Springfield, Ill. - Don't let the Cougars get hot. The Illinois Central College baseball team (25-33) may have raised heart rates, but also raised their way into the win column yet again, getting a second walkoff win over John Wood, this time off the heroic bat of one Ashton Horchem to send the Cougars to the District Tournament next weekend by a 9-8 nine-inning final score. 

REGION 24 "GROUP C" CHAMPIONSHIP
ICC COUGARS 9, JOHN WOOD 8
The Cougars started right out of the gates, getting an RBI single from Noah Campbell and an RBI single from Nick Piazza to take an early 2-0 lead.

Alas, with their season on the line, John Wood fought furiously, erasing that lead with an RBI single and a RBI groundout in just the third inning. Even then, the Blazers weren't done yet. One run scored on an error - another on a wild pitch. Suddenly, it was now 5-2 John Wood. 

The Blazers struck again in the fourth, getting an RBI single for a four-run advantage near the game's midway point. 

ICC got a really good shot at the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth, when Jacob Castleman singled, Griffin Roesch walked, and Ashton Horchem singled to load the bases with nobody out. The Cougars made a dent, when Castleman scored amidst a double play, trimming the deficit to three. 

Here comes ICC. Bryce Bishop walked, Tyler Bishop singled, Kannon Kleine singled too. That's another bases loaded situation with just one out. Castleman would reach on an error, scoring both Bryce Bishop and Tyler Bishop. Just like that, it was a brand new ball game, with the Cougars having powered all the way back to within a singular run at 6-5 after five. 

John Wood had another push in them, though. The Blazers would load the bases with one out on a pair of walks and an error. A sacrifice fly and an RBI single extended the advantage of the opposition back to three runs. 

Granted, ICC was far from done, too. A Piazza single, Luke Doty double, and Bryce Bishop walk loaded the bases yet again, this time with nobody out. A pair of sacrifice flies on consecutive plate appearances from Noah Campbell and Tyler Bishop put the Cougars back within one run at 8-7 after six. 

To the bottom of the seventh, ICC got two on by way of a Castleman single and Horchem walk, but both would be stranded. In the eighth - a Bryce Bishop single - stranded. This game would go into the eighth inning with John Wood still leading the Cougars. If the score would hold, an 'if necessary' game was in play immediately following.

There was still baseball to be played, but time was running thin. It was around this point of the game that Blake Norton went into overdrive on the mound. Although not sporting the number 42 and not trotting out to a heavy metal tune, Norton's stat line down the stretch was reminiscent of pro legend Mariano Rivera. Norton diced through the Blazers order to keep the Cougars in the game, retiring each and every one of the game's last 10 batters for John Wood. 

With the advantage of being the home team, the Cougars could try and walk this one off in the ninth. After Griffin Roesch singled with one out, in stood Ashton Horchem. First pitch - ball in the dirt - 1-0. Second pitch - called strike outside - 1-1 count. Third pitch - swung on and missed - 1-2 count.

Down to his final strike in this particular plate appearance, Horchem got a pitch he could handle, sending the 1-2 pitch into the Springfield sky  and out over the right field fence. Amongst absolute jubilation on the field, teammates and coolers alike awaited Horchem at home plate, as the Cougars had walked it off, 9-8. 

HE SAID IT - QUOTES FROM COACH BRETT KELLEY
On the potential stress levels of three one-run postseason wins:
"We were pretty calm and confident, to be honest with you. We got some timely hits, some guys really wanted to step up and be the guy up there offensively. We had some really good starting pitching. We had some really good bullpen outings too. That's what it takes to win. We did the little things right."

On the team's 'never say die' attitude:
"Really proud of it. I've been getting a lot of text messages from guys that played last year, two, three years ago congratulating us. They really laid the foundation. The last few years we made a pretty deep run into the Regional, we just haven't been able to get over the hump. I think the tournament being changed to three regionals going into a district really helped us. We had some really good arms that didn't even throw this weekend. The guys really stepped up. A lot of it is the work we've put in and the leadership we have with our sophomores."

On what particularly excited in the John Wood series (two walkoff wins):
"They've (John Wood) been playing really well the last couple weeks. They're a pretty young team, with a lot of games in - a lot of reps in. Seed-wise, they were the six, but they played us really tough a couple weeks ago. They had pretty good pitching. They're really strong up the middle. They got a good center fielder that could go and catch anything. They looked a lot like us, just a bit younger. We knew we'd be in a dog fight with them."

Balancing the thrill of victory, while understanding there's still games to win:
"We tell them, we'll celebrate this one, then we'll get together on Monday and have a meeting to regroup. There, we'll knock out the practice plan for the week and get back to some of our fundamental stuff. As coaches, all we can do is prepare them the best for what's going to happen. I thought our staff did a good job of that this week. Obviously we're familiar with the teams in Districts, but we'll regroup and play it inning-by-inning and see what we can do. I think our guys are feeling pretty confident right now." 

On not being intimidated by regular season results vs. familiar foes Heartland, Parkland:
"We may not have given them the best shot. We were a little bit down those two series, injury-wise. Pitcher's weren't doing quite as good a job at that time, but they're clicking now. We'll go out, play hard, and see what happens. There's some good bats in their lineups that we'll have to worry about. It'll be another dog fight in that district, that's for sure. 

COUGAR HITTING
Luke Doty | 1 single, 1 double, 1 stolen base
Bryce Bishop | 1 single, 2 walks, 1 stolen base
Noah Campbell | 1 single, 2 RBI
Tyler Bishop | 1 single, 1 RBI
Kannon Kleine | 1 single
Jacob Castleman | 2 singles, 1 RBI, 1 stolen base
Griffin Roesch | 1 single, 1 walk
Ashton Horchem | 1 single, 2 RBI, 1 walk, 1 walk-off two-run home run
Nick Piazza | 2 singles, 1 RBI, 1 stolen base

COUGAR PITCHING
Gage Burdick | 2.2 innings, 2 hits, 4 earned runs, 7 walks, 1 strikeout
Ian McGhiey | 3.0 innings, 3 hits, 1 earned run, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts
Blake Norton | 3.1 innings, 0 hits, 0 earned runs, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
2024 Central District Tournament
vs. Heartland / Parkland / East Central Missouri
Thursday - Saturday, May 16th-18th - Time(s) TBA
@ The Corn Crib - Normal, Ill.
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