seifert, Stewart, Cullen and Birlingmaier all had two hits and Cullen had four runs batted in while Birlingmaier and Sipes both had two.

The Wildcats play a doubleheader in Lasalle-Peru tomorrow at 11:00 against the Cavaliers.

4-3-2010 vs. Metamora Redbirds

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Metamora Redbirds	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	3	8	0
NCWHS Wildcats	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	2	6	2

Wildcats fall to Redbirds 3-2

On a day when most area teams probably didn’t play due to wet field conditions, the Normal West Wildcats got their game with Metamora moved to West Varsity Field and got the field in great shape for a late afternoon matchup.  Unfortunately, the Redbirds dashed the Wildcats hopes of a three game win streak with a two out, two run homer in the top of the 7^th to take the win, 3-2.  The Wildcats fall to 4-5 on the season with the loss.

Wildcat starter Erik Sipes pitched well, but took the loss, dropping to 1-2 for the year.  Sipes had the Redbirds in control for the first six innings, only allowing a single run on two bases hits in the 1^st.  He had gotten eight straight outs before a one out double in the 7^th set the stage for the Redbird game winner.  Sipes allowed three runs over seven innings, with eight hits, five strikeouts and no walks.

The Wildcat bats were pretty quiet, getting only six hits in the game.  Jason Cullen singled, stole a base and came in to score on a Sipes single in the second to tie the score at 1-1.  The Wildcats looked like they were going to pull it out for the second day in a row when they scored in the bottom of the 6^th on a walk to Adam Seifert, a fielders choice putting Michael Collins on, a Brock Stewart single up the middle and a Jason Cullen double down the left field line, scoring Collins.  Cullen led the Wildcat with two hits for the game.

The Wildcats have a few days off after playing four days in a row.  They return to action next Friday, 4/9 at home against Chatham Glenwood.

Wildcats Win JV Game

The West Wildcats won the Junior Varsity second game with the Redbirds 5-1.  Trey Rogers pitched five innings of scoreless baseball and Tyler Emmerson had two hits, two RBIs and two runs to lead the Wildcat batters.

04-02-2010 vs. East Peoria Raiders

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	R	H	E
NCWHS Wildcats	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	1	4	7	2
East Peoria Raiders	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	3	6	1

Cullen and Vaughn lead Wildcats past East Peoria

With a strong wind blowing out to left, it felt like a hitter’s day at Dave Rodgers Field in East Peoria, but Wildcat pitcher Kyle Vaughn kept the Raiders in check.  When Jason Cullen pounded a solo home run to right center in the top of the 8^th inning, the Wildcats took their first lead and went on to win 4-3.  The Wildcats evened their record at 4-4.

Vaughn gave up a lead off home run and another unearned run in the 1^st inning, but pretty much shut down the Raiders after that.   The Wildcats got a run of their own in the 2^nd inning after Jacob Birlingmaier walked.  Brandon Zwaga, courtesy running for Birlingmaier, moved up to second on an infield out and scored on a close play at the plate when Erik Sipes singled to center.   The Raiders added an unearned run in the 6^th inning to make the lead 3-1, but the Wildcat bats finally broke out in the 7^th to tie the game.  Birlingmaier and Wes Sery singled before Brandon Brittin legged out an infield hit to load the bases with one out.  Kyle Vaughn stroked an  RBI single to center to cut the lead to 3-2.  Then Adam Seifert flew out to center field to score Sery with the tying run.

After Vaughn set the Raiders down in order, Jason Cullen belted a dramatic home run over the right center field wall to put the Wildcats in the lead.  Vaughn finished the Raiders off with another 1-2-3 inning to end the game and raise his record to 2-0.  Kyle pitched eight innings, giving up one earned run on six hits, with three strikeouts and one walk. 

Cullen’s home run highlighted the Wildcat offense, with seven different hitters getting a hit and Sipes, Vaughn, Seifert and Cullen getting RBIs.