Free Press Advocate

Wildcat girls, boys tracksters set new personal records in Coal City

Published by admin on Tue, 04/12/2022 - 3:18pm

On April 5, the Running Wildcats opened their outdoor season when they traveled to Coal City to compete against the Reed-Custer and the hosting Coalers.
Team scores for the girls meet were Reed-Custer 37.5, Wilmington 36, and Coal City 25.5. Scores of the boys meet were Coal City 64, Reed-Custer 46, and Wilmington 31.
The girls had 10 personal records (PR’s) on the day and the boys had 15 PR’s. A PR is an improvement on a person’s previous mark or the establishment of a personal record.
Performances by the girls included:

Lady ‘Cats hold off Bulldogs, edge Coalers in extras

Published by admin on Tue, 04/12/2022 - 3:16pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
The Wilmington softball team held off Streator 8-6 on Monday to improve to 3-0 in the Illinois Central Eight Conference.
The Lady ‘Cats scored first with two in the second to take a 2-0 lead. Streator answered immediately in the third with a run to make it 2-1.
The ‘Cats extended it to 5-1 with two more runs in the third and one in the fourth. Streator finally answered with more than a run as they scored two to cut into the ‘Cats lead, 5-3.

Clark, ‘Cats edge the Irish

Published by admin on Tue, 04/12/2022 - 3:15pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
The Wilmington soccer team beat Bishop McNamara 4-2 on Monday.
The ‘Cats blanked the Irish and scored a goal to lead 1-0 at the half.
They scored three more to edge the Irish, 4-2.
Alexa Clark was on her game as she scored two more goals with 15 steals.
Alaina Clark and Ella Banas also had goals while Alaina added two assists with 11 steals.
Banas had 10 steals. Abbie Rampa also had an assist with two steals.

Wildcats nab second in the Rantoul Invite

Published by admin on Tue, 04/05/2022 - 3:33pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
The Wilmington baseball team went 2-1 during the Rantoul Invite to place second on Saturday.
They fell short against Bradley Bourbonnais in a 16-8 slugfest on Saturday during the championship game.

WHS hit two long balls in the late innings to thwart Coaler comeback

Published by admin on Tue, 04/05/2022 - 3:28pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
The Wilmington softball team came up big in a 12-6 win over Coal City on Monday.
The ‘Cats came to life in the first two innings as they grabbed an early, 6-1 lead.
Natalie Gabriel singled to lead-off the three-run second inning.
Anna Liaromatis slapped a single right back up the box to move Gabriel into scoring position at second base.
Kaitlyn O’Donnell drove Gabriel home with a one-out rocket into right to make it 4-1.

‘Cats, Coalers, Comets get back to the diamond this week

Published by admin on Tue, 03/29/2022 - 3:48pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
The weather hasn’t cooperated with high school baseball and softball schedules as games since last Thursday have been either rained out or too cold to play.
Altogether, there has been 32 varsity contests canceled in the past week.
With rain in the forecast today and Thursday morning, there’s hope area teams will be back in action by Friday with an expected high of 50 degrees.

Clark, Banas lead ‘Cats in win over Kays, tie with the Bobcats

Published by admin on Tue, 03/29/2022 - 3:47pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
The Wilmington soccer team rallied for a 3-3 tie with Beecher on Friday.
The weather was less than ideal with rain, snow and a whole lot of wind but the Lady ‘Cats and Bobcats were fighting on every inch of the field no matter how muddy. They didn’t care about the mud and it showed.
The Wildcats broke through first with two goals in the first half with both goals coming from junior Alexa Clark.

Prescott receives nod as ICE All-Conference

Published by admin on Tue, 03/29/2022 - 3:44pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
Senior Wildcat matman Jake Prescott has been selected All-Conference for the Illinois Central Eight Conference.
Prescott third in ICE
Prescott, who wrestled at 138 pounds, captured third in a tough class during the ICE tournament but fell out during wrestlebacks of the regional. Prescott finished with a 14-10 record as an honorable mention in the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association online rankings. Prescott finishes as a one-time state qualifier after qualifying for IWCOA state as a junior.
Shirey qualifies

‘Cats meet match in Morris, mercy rule victory over Joliet Central for their second win

Published by admin on Tue, 03/22/2022 - 5:18pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
The Wilmington softball team ran into a buzzsaw of a Morris team that cruised to a 15-4 win Monday evening.
Despite the loss, Abby Pitts continued her hit streak, going 3-for-3 with a home run, scored a run and drove in three runs to lead the ‘Cats. She is now 10-for-10 to begin the year with a home run, four doubles, a triple and 11 RBIs.
“I’m looking for more line drives now instead of more home runs,” said Pitts. “In the beginning of the season I was like ‘let’s crank the ball’ but then I’d hit a pop up.”

Wildcats outhit Pontiac, Morris to improve to 2-0

Published by admin on Tue, 03/22/2022 - 5:17pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
The Wilmington baseball team outslugged Morris in a 7-5 affair on Monday.
The ‘Cats trailed 3-0 in the fourth before firing back with four runs of their own to steal a 4-3 lead.
Cade McCubbin clubbed a towering home run to begin the fourth which made it 3-1.
Joe Pogliano singled and Nolan Rickmon walked. That set up Ryan Banas who drove Pogliano in on a ringing double to make it 3-2.
Lucas Rink had a big, 2-run double to bring home both Rickmon and Banas to give them a 4-3 lead.