BASEBALL: Eagles improve to 31-21, look to postseason
By Billy Cruz
IV Leader Assistant Sports Editor
After going 14-14 in their first 28 games to open the season, the men’s baseball team has bounced back to win 17 of their last 24 ball games to improve to 31-21 on the year and 11-7 in the Arrowhead Conference as of press time.
This past week the Eagles went 5-3, which included a doubleheader sweep of Sauk Valley on April 25, 2-1 and 8-6. Billy Terry improved to 6-3 on the season, as he was the victorious pitcher in game one, while teammate Brock Keffer moved his record to 3-1 with the win in the second game.
The following day, IVCC split a doubleheader with Prairie State, dropping the opener, 3-2, before regrouping to claim a 5-0 win in the nightcap. Ned Schauff scattered three hits in six innings of work while he improved his pitching record to a perfect 6-0 mark.
This past Sunday the Eagles played four games as they displayed a split squad. IVCC split a doubleheader at Kankakee, winning the first game 9-4 despite being out hit 12-10 in the game. Nathan Miller recorded his fourth win of the season, while Ryan Wagner provided the offensive attack with a homerun for the Eagles. Jake Milligan added a triple and a double and Justin Petitt and Kent Graff each doubled respectively in a winning cause. Jim Sanew, Milligan, and Petitt each had multiple hits.
In game two, IVCC led 6-0 through 2 ½ innings, but could not hold onto the lead as they dropped the second game 9-7. Josh Hoffman was tagged with the loss on the mound. It was Wagner and Graff again leading the way with a double a piece for IVCC. Graff went 4-4 at the plate and Brad Dutton went 3-4, while Ben Albury and Milligan each had two hits apiece.
The Eagles split another twin bill that same day against Carl Sandburg, as they lost the opener 6-5 and won the second game 4-0 at Centennial Field in Ladd.
In game one, Jake Resser (1-4) was handed the loss on the mound. Tommy Hume went 3-3 at the plate including a double, while teammate Justin Immel went 2-3, also collecting a double.
In game two, the Eagles received a brilliant pitching performance from Matt Muilenburg as he tossed a no-hitter. Justin Immel went 2-4 at the plate including a double, while Jim Weber and Tommy Hume each recorded a double as well.
With the postseason getting underway next week, IVCC head coach Bob Koopmann is pleased with his team’s performance thus far and feels they have lived up to their standards, while improving along the way.
“We have been playing much better and we have been playing as a group,” said Koopmann. “We have won 17 of our last 24 games after going 14-14 to open the season so we have come a long way. This team has done well with all of the expectations they had on them.
“Our remaining goal is to make that one step further than last year’s loss to Parkland in the state championship game so I guess we will have to wait and see.”
At a seeding meeting at Waubonsee Community College on April 29, the Eagles received the 6th seed in their Region IV Sectional that will be played at Moraine Valley. IVCC will begin their postseason run on May 4, when they will play Prairie State and host Moraine Valley.