Eagles continue winning
By TERRY LIDY
The NCHS Eagles upped their record to 6-1 with non-conference victories over Little Illini foes Casey-Westfield and Cumberland.
On Monday at Boys & Girls Park, the Eagles banged out 12 hits and were aided by six Warriors errors in posting a 16-5 win. The Eagles scored three times in the first and the second and added two more in the third before Casey-Westfield rallied with two in the second and three in the third off winner Zak Snearley. Snearley blanked the Warriors over the final four frames to earn his second win of the season.
Eight Eagles hit safely as Alex Frohning went 3 for 4 including a double and a triple with three batted in. Kelby McCoy was 2 for 5 including a double with three batted in. A.J. Hyatt had two hits and scored three times. Peyton Wyatt, Scott Jansen, Jared Woodard, Connor Walters and Mark Fehrenbacher each had a hit for the Eagles.
Snearley went the distance allowing seven hits in throwing only 86 pitches. The junior righthander walked one and fanned six.
On Tuesday, the Eagles traveled to Toledo and defeated the Cumberland Pirates 12-3 as Dylan Casey got the victory on a five hitter. Casey walked five and fanned four Pirate hitters. Senior Kelby McCoy and sophomore Connor Walters led the attack with three hits each. McCoy was 3 for 5, scored three times and drove in two runners. Walters was also 3 for 5, scored three times and drove in three. Alex Frohning helped out with two hits including a double and drove in three Eagles.
The Eagles next host West Richland on Thursday and return to Apollo action on Saturday visiting Charleston.
Eagles split with Mt. Zion
By TERRY LIDY
The Eagles and the Braves divided a doubleheader last Saturday at Boys and Girls Park. Mt. Zion held off an Eagle rally to take the opener 6-3.
After the Eagles led 1-0 with a first inning run, Mt. Zion scored three times in the second and again in the third off Marc Brandenburg to take a 6-1 edge into the seventh. The Eagles rallied scoring twice, but fell short in the 6-3 outcome.
Peyton Wyatt led the attack with three hits including a homer with two runs batted in. A.J. Hyatt added two singles and Mark Mammoser had a RBI single. Marc Brandenburg went the distance allowing only six hits with three walks and five strikeouts.
In the nightcap, Jared Woodard tossed a three-hitter, all singles. The Eagles scored in the first and the third to take a 2-0 lead, a lead, which held up until the sixth. Mt. Zion scored single runs in the sixth and another in the seventh to tie the score. However, the Eagles pushed across the game winner in their half of the seventh to make a winner for Jared Woodard.
Kelby McCoy led the attack with two singles driving in two. A.J. Hyatt added an RBI single. Connor Walters and Jared Woodard each had singles, while Peyton Wyatt doubled for the 4-1 Eagles, who are 1-1 in the Apollo.
After three non-conference games with Casey-Westfield, Cumberland and West Richland, the Eagles travel to Charleston in their next Apollo action.
Charleston opened their Apollo season winning twice over Robinson 10-3 and 11-0. Effingham stopped Salem twice 9-0 and 10-4. Olney and Paris split a doubleheader.
Lady Eagles off to a slow start
By TERRY LIDY
After going 2-2 at the Fairfield Invitational and dropping a 5-3 decision to St. Elmo for the consolation championship and falling to Mattoon 10-1 in their home opener, the NCHS Lady Eagles split their Apollo opener last Saturday at Mt. Zion. The Lady Eagles won the opener 6-2 behind the pitching of Amber Shedelbower. Amber went the distance allowing only five hits. Shedelbower fanned six and walked two.
Whitney Koebele and Mallory Kocher provided the offense as Koebele went 4 for 4 and Kocher clubbed a homer driving in two.
However, Mt. Zion's Lacy Drury fired a two hitter in the nightcap to gain a split on the day with a 5-3 win. Keidrah Hardiek took the loss for Newton allowing six hits and two walks. Kimberlin Wallace had the Newton hits.
The Lady Eagles are 1-1 in the Apollo and 3-4 overall with a busy week ahead. Following home games with Oblong, Vandalia and Stewardson-Strasburg, the Lady Eagles will host Charleston Saturday at Boys & Girls Park in an 11:00 a.m. doubleheader. Charleston opened their Apollo season winning twice over Robinson 11-9 and 13-2.
In other Apollo action, Olney defeated Paris twice 4-1 and 13-5. Effingham and Salem split a doubleheader. Effingham won 7-6 and Salem took the second game 5-3.
Lady Eagles win two
By TERRY LIDY
The NCHS Lady Eagles got timely hitting and solid pitching in posting non-conference over Oblong and Vandalia on Monday and Tuesday at Boys & Girls Park.
Keidrah Hardiek pitched a complete game allowing nine hits with two walks and ten strikeouts as Newton edged Oblong 4-2. Whitney Koebele had the big hit, a two-run homer deep over the centerfield fence to spark the offense. Taylor Lockhart took the loss for the Lady Panthers.
On Tuesday, the Lady Eagles improved to 5-4 on the young season with an 8-3 verdict over Vandalia. Junior Brianna Nail pitched a complete game allowing five hits. Nail walked one and fanned three Lady Vandals.
Kimberlin Wallace, who recently signed to play next year at Lake Land, led the attack with a triple and a single.
Whitney Koebele also had an extra base hit with a triple. The Lady Eagles continue their homestand with a Thursday game against Stew-Stras and a Saturday double dip with Apollo for Charleston.
