Itinerary all set for Wildcats

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Some time today, junior Ian Krol will write something under the brim of his Neuqua Valley baseball cap.

Krol does this only on days when he pitches. Arguably, this will be the most important etching of the season. He and the Wildcats will face Collinsville at 7 p.m. in the Class 4A University of Illinois Super-Sectional in Urbana.

The Wildcats (31-6) will leave at 1 p.m. today, following final exams.

"That's like my least of worries right now," Krol said, laughing. "I just gotta focus. That bus ride's just gonna be all focusing, have my Ipod in, probably sleep a little bit. Just prepare the same. Write something in my hat - the same superstition."

For the most part, it's worked. Krol's 7-1 with a 1.09 ERA in 10 appearances this year, and he's struck out 88 batters in 45 innings - nearly an average of two strikeouts per frame.

And if a supersectional win's not enough to hail Krol, he's already 2-0 in two postseason starts with one critical relief appearance. And overall, he's fanned 22 hitters in 14 2/3 playoff innings.

Krol expected his season's work to continue against Minooka today, but Collinsville won the Illinois Wesleyan Sectional 4-3 on Saturday.

"It's not really a factor for me," Krol said. "I'm still gonna feel fine and throw, you know?"

That wouldn't necessarily have been the case Saturday. Krol told coaches he couldn't give them in an inning of relief against Lockport like he did against Naperville North. That's because, on top of his appearance versus North, Krol had just pitched eight innings against Lincoln-Way East on Wednesday.

"I was like, 'We have guys. You don't really need me that bad, (especially) because I just threw two days ago,' Krol said. "I mean, we have guys. Mike (McKinley) can pitch, (Geoff Rowan's) amazing. Jason David can come in if he wanted. Plus, we got juniors that can get the job done also. We got plenty of support. We're not worried about that."

Final exams? No worry. Pitching support? No worries there. Hitting and defense? Check that off Neuqua's worry list, too.

First-year varsity starters like second baseman Ryan Wagner have secured Neuqua's defensive fort lately. Wagner's started three double plays this postseason - two of which first-year shortstop Travis Weldon turned - and one that Wagner handled by himself.

Offensively, Rowan's heating up. He has seven RBIs in the playoffs and went 3-for-3 with a walk against Lockport. Designated hitter Brian McNabb has five RBIs this postseason, including the game-winner against Lincoln-Way East.

Then there's left fielder Jason David, who's six RBIs away from tying the school record of 58 set by 2007 Sun Player of the Year Brad Kimball last season. David, who's tied for the school record in home runs with 11, drove home two more runners Saturday.

Although confident in his team's hitting and defense right now, Krol's the first to point out his error at first base against Lockport and his personal hitting woes. He's 3-for-13 with a walk in the last four games.

In the regional semifinals, Krol shouted from the dugout to a teammate in the batter's box: "Don't be like me!" Krol went 0-for-3.

Still, Krol entered Saturday's sectional final with a team-high .537 batting average. But he used a new bat for the first time - an updated version of an Easton stick, which he cracked - and went 0-for-4, dropping his average to .512.

"I can not hit the ball," Krol said. "I just can not do it right now."

Another total team effort by Neuqua today and that little fact won't matter much, because the Wildcats will be heading to the state finals and a chance at a second straight state championship.