Big bat ‘Cats keep on winning

By: 
Brent Sumner
Staff Writer

    Stand tall and carry a big stick. That’s what the Wildcat baseball team has been doing as they earned a dominating conference win over Sandwich, 10-4.
    The Indians took the initial lead, recording two runs in the bottom of the first, and added one more in the second to grab a 3-1 lead.
    From then on though, the game belonged to Wilmington (6-1 overall, 1-0 conference), as they scored one run in the third, four in the fifth, one in the sixth and three in the seventh.
    In the fifth inning, the Wildcats rallied to secure the go-ahead run.
    Josh Jones got things started by reaching first on an error, and would reach second after a balk from the pitcher.
    Brock Bolser followed with a single, pushing Jones to third.
    Jones put a run on the board by stealing home on a wild pitch.
    That was followed by an RBI single from RJ Van Duyne, pushing Bolser across the plate.
    Sam Jones recorded the final score of the inning with a home run, driving in two runs.
    On the day, Conner Dempsay, Bolser, Van Duyne and Mark Youngquist recorded two hits each.
    Sam Jones, Brett McWilliams and Josh Jones also added one hit each.
    Youngquist and McWilliams both recorded doubles.
    Dillon Tjelle got the start on the mound, pitching three innings. He surrendered three runs (one earned) off two hits, walked one and struck out three.
    Josh Jones recorded the win on the mound, putting in three innings of work. He let up just one earned run off six hits and walked one.
    Dempsay hurled the final inning, letting up no hits or runs, and striking out one.
    Wilmington’s game on Monday was cut suspended due to weather, as they faced Manteno again on Tuesday.
    The Wildcats will make up Monday’s game on Wednesday, and will then host Lisle on Thursday.
Wilmington 14,
St. Anne 1

    The Wildcats picked up another shortened win last Tuesday, as they defeated St. Anne in five innings.
    Wilmington got things started quickly, picking up three runs in the first and two more in the second. By the end of the third, the Wildcats had grown their lead to double-digits, taking a 12-0 lead.
    St. Anne would eventually get on the board in the fourth, but it was too little too late, as they recorded just one run.
    The Wildcats added three more runs in the fourth to padden their lead, as they picked up the 10-run rule win.
    Sam Jones played a big part in the offensive production, as he went 2-for-2 at the plate for a home run and a double. He finished with three RBIs and two runs scored.
    Van Duyne finished with two well-timed hits in the game, earning three RBIs and one run scored on his two singles.
    Dempsay, Jonathon Gholson, Bolser, Will Hainline and Garrett Roth also contributed hits in the win.
    Zach Mietzner picked up the win on the mound, lasting three innings. He let up just two hits, walked three and struck out three.
    Youngquist closed out the remaining two innings, letting up one unearned run off two hits and striking out one.