Neuqua Valley: May 2009 Archives

DARIEN - Senior catcher Alex Lincoln thought Neuqua Valley might have endured an eight-error inning earlier this season. The Wildcats did after all have to sit through an ugly nine-run inning during an 11-10 loss at Benet several weeks back.

"Early on, (if) we had a mistake or an error, we kept spiraling out of control," Lincoln said after Thursday's 5-0 regional semifinal victory over Romeoville. "Now, (we) had a mistake early in the game and we learned how to buckle down and we were playing pretty much flawless defense."

Whether it was Lincoln throwing out a runner trying to steal, or first baseman Jordan Williamson landing on the bag after jumping for a high throw, Neuqua was clicking.

And don't forget Mike Bogar beginning a 6-4-3 double play from his knee deep in the hole at short. Second baseman Ryan Wagner made the turn at second and another Romeoville threat was over before it even began.

That's why Neuqua coach Robin Renner could only find fault in one throw across the diamond, which still wasn't initially ruled an error, and a misjudged fly ball that landed in shallow left for a single.

Otherwise, Renner said, "That was about as perfect a game as we could play. (That) may never happen again. It just worked out that way."

DARIEN - Neuqua Valley made one big decision to line up its rotation for a regional final. And then it went out and executed all the little things to make that a reality.

Craig Provow needed only 67 pitches to throw a complete-game shutout against No. 12 Romeoville, leading the No. 5 Wildcats to a 5-0 regional semifinal victory on Thursday in Darien. That means Neuqua (24-11) can start Indiana recruit Mike McKinley versus No. 4 Plainfield North on Saturday at Hinsdale South for a chance to advance in the Class 4A Lockport Sectional.

In a game that lasted only 83 minutes, Provow (2-2) allowed just four singles, two of which didn't even leave the infield. He drilled a hitter with a pitch, but did not walk any, and more than one Spartan was left slamming his bat to the ground in frustration.

The Neuqua staff had scouted Romeoville (19-14) several times and thought it found a good matchup.

"We thought Craig does a nice job of locating balls on the outer half," Neuqua coach Robin Renner said afterward. "I know they like it middle-in and they like to pull. So Craig throws a little cutter - it cuts about this much down the middle of the plate and it cuts to the outer half. (They) try to pull it and they miss, or they tap it out. We thought Craig gave us a better chance today against a team like that and Mike (will) give us a legitimate chance on Saturday."

According to the Neuqua Valley athletic department, the following athletes intend to play college baseball next season:

Mike McKinley, Indiana
Kyle Mener, Wabash College
Craig Provow, Colorado Christian College
Chris Widup, Wabash College

ESPN.com blogger Jason A. Churchill outlined three themes that could shape the upcoming first-year player draft: San Diego State flamethrower Stephen Strasburg is the definitive No. 1 prospect; it's heavy in pitching; and there's minimal difference between first- and third-round talent.

Churchill identified Neuqua Valley lefty Ian Krol -- who was suspended for his senior season -- and Georgia prep catcher Luke Bailey -- who recently underwent Tommy John surgery - as two players who could fall out of the first round but still attract teams with deeper pockets looking for good value.

"Injured players, or talents that began the year as potential first-round picks but had down seasons, tend to be enticing for big-market clubs looking for upside in rounds after the first," Churchill wrote in an Insider blog post published Tuesday. "(Krol and Bailey) could be high-upside targets for clubs after the first round."

ESPN's Keith Law slots former Neuqua Valley pitcher Ian Krol at No. 95 on his list of the top 100 players available in the June amateur draft.

(The link requires a subscription.)

Today we look at the brutal Lockport Sectional, which could produce the eventual Class 4A champion. Naperville North and host Naperville Central are stuck in the same regional. Benet might have to go through top-seed Lincoln-Way East. Once Neuqua Valley and Waubonsie Valley decide the Upstate Eight Conference race, neither team will have an easy draw in the postseason.

The pairings can be found here. What are your predictions?

LOCKPORT SECTIONAL SEEDS
1. Lincoln-Way East
2. Naperville North
3. Lockport*
4. Plainfield North
5. Neuqua Valley*
6. Downers Grove South
7. Naperville Central*
8. Benet
9. Joliet
10. Hinsdale Central
11. Waubonsie Valley
12. Romeoville
13. Lyons
14. Plainfield Central
15. Plainfield South
16. Providence Catholic
17. Downers Grove North
18. Lincoln-Way Central
19. Oswego East
20. Bolingbrook
21. Hinsdale South
22. East Aurora

*Before the IHSA went to a four-class system last season, the final three Class AA state champions were: Neuqua (2007), Central (2006) and Lockport (2005).

Neuqua Valley had just tied the game and Sean Smith inherited a difficult situation - runners on the corners and one out. The momentum was shifting away from Waubonsie Valley in the fifth inning but Smith struck out Alex Lincoln swinging and then got Jeff Dean to ground out to end the threat.

Smith allowed two baserunners in the sixth, and singles in the seventh and eighth, but the junior kept it together in 3.2 scoreless innings in a 5-3 victory. Smith (2-0) earned the win and Waubonsie the sweep on Saturday in Naperville.

The relief effort bought some time for Kris Singh, who drilled an inside fastball from Craig Provow - the same one he'd seen in summer ball - and deposited it beyond the right-field fence for the go-ahead solo home run in the eighth.

Singh (2-3) gutted it out earlier in the day, pitching into the seventh inning of a sloppy 11-9 win loss. Kevin Kirchner then notched his first save of the season. Neuqua (13-8, 8-3) and Waubonsie (10-9, 9-4) just made the Upstate Eight Conference race a lot more interesting. The District 204 rivals will meet again May 15.

"We've been on a roll lately," Singh said. "We came up here with a positive attitude, swinging sticks and playing D. We'll be fine."