WNC baseball strong vs. Modesto and in showcase

Western Nevada College had a strong showing at the Scenic West Athletic Conference sopomore showcase last weekend in Henderson and the Wildcats continued their outstanding play with a 17-3 win over Modesto Community College in a scrimmage on Thursday at John L. Harvey Field.

The strong performance at the showcase held in front of college coaches and Major League scouts, didn't come without a price, however as two of WNC's key players were injured.

Brian Barnett suffered a broken bone in his wrist. But while Barnett will miss the rest of the fall exhibition season, he will return in time for the beginning of the 2009 regular season.

WNC pitcher Jordan Blanchard, though, may not be as lucky. Blanchard suffered an elbow injury and it's unknown how severe the injury is. More will be known next week and if Blanchard needs Tommy John surgery, he'll miss the 2009 season.

Against Modesto, starting pitcher Jake Waardenburg allowed one run on one hit in the first inning. He didn't allow another hit in his 2 1/3 innings of work before being pulled in favor of Jeff Barto after walking a batter and hitting a batter in the third. Barto pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings.

WNC took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first on Marshall Kennebrew's two-run home run and Kennebrew added a two-run single that made it 4-1 in the third. Jerome Pena followed with a two-run double as the Wildcats took a 7-1 lead.

Lance Ray's RBI double made it 9-1 in the sixth for WNC. In the eighth, Kyle Stiles reached on an infield single, stole second, moved to third on a fielder's choice and scored on a wild pitch to make it 10-2.

WNC added five runs in the bottom of the ninth in the 10-inning contest. Trevor Goff hit an RBI sacrifice fly and Eric Maupin belted a three-run double during the rally. The Wildcats also hit in the bottom of the 10th and Goff added an RBI single to make it 17-3.

Rusty Devitt pitched two scoreless innings for WNC, striking out two. Jordan Lewis allowed one run on two hits over two innings, striking out two. Josh Moody allowed a run on two hits over the last two innings.

Moody also received defensive help in the ninth when Pena fired a throw from the right field corner to Stiles, who sent the relay to Andrew Garcia at third to nail the runner trying to stretch a double into a triple.

Kevin Meyers had two hits, including a double, and Kennebrew, Daniel Zylstra and Lance Ray all added two hits. Brett Wellman, Jay Skilton and Brett Moravec all added a hit as well.

SOPHOMORE SHOWCASE

WNC's players flexed their offensive muscle over two games, going 13-for-35 with three doubles, a triple, home run, 12 RBI, 13 runs and seven walks. In the showcase, players from Salt Lake Community College and WNC played against those from College of Southern Nevada and College of Southern Idaho. Players from College of Eastern Utah were divided between the two teams.

WNC's team lost the opener 7-6. Moody had a dominating effort, striking out five, walking one and allowing two hits over 3 2/3 scoreless innings. Blanchard faced two hitters, striking out one and walking one before having to come out.

Barnett went 2-for-3 with a double, run and RBI, Ray walked three times and scored twice, Pena homered and doubled, Kennebrew went 1-for-1 with a an RBI sacrifice fly and Travis Feiner added a hit.

WNC's team won the second game 13-8. Kyle Starratt was dominating for the Wildcats as he threw just six balls in three innings. He allowed one unearned run on three hits while striking out three.

Javy Perez and Logan Odom struggled on the mound for WNC. Perez allowed five runs on five hits while sriking out two over two innings.

Odom allowed three runs on three hits while walking four over three innings. He did strike out five.

Feiner doubled and tripled with three RBI, Brett Moravec went 2-for-5 with an RBI and two runs, Kennebrew went 1-for-3 with an RBI sacrifice fly and Ray and Pena each added a hit.