SV HOPES TO CRACK WHIPPETS

The St. Vincent High School baseball team, just three victories away from a second consecutive Class 1A state championship, would seem to have a decided edge heading into today's quarterfinal game against Ellington.

But St. Vincent coach Rick Wibbenmeyer knows his Indians can afford to take nothing for granted heading into the 1 p.m. contest at the Perryville City Park.

"You don't play it on paper, you play it on an infield, an outfield, swinging the bat, fielding the ball, all that," said Wibbenmeyer. "It all remains to be seen."

St. Vincent (16-11) appears to have things working in its favor for a number of reasons. For starters, the Indians have plenty of playoff experience after winning the state title last year. And they have one of their two ace pitchers ready to go today.

On the other hand, Ellington (15-4) starts six sophomores and used by far its top hurler in Thursday's 4-3 sectional victory over Advance in eight innings.

"I wish we had an extra day in between (the sectional and quarterfinal games), but we don't," said Ellington coach Dan Hoffman, mindful of the state rule that limits a pitcher to 10 innings of work during a three-day period. "We just have to do what we have to do. When you have six sophomores out there, they're going to have to step up."

No matter what the pitching matchup looks like on paper, or Ellington's lack of experience, Wibbenmeyer knows the Whippets will be a handful as they make their first state quarterfinal appearance.

"Any team that is still playing will be very good," Wibbenmeyer said. "We expect a tough game."

Wibbenmeyer certainly feels good about his pitching situation. Co-aces Derek Kutz (8-4, 3.30 earned-run average) and Tyler Wengert (3-4, 3.35) combined for the shutout in Thursday's 2-0 sectional win at Holcomb, Kutz going the first five innings and Wengert working the last two.

Wengert, who recorded five of his six outs on strikeouts and escaped a bases-loaded, nobody out jam in the sixth, will start today. A junior right-hander, he and senior righty Kutz both earned all-state honors last year.

"I feel like we have two of the best pitchers in the state on the 1A level," said Wibbenmeyer. "Tyler didn't throw very many pitches Thursday and I think his arm will bounce back pretty well."

Wengert, after closing out the victory over Holcomb, had no doubt about that.

"I'll ice my arm and be ready for Saturday," he said with a smile.

Hoffman said today's starter for the Whippets will be sophomore Mike Russell (6-3, 2.90), who held up well during the season although senior Jordan Hicks (9-1, 1.65) faced many of the better opponents and he hurled all eight innings against Advance, striking out 17. Hicks would be available for two innings of work today.

"Russell doesn't throw nearly as good as Hicks, but he throws pretty decent," Hoffman said. "Jordan usually threw against the best teams, but Mike has done well against some good teams."

Hicks, Russell, sophomore Levi Cowan and junior Mark Buller all bat better than .400 to lead the Whippets offensively.

For St. Vincent, Wengert is batting nearly .450, all-state catcher Ryan Brown has a team-high 27 RBIs and Kutz is another offensive leader.

Wibbenmeyer hopes a large and enthusiastic home crowd will help propel the Indians into next week's 1A Final Four in Columbia, Mo.

"We feel very good about playing at home," he said. "We're hoping for a big crowd and hopefully we'll earn a trip to Columbia."