Seidler gives West Chicago a boost
Coming off a surprising regional championship run in 2014 and returning some experienced position players, including Butler-bound Conner Dall, West Chicago coach Dan McCarthy figured he could rely on the top of his order and his defense in 2015.
What he was uncertain of was the depth of his pitching staff beyond University of Illinois-Chicago commit Fred Gosbeth.
However, starts like the one Peyton Seidler put together on Tuesday afternoon at Addison Trail - a 2-hitter on just 92 pitches - stand to boost the veteran coach's confidence.
Seidler's mound performance powered a 9-2 win over the Blazers, and McCarthy hopes it's a sign of things to come for the Wildcats.
"It was critical that he went deep in the game and as long as he stayed under that 100 (pitch) count, we were fine staying with him. Obviously having the lead helped," McCarthy said.
West Chicago got on the scoreboard first when Dall scored on an error in the opening inning. However, Addison Trail manufactured a run to tie it in their half, though a failed bunt with no outs might have stymied the potential for more.
The unearned run and popped-up bunt were just the beginning of a rough day for the Blazers from an execution standpoint.
"The bottom line is we need to make routine plays and we didn't do it," Addison Trail coach Mike Kennedy said. "They got the hits and they executed and we didn't."
In the second inning No. 8 hitter Jake DeLuca poked an RBI single through the right side of the infield to give West Chicago the 2-1 lead. DeLuca added a 2-run single in the sixth to finish 2-for-4 with 3 RBI.
In the Addison Trail half of the second, Seidler began to settle in, striking out the side on his way to a 7-strikeout day.
"It's really big for me to be able to hit my spots so early in the season," Seidler said. "It definitely give me confidence."
With starter Christian Grabowski cruising through the middle innings, retiring 11 straight at one point, Addison Trail temporarily pulled to a tie in the fifth inning with an RBI sacrifice fly by Jaime Valdez that made it 2-2, but in the sixth West Chicago's bats blew the game open.
The Wildcats scored three runs off Grabowski and then another four off reliever Jake Crandal in the seventh to seal the win.