ICC Baseball Heats Up
Eleuria Starfish
March 31, 2023
Illinois Central College (ICC) is in the middle of baseball season. With 16 remaining regular season games, the men’s team is looking to close out with a winning record. The baseball cougars currently hold a 10-12 record. The team’s recent success can be attributed to their efficient pitching, solid hitting, and commitment to teamwork and hard work.
Recently, the baseball team has been on a sizzling six-game win streak—their last game took place on March 29. Four of the most recent wins have been against Vincennes University.
In an exciting baseball game, the hometown team out-performed their opponents, led by outstanding performances from Beau Durbin, Josh Heyder, and Hunter Thornton.
Durbin led the team with four hits and one RBI. Heyder wasn’t far behind, with three hits, two RBI, and one walk. Powell contributed two hits and one RBI, while Gauf added one hit and two RBI to the team total. McCallister also had a good game, recording two hits.
Doty contributed one hit and one RBI, and Thornton’s patience at the plate earned him three walks. Hansen also demonstrated his discipline by taking two walks.
The Cougars peaked their performance in the 4th and 6th inning, scoring three points in both innings. Gavin Thompson, who was credited with the win in the first game, finished the job in the top of the 7th inning. Thompson shut the door, securing the win for the Cougars by inducing a pair of groundouts and a flyout.
The offensive display of the second game included the Cougars being led by Durbin, who tallied four hits and drove in a run. Heyder also had a standout performance, delivering three hits, including two RBI, and a walk. Jackson Powell recorded two hits and drove in a run, while Kaleb Gauf added a hit and two RBI to the Cougars’ total. Riley McCallister contributed two hits to the movement, while Doty added a hit and an RBI. Thornton and Tyler Hansen were disciplined at the plate, each pulling three walks combined.
In Game two, The team’s starting pitcher, Jake Jacek, was in model baseball form, pitching five scoreless innings while only allowing five hits and one walk. Jacek’s dominant performance kept the opposition’s hitters at bay and set the tone for the team’s success.
Relief pitcher, Gage Burdick, also had a solid outing, pitching four innings and permitting only one earned run on two hits. Burdick was impressive on the mound, striking out five batters and providing critical support to the team’s defense.
Overall, the cougars executed a win, with several players stepping up and delivering when it counted the most. With this victory, the group appears poised to extend its winning streak and is preparing to get ready for the postseason.
The Cougars baseball team is gearing up for their upcoming games against the Lewis & Clark Trailblazers this Friday, March 31. The doubleheader will take place at ICC’s very own Thome Field in East Peoria, Illinois, with the first game starting at 1 p.m. and the second at 4 p.m. Be sure to show your Cougar pride this Friday, tickets are free when you present your ICC student ID.