Category: 2010 Varsity News

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.

04-01-2010 vs. Springfield Sacred Heart Griffin Cyclones

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
NCHWS Wildcats	2	5	0	7	3	2	X	19	20	3
Griffin Cyclones	0	0	5	3	0	0	X	8	6	5

Wildcats Blow Away Cyclones

 The Normal West Wildcat offense was as hot as the weather, and it was no April Fools joke.  On a sunny, 86 degree day, ten Wildcats got base hits including eight with a multiple hit game.  Jason Cullen carried the largest stick with a pair of 2-run homers and a 2-run single to tally six RBIs on three hits.  Erik Sipes broke out with three base hits and 5-5 on base with two walks.  Adam Seifert added two RBIs to go with his two hits as the Wildcats pounded Cyclone pitching.  Michael Collins, Brock Stewart, Jacob Birlingmaier, Wes Sery and Kyle Vaughn all had two hits for the Wildcats.

Tyler Emmerson started for the Wildcats and gave up four earned runs on four hits with two strikeouts, two walks and a pair of hit batters.  Adam Seifert pitched three innings of relief without giving up an earned run to get the save.  He allowed three unearned runs on two hits, with three strikeouts and a walk.      

The Wildcats move to 3-4 on the season and play at East Peoria on Friday at 4:30.

03-31-2010 vs. Highland Park Giants at Illinois Wesleyan

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Highland Park Giants	4	0	1	3	2	2	1	13	17	4
NCWHS Wildcats	0	0	1	1	1	0	2	5	6	1

Wildcats Get Handled by the Giants

The Highland Park Giants were swinging hot bats on their way to a 13-5 victory over the Normal West Wildcats at Jack Horenberger Field at IWU on a gorgeous spring day.  The Giants raised their record to 4-0-1 while the Wildcats fell to 2-4. 

 Jacob Birlingmaier’s 4^th inning home run off the scoreboard in left center was the offensive highlight for the Wildcats.  Wes Sery singled to left in the 3^rd inning, moved to third base on a Giant infield error and scored on a wild pitch to get the Wildcats on the board.  In the 5^th inning, Erik Sipes doubled down the left field line to get things started and scored on Sery’s second single of the game.  Adam Seifert led off the 7^th by getting hit by a pitch, followed by a walk to Sipes.  After a wild pickoff attempt moved up the runners, Sery got his second RBI of the game with an infield ground out.  Trey Rogers then produced an RBI single to right to score Sipes.

Jason Cullen started for the Wildcats and took the loss.  He pitched four luckless innings, giving up eight runs on eleven hits, with two strikeouts and three walks.  Brandon Brittin pitched the final three innings, recording four strikeouts and only one walk. 

The Wildcats are right back in action tomorrow down at Lanphier Park in Springfield against Sacred Heart Griffin.