Sophomore – Page 13 – Normal West Baseball

April 1, 2014January 1, 2019

Wildcats start slow, win big – defeat Rantoul 15-5

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
NCWHS	0	0	0	5	0	3	7	15	8	3
Rantoul	1	2	0	0	1	0	1	5	6	0

The West JV Wildcats picked up their fourth straight victory, defeating Rantoul 15-5 at soggy Wabash Park Friday evening.

Jake Rutkowski secured the win for the Cats, recording five strikeouts, scattering six hits, and allowing three earned runs over 5 strong innings of work. Zack Jones was dominant in relief, registering four more strikeouts while allowing no hits or earned runs over the final 2 frames.

Rutkowski (double, single, 5 RBIs), McCade Brown (2 doubles, 3 RBIs), and Jeremy Fischer (double, single, 3 RBIs) led the offense, with Jake Marti (homerun, 2 RBIs) delivering a towering home run to left field to cap off a seven run seventh inning for the Wildcats. Ben Smith (single, RBI) and Holden Lueck (RBI) also came up big for the Cats in the victory.

The Wildcats return to action Saturday, where they’ll face Metamora and Ottawa in a three-team round-robin at Normal West beginning at 10am.

March 30, 2014March 31, 2014

Sophomores vs. Lincoln – Game 2

3-29-2014 vs. Lincoln Railsplitters

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Lincoln	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	3	5
NCWHS Wildcats	1	1	2	0	4	1	X	9	9	1

Ericson and Nave combine for three hitter in 9-1 victory

Owen Ericson did not allow an earned run in 5 innings while striking out 9 and allowing just one walk. Brayden Nave pitched 2 scoreless innings to get the save. The Wildcats received two hits and 2 RBI from Connor Kennedy and Michael Gogan along with a hit and RBI apiece from Sam McDowell, Nave, Matt Ogden and Nate Beal. Kyler Stork also added a base hit and 2 stolen bases. The 5^th inning was highlighted defensively by Connor Kennedy fielding a base hit to right field and Storks relay throw to Matt Ogden at third to end a scoring threat.

West hosts Sacred Heart Griffin at 4:30 on Thursday.

Normal West record (3-0)

March 30, 2014March 30, 2014

Sophomores vs. Lincoln – Game 1

3-29-2014 vs. Lincoln Railsplitters

	1	2	3	4	5	R	H	E
Lincoln	3	0	2	0	0	5	6	4
NCWHS Wildcats	5	2	4	5	0	16	12	2

Wildcats bats stay hot

Matt Ogden had three hits and three RBI while earning the victory. On the mound, Ogden allowed no earned runs while striking out 4 and allowing just one walk in 3 1/3 innings. Michael Gogan pitched a scoreless 5^th inning while striking out the side. The Wildcats also received a single, double and three RBI from Nate Beal, two hits and an RBI from Gogan and a single and triple from Brock Hirn. Normal West also had 11 stolen bases with Dave Watson leading the way with 3 followed by Sam Fisher and Ogden with two apiece. Defensive gems include running catches by Watson in center and Cole Dillon in right along with Sam McDowell gunning down a runner attempting to steal for the second straight game.