After an up-and-down season, perhaps the Madison College baseball team has simply been saving the best for last.

The WolfPack have won 10 of their last 13 games to improve their record to 24-15 overall and 7-5 in conference play.

Aside from a pair of one-run losses to Rock Valley on April 24 and a surprising 12-0 loss to Joliet Junior College on April 28, the team has been finding a way to win the last few weeks of the season.

Madison College has five doubleheaders remaining on its schedule, weather permitting, with the sectional tournament beginning on May 12.

A continued strong showing in these last 10 games could help the team with its playoff seeding.

Most recently, Madison College dominated the Rockford University JV team, 21-0, in 7 innings on April 29. That game saw the team have 14 hits, including a team-high three by Marquis Reuter.

Pitchers Connor Fedders and Kevin Hussey combined for a one hit shutout. Fedders pitched five innings, striking out nine, while Hussey pitched the final two innings.

Odd split with Joliet

It was a tale of domination in the WolfPack’s doubleheader with Joliet Junior College on April 28. Joliet dominated the first game by winning 12-0, while Madison College had control of the second game, winning 12-2.

Apparently, turnabout is fair play.

Joliet pounded out eight hits and took advantage of six walks and two errors to cruise to victory in the first game. But in the second game, Madison College had 12 hits and eight bases on balls to claim the win.

Jarrett Scheelk homered and doubled to lead the Madison College offense, while Brandon Komar pitched the win. Komar allowed six hits in 5-1/3 innings and struck out six batters.

Combo no-hitter

Madison College got its first no-hitter since the 2016 season thanks to the combined efforts of two freshmen pitchers – Jake Kopp and Kevin Hussey.

The two held Harper College hitless for five innings while the Madison College offense pounded away in a 12-0 victory.
Kopp pitched the first four innings, allowing just one walk and striking out six. Hussey worked the final inning, allowing only a base-on-balls. It was the second time in school history two pitchers combined for a five-inning no-hitter.

The offense made things easy in the first game of the doubleheader as well, with the WolfPack posting a 10-1 victory. Nathan Aide and Jarrett Scheelk homered in the game.

Statistical leaders

Scheelk continues to be near the top of the team’s leader board in several offensive categories. He leads the team with six home runs and is second in RBIs with 28. His .362 batting average is the second highest for players who have played in 20 or more games.

Cam Cratic has the highest batting average among players who have played in at least 20 games, posting 39 hits in 107 at bats for a .364 average.

Matt Hamilton has the lowest ERA of the team’s pitchers who have thrown 10 or more innings at 2.70. He has a 5-1 record and has pitched a team-high 36-2/3 innings.

Brandon Komar also has a 5-1 pitching record this season. He has posted a 2.94 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 33-2/3 innings pitched.