BY DRAKE SKLEBA
SENIOR WRITER

Games from March 25

Nonconference
Mother Nature fired a state-wide shutout on Monday. Her snow totals on Sunday were impressive. Springfield 18.5 inches; Champaign, Decatur 15 inches, Bloomington-Normal 12 inches….Mother Nature's impressive performance has vaulted her into the supreme position, as the PBR‘s top-ranked performer this spring.

Normal West and Metamora, fortunately for the Wildcats and Redbirds, left town for warmer climates. Thus the two schools played on Monday and were successful.

No. 5 Normal West 5, Chantilly (VA) 3
Illinois’ fifth-ranked team ventured to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for the Wildcats spring-trip on Monday. Normally warm Myrtle Beach was a chilly 54 degrees. Playing in weather that the ‘Cats normally play back in McLean County, Normal West (4-1) defeated Chantilly (VA) 6-3.

University of Illinois-bound Matthew James (2-0) dominated the Virginians in his 5 2/3 innings of work. James (2-0) fanned 13, allowing one earned run and two hits. James had retired 31 straight batters this season when a Virginian reached on an error for James’ first base runner of the season. James chipped in with a pair of doubles at the plate.

Missouri State-bound Alex Jefferson doubled and tripled, plating two Wildcat runs. Senior Josh Appel also had a pair of RBI and a double.

Chantilly High School (4-2) is in suburban Washington D.C and is a school of 2800 students.  Chantilly defeated the defending Virginia State Champions last week.

Normal West will meet Herndon (VA) today.  

No. 43 Metamora 13, Colonial (FL) 5
The Redbirds used the long-ball to romp past their Floridian opponents on Monday. Brady Fairfield, Alec Skender and Brendan Nachtreib all went deep for Metamora (1-1). Skender homered with a teammate aboard. Fairfield and Nachtreib hit solo shots. Fairfield drove home three Redbird runs and Drew Beenders added a pair of RBI for Metamora.

Trent Johnson was the starting and winning pitcher for Metamora. Trent helped himself with two hits and an RBI.

No. 43 Metamora 8, Milton (MA) 6
Metamora (2-1) could only muster four hits against their Bay State opponents. The Redbirds turned those four hits into eight big runs to slip past Milton 8-6. Alec Skender had perfect 2-for-2 day at the plate with an RBI. Trent Johnson and Dylan Mullens picked up the other Redbird RBI. Jeff Thompson (1-0) picked up the win on the mound for Metamora. Thompson allowed one earned run and two in his five innings of work. Thompson struck out 8.