Baseball Unsatisfied
EAST PEORIA — In most instances with sport’s programs having a .500 record halfway through the season is a recognizable accomplishment. That is unless you’re a member of the Illinois Central College Cougars Baseball Program (17- 17, 7-7 M-WAC). A team notorious for their long track record of success, and whom helped develop the skills of Future Baseball Hall of Famer, Jim Thome.
Although it is a high yearly precedent set for Coach Brett Kelly’s Cougars, settling for mediocrity is unacceptable for the Cougars. They are unsatisfied thus far, and still plan to meet that precedent during the last half of the season.
“Inconsistency has been our biggest problem, we’re not getting the big hit when we need it, we’re not getting consistent pitching, and we’ve had poor base running,” said Coach Kelly.
Kelly’s statement shows some truth, for the first time since 2010 the Cougars split with M-WAC powerhouse Heartland at home. While the Cougar’s have also lost to competitors lower than their skill-level. But one thing the Cougar’s have found consistency with this season was winning at home.
Even though their overall record proves to be average, their home record does not. The Cougars (10-3 at Home) are emphasizing the meaning of home-field advantage and defending the sacred Jim Thome Field quite nicely.
A key component to their success has come from the offensive side of the plate. In the Cougars 14 home outings they are averaging seven runs per game. The three losses the Cougars have endured came against Parkland College, John Wood Community College, and Heartland Community College. Two of those losses were nail-biters that weren’t decided until past the seventh inning. The only home contest, in which the Cougars were trampled soon after the first pitch, was on March 30 by Parkland 17-6.
The trouble for the Cougars has lied in other ballparks (7-13 on Road). It seems that when they step off their sacred field of dreams, that they leave everything else along with it. Their weakest link in the chain on the road has been their inconsistency on the mound. The pitching staff is either hitting every one of his spots, or he’s completely missing. In all seven of the Cougars road wins the pitching rotation is allowing a low ERA of 3.42.
As for their thirteen road losses the earned run average difference is quite outstanding, allowing an ERA of 8.07. “It’s tough on the road, we’re not a mentally tough team yet,” said Coach Kelly. “It’s a different mindset especially when you still lack that experience, sometimes we just need to slow the game down and make the routine plays.”
But don’t count these talented ball-players out just yet; it’s only the halfway point for this young Cougars team. 22 games still remain on their schedule before the Division II Region Tournament. That’s the great thing about the post-season, everybody is back to equivalent records and it’s all about who wants it more. “Our goal still remains, to win the Region Tournament and advance to the World Series.”