Warriors Rally Late to Defeat Bobcats in Region 24 Tournament Opener

CARTERVILLE, Ill. – Coach Matt McCue and the Frontier Community College baseball team came close to breaking through against Wabash Valley College on Wednesday at John A. Logan College, but a late rally by the Warriors helped WVC pull away for a 15-10 victory in the opening round of the Region 24 Tournament.

The Bobcats entered the matchup looking to avenge three regular-season losses to Wabash Valley, including a narrow 9-8 defeat on March 24. Frontier put together one of its strongest offensive performances of the season against the Warriors, collecting 15 hits and holding leads at different points in the game, but WVC answered with 16 hits of its own in a high-scoring contest.

Cam Napier led the way for FCC, finishing 4-for-5 at the plate. Napier singled in the first inning, launched a solo home run to left field in the third, singled again in the fourth, and doubled in the sixth.

Frontier jumped ahead early in the top of the first inning when Gael Salinas doubled down the right-field line and Garrett Schmidt followed with an RBI single down the right-field line, giving the Bobcats a 2-0 lead.

Wabash Valley responded in the bottom half of the inning as Conner Christenson doubled to center field to help tie the game at 2-2.

The Bobcats moved back in front in the second inning when Salinas delivered an RBI single to give Frontier a 3-2 advantage. Napier added to the lead in the third with his solo home run to left field, and Mayes Gosser later added another solo shot to right field in the sixth inning.

WVC tied the game in the bottom of the sixth behind a double from Drake Defreitas and a single from Konner Brown. The Warriors then took control in the seventh inning with a powerful stretch at the plate, as Bryce Adams, Enrico Veech, Brady Schellmoser, and Leandro Hernandez each hit solo home runs to put Wabash Valley back in front.

Salinas finished 3-for-5 and led Frontier with four RBIs. Chase Loesch and Schmidt also recorded multiple hits for the Bobcats, while FCC turned two double plays defensively.

On the mound, Ian-Olivier Beaulieu worked four and two-thirds innings in relief for Frontier, allowing seven hits and four runs while striking out one. Caleb Boff took the loss, allowing three runs on three hits in one-third of an inning. Landon Davis started for the Bobcats.

Preston Barr earned the win for WVC, allowing two hits and one run over three innings while striking out three. Burch started for the Warriors and gave up eight hits and four runs over three innings.

Defreitas led Wabash Valley with five RBIs, finishing 3-for-5 from the No. 7 spot in the lineup. Adams, Defreitas, and Cameron Dube each had three hits for the Warriors, while Christenson and Hernandez also collected multiple hits. WVC also drew 11 walks in the win.

With the loss, Frontier moves into an elimination game against John A. Logan at 9:30 a.m. today. If the Bobcats defeat JALC, they will play again this afternoon at 3:50 p.m. against the winner of Kaskaskia and Wabash Valley. As Pod A is a double-elimination tournament, FCC will need to win out to keep its postseason run alive.