Waubonsie Valley sweeps UEC twin bill
Waubonsie Valley's baseball team took its post-prom party over to Neuqua Valley on Saturday.
By the time the afternoon was over, the Warriors felt like dancing all over again.
A day after the school's big shindig, Waubonsie Valley swept an Upstate Eight Conference doubleheader against its District 204 rivals. The Warriors won the opener 11-9 and capped the afternoon with a 5-3 eight-inning Game 2 win.
The sweep not only brings Neuqua Valley (13-8, 8-3) back to the pack in the UEC, it also puts Waubonsie Valley (10-9, 9-4) in play as a title contender. With seven wins in their last eight games, the Warriors are above the .500 mark for the first time this season.
"The kids are starting to get confident again," said Waubonsie Valley coach Dan Fezzuoglio. "I think playing those tight games early was a huge factor here."
The Warriors, in fact, have nine losses by a total of only 19 runs. A month into the season, they're learning to win the close ones.
Saturday's second game proved especially close after the Wildcats sent it to extra innings on Kyle Mener's fifth-inning RBI single.
Kris Singh blasted the go-ahead home run in the top of the eighth and Kevin Kirchner added insurance with a sacrifice fly. Sean Smith (2-0), finishing 32/3 innings of scoreless relief, retired the Wildcats in the bottom of the eighth to seal the sweep and end a six-game losing streak to Neuqua Valley.
"We've been on a roll lately and we came up here with a positive attitude," Singh said. "Swinging sticks and playing 'D,' we thought we were going to do fine. This gives us a lot of motivation."
Singh (2-3) gutted through 6 innings to win the opener, overcoming a 5-run second inning by Neuqua Valley. The Warriors responded with a 6-run fifth to build a 10-5 lead and then took an 11-7 lead to the bottom of the seventh.
Neuqua Valley scored twice and had the tying runs on base, but Kirchner coaxed a groundout to earn the save.
Singh went 3-for-4 in the opener and had 2 RBI along with Kirchner and Ryne Gill. The Wildcats' Mike Bogar had 4 RBI and Alex Lincoln added two more. Losing pitcher Mike McKinley (2-2) reached base all four times to the plate.
In the second game Trevor Romeo smacked a key 2-run single for the Warriors. After stranding six runners in Game 1, the Wildcats stranded eight of their 11 runners in scoring position in the second game.
"The better team won today, both games," said Wildcats coach Robin Renner. "It's just a tough day, but that happens to high school kids."
BOX SCORES
Waubonsie Valley 11, Neuqua Valley 9 (Game 1)
Waubonsie Valley 031 060 1 -11-10-5
Neuqua Valley 050 020 2 -9-8-4
2B: WV: Singh. NV: Mener 2, Bogar, Lincoln.
WP: Singh (2-3) LP: McKinley (2-2).
Waubonsie Valley 5, Neuqua Valley 3 (Game 2)
Waubonsie Valley 000 300 02 -5-9-1
Neuqua Valley 100 110 0 -3-8-0
2B: WV: Carius. NV: Ippolito 2; HR: Singh
WP: Smith (2-0) LP: Provow (1-1).