Free Press Advocate

Comets, ‘Cats to play into regional, Coal City gets a bye in Beecher

Published by admin on Tue, 05/10/2022 - 3:43pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
It’s playoff time for three area softball teams starting Monday.
The Wilmington Wildcats, who drew the sixth seed and the Reed-Custer Comets (5) will be in the Manteno Regional together.
The Lady ‘Cats (7-7, 5-4) were third in the Illinois Central Eight Conference standings.
They draw Momence (9-5, 8-3) who finished third in their River Valley Conference in the first of two play in games which will be held on Monday.

‘Cats, Comets, Coalers prepare for regionals

Published by admin on Tue, 05/10/2022 - 3:43pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
The baseball playoffs for the Wildcats, Comets and Coalers start Monday.
The Wilmington Wildcats (8-10, 3-7) who finished sixth in the Illinois Central Eight and the Reed-Custer Comets (12-7, 8-5) who finished third in the ICE will be in the same regional together.
The ‘Cats will have to play into the Braidwood (Reed-Custer) Regional as they will host the 10 seed, Herscher on Monday at 4:30 p.m.

Lady ‘Cats rout the Redskins

Published by admin on Tue, 05/03/2022 - 3:41pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
The Wilmington soccer team erupted with 12 goals in a 12-0 win over Momence on Friday.
The Lady ‘Cats scored eight in the first half and added another four to rout the Redskins.
Alexa Clark and Ella Banas both had a hat trick with three goals to lead the ‘Cats.
Abbie Rampa and Katie Lewsader broke through for two of their own. Rampa had three assists while Banas had another assists.
Veronica Weck and Dezirae Yanke had the other goals.

Lady ‘Cat tracksters place sixth in Herscher Invite

Published by admin on Tue, 05/03/2022 - 3:40pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
The Running Wildcats traveled to the competitive Herscher Invite on Friday and despite the cold, wind and a sprinkling of rain, came out in good standing.

Comets, ‘Cats, Coalers preparing for Regional

Published by admin on Tue, 05/03/2022 - 3:39pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
The playoffs for area girls soccer teams start Friday.
Coal City (7-8, 3-3) will begin the Braidwood (Reed-Custer) Regional on the road in Beecher (5-7-1, 4-2). They’ll battle the six seed, Beecher, and if they win, they will move on to get another chance at Peotone on Tuesday, May 10.
The Coalers have beaten both Beecher (1-0) and Peotone (1-0, 4-3) during the regular season so if they get past Beecher, they’ll be ready to play Peotone (7-5-1, 4-2) again.

Lady ‘Cat kickers fall in four straight games

Published by admin on Tue, 04/26/2022 - 4:04pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
The Wilmington girls soccer team lost their fourth straight match on Thursday, falling 3-2 to Lisle.
Abbie Rampa and Alaina Clark pounded through a goal each but Lisle pounded in three to capture the win.
Wilmington’s defense played a whale of a game with 53 steals as Alaina and Alexa Clark led the charge with 14, and 12.
Dezirae Yanke also had 12 while Hannah Basinger stole five. Aubrey Bryant nabbed four while Rampa had three.

Lady ‘Cats erupt, nine-run fifth to beat Comets

Published by admin on Tue, 04/26/2022 - 4:01pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
Catcher Jenna Jackson had a big day leading the Wilmington softball team to an 18-6 victory over Reed-Custer on Monday.
Jackson went 3-for-5 with two doubles and a long home run that put this one to bed after five innings by way of the 10-run rule.

Humphries, ‘Cats fall to Comets in pitching duel

Published by admin on Tue, 04/26/2022 - 4:00pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
Wilmington’s Kaden Humphries pitched a stellar game on Monday but the Wilmington baseball team came up short in a 1-0 loss to Reed-Custer. That bumps the ‘Cats to sixth in the Illinois Central Eight Conference with a 2-6 record in league play which is led by Coal City, and Streator.
Humphries gave up one unearned run on three hits while fanning nine and walking one through 6.2 innings. Reed-Custer’s Jake McPherson, who went seven, gave up two hits and struck out nine.

Lady Wildcats run 10th in Seneca Invite

Published by admin on Tue, 04/19/2022 - 3:09pm

On Friday, the Wildcats traveled to Seneca to compete in the Seneca Irish Invitational. The girls finished in 10th place out of the 15-team field. The boys finished last in the 16-team field. The girls had six personal records (PR’s) on the day, bringing their season total to 48. The boys had nine PR’s on the day to bring their season total to 57. A PR is an improvement on a person’s previous mark or the establishment of a personal record. Performances by the girls included:
Katelyn McCann - Sr - 100 – 13.05 – 2nd, 200 – 27.56 – PR – 2nd - long jump – 17’06 – PR – 2nd

Lady ‘Cats can’t catch up with the Panthers

Published by admin on Tue, 04/19/2022 - 3:09pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
The Wilmington softball team was unable to contain the conference front-runner, Manteno, who scored early and often in a 12-4 victory on Friday.
The ‘Cats had a hard time solving Manteno ace Alyssa Dralle, as they mustered six hits off of her. They manufactured four runs in the process on three extra base hits.
The Panthers staked themselves to a 10-0 lead before the ‘Cats could respond. They fired back with three of their own in the fourth to make it 10-3.