WHS takes round one over WNHS

With temperatures in the 30s, Woodstock High School varsity boys baseball team won game one against cross-town rival Woodstock North High School 9-5 April 27 in what was to be back to back days of games. Game two was to be played the next day at Road Ranger Stadium, Loves Park, home of the Rockford Riverhawks, but was rescheduled due to inclement weather.

The Blue Streaks (5-16, 1-10 Fox Valley Fox) jumped out to a 7-0 lead after three innings largely due to mistakes by the Thunder (4-18, 0-11 Fox Valley Fox).

“Our kids looked like they may not have been 100 percent prepared,” said WNHS head coach Ian Rago. “Woodstock did a great job of taking advantage of our mistakes. It was great to see us fight back, but our defensive errors were uncharacteristic.” 

Thunder starting pitcher junior Josh Neely gave up seven runs, six unearned, and Rago praised him for limiting the damage.

WHS head coach John Olivera said his team did a good job capitalizing on the Thunder’s mistakes but should have closed the door on their opponent.

“I like how we played,” Olivera said. “We capitalized on their seven mistakes, but we still left 12 men on base and left the bases loaded twice early.”

The Thunder staged a comeback, scoring four runs in the third and one in the fifth. WHS starting pitcher sophomore Alex Ferguson was a little wild, and Olivera had to go to the bullpen to finish the game. Junior Jordan Turner shut down the Thunder in the last three innings to seal the win. 

Junior Julian Zack led the Thunder with two for four and had an RBI. Senior Eric Debray and junior Jacob Ellegood led the Streaks with two hits and two RBIs each.

Both coaches are looking forward to the game May 2.

“We are evenly matched,” Rago said. “It should be a good game.”

“I’m glad we are able to play in that stadium,” Olivera said. “I’m hoping we have a competitive game.” 

WHS will play WNHS at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 2, at Road Ranger Stadium, 4503 Interstate Boulevard, Loves Park. Before the game, WHS will retire the number of former teacher and coach John Theriault. Theriault worked at WHS for more than 30 years.