JOLIET - Neuqua Valley's coming off one of the best two-year runs in Illinois state baseball history. The Wildcats finished third in Class 4A this year and won it all in Class AA last year. Not many teams, if any, can same the same thing -- ever.
So who should get the credit? The players or the coaches? Neuqua coach Robin Renner opened the door for debate after they won the sectional championship in May.
"I have to give each and every one of you a huge thank you, because you guys make (assistant coach John Fumagalli) and I look good," Renner said to his players. "People in the community say, 'Boy, they run a good program. It's good (coaching).'
"That's a bunch of crap, because these kids - 17, 18-year-old kids that excel on that stage game after game - they just keep making plays."
Yet after the Wildcats fell short of their goal to play in the state championship, Renner and Fumagalli prepared the kids as they would any other game. They conducted batting practice, took an infield and reviewed scouting reports all before they reached Silver Cross Field in Joliet on Saturday.
Then, the Wildcats defeated Wheaton North 4-3 in the third-place game, opening up the floor for debate once again.
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