Top 10 Stories Of 2017: No. 5 Neuqua Valley Goes From Preseason Unranked To 35-2-1

Over the next few weeks, in addition to highlighting the Top 10 Player Profiles of 2017, we will also highlight the Top 10 Stories in Illinois High School Baseball during the 2017 calendar year.

Today, we’ll take a look at No. 5 Neuqua Valley Goes From Preseason Unranked To 35-2-1

Neuqua Valley, coached by IHSBCA Hall of Famer Robin Renner, was overlooked by the Prep Baseball Report to start the 2017 season. The Wildcats, who started the season unranked in the PBR Power 25, proved they were one of the best teams in the state throughout the spring and finished the season 35-2-1. Despite losing to St. Laurence in the Super-Sectional it was a memorable season for the Wildcats.

THE NUMBERS

First off, let's look at some of the numbers from the sensational season. Neuqua Valley outscored opponents 312-73 in the 38 game season. 312 runs scored over 38 games breaks down to an average of 8.2 runs scored per game. The 73 runs given up in the 38 games breaks down to the opponents scoring 1.9 runs per game.

The pitching staff and defense combined to shut out their opponents in 15 of their 38 games. Senior LHP Justin Hicks twirled two no-hitters on the year and was Dupage Valley Conference pitcher of the year.

Neuqua’s only loss in the regular season was a 1-0 defeat to conference foe Wheaton North. The 1-0 loss was the only time the Wildcats were shutout on the season. The loss came on May 4th and the Wildcats were 24-0-1 at the time. Following the third game of the season, a 7-7 tie against Riverdale (TN) on their annual spring trip to Tennessee, the Wildcats rattled off 22 wins in a row until the one run defeat to Wheaton North. Following the loss they won 11 more straight before the Super Sectional defeat to St. Laurence.  

PLAYERS

A number of the members on the Neuqua squad had breakout campaigns in the 2017 season. Below is a few notables:

• As noted above, Senior Justin Hicks was conference pitcher of the year. Heading into the playoffs Hicks was 7-0 with a 0.97 ERA. In 43 innings pitched he allowed 27 hits struck out 46 and had only walked 3 hitters.

• Senior SS James Gargano was the heart and soul of the club. Gargano, a Butler commit, only made three errors on the season and put up impressive offensive numbers out of the leadoff spot. The PBR SecondTeam All-State Selection hit .417 with 18 doubles, a home run, 20 RBI, 40 runs scored and had an OBP of .504 entering the playoffs.  

• Junior 3B Noah Herdman was the Player of the Year in the Dupage Valley Conference. Defensively, Herdman only made four errors on the year and batted .441 with 12 doubles, a triple, nine home runs, 42 RBI and 31 runs scored.

• Junior James Kulak, a Purdue commit, emerged as one of the top 2018 left-handed arms in the Midwest throughout the spring. The talented left-hander impressed on multiple occasions; pounded the strike zone with his three-pitch mix, sat comfortably in the upper-80’s, touching 90,91 and held his velocity deep into games. Below is a scouting report from a start this spring:

  • 5.11.17 - Uncommitted left-handed pitcher. 6-foot-1, 168-pounds, wiry thin frame, young body type yet to mature, should fill out to carry additional strength. Delivery stays closed, slightly across body, hands get rhythm through rocker step, drop and drive out of balance point. Arm action is clean, loose and quick, high ¾ slot. Showed command of fastball at the bottom of the zone early in game, elevated it late in counts for swing a misses, sat 87-89 mph through five innings, still touched 88’s in sixth and seventh. Breaking balls range 73-78 mph, curveball plays at the bottom end of that velo, 1/7 action, drops for strikes, rarely expands with it. Slider plays more at 78 mph with slightly shorter lateral action. Showed feel for all secondary pitches. Flashed a changeup late in contest, 78 mph, late sinking action, fastball arm speed. Final line: 7IP, 0R, 3H, 8K, 1BB. Retired the first 15 batters of the game in order. Kulak’s command of the zone with multiple pitches and uptick in velocity makes him one of the more desirable uncommitted prospects in the region.

Looking ahead at the Neuqua Valley 2018 squad, a repeat performance may be in the cards. The 2017 team was full of juniors and only loses a couple of seniors, albeit, the seniors they do lose were impact players.

2017 NEUQUA ROSTER