By Sean Duncan

NORMAL - On paper, Friday’s Normal West vs. Glenwood game appeared to be a classic matchup between two Class 3A powers, a pairing one can easily envision taking place in June, at Silver Cross Field, for a state trophy.

On the field, however, it was all Matthew James.

Which is to say a dominant 6-0 Normal West victory over the visitors from Chatham.

James threw a one-hit complete game, registering eight strikeouts to two walks to improve his record to 5-0. The 6-foot-2 junior right-hander, who’s committed to the University of Illinois, carried a no-hitter into the sixth before Kansas State-bound catcher Alex Bee laced a single to open the inning.

Overall, James was extremely efficient, pounding the strike zone with his mid-80s fastball, dotting it in and out, and mixing in his sharp breaking ball that had Glenwood (10-3) off balance all game.

“I was trying not to think about the no-hitter,” said James, who added that he didn’t realize it until the fourth inning. “But it’s baseball. It’s no big deal as long as we get the win.”

And speaking of wins, James has compiled many of them for the Wildcats. Already he has amassed a 17-1 record, including going 9-1 as a sophomore to earn PBR second-team All-State honors. Normal West coach Chris Hawkins has witnessed every one of James’ victories.

“He rises to the occasion,” said Hawkins. “Glenwood is a very good team. He attacks hitters; he pitches without fear.”

Normal West (10-3) broke open a scoreless tie in the third inning when it pushed four runs across. Sophomore Reed Rogers got it started with a single, followed by a walk to Ryan Speller. Junior catcher Adam McGinnis drove home the first run with a double to right-center, and junior outfielder Alex Jefferson delivered a two-run single. The Wildcats made it 4-0 when Northern Illinois-bound Wes Sery scored on a passed ball – from second base.

McGinnis, who finished 2-for-3, added a run-scoring single in the sixth. Junior first baseman Turner Reed also had a run-scoring single. James led off the sixth with a triple.

The only thing that didn’t go right for James was two pop-ups to the pitcher’s mound, which resulted in collision-induced errors.

“We should’ve kept hitting pop ups to the pitcher’s mound,” Glenwood coach Pat Moomey joked. “James did the same thing to us last year. He was just overpowering. … He’s the real deal.”