As the Madison College baseball team looks toward post-season play, it has every reason to be confident as it attempts to reach the NJCAA Division II World Series for the eighth consecutive season.
The team has a 39-10 record and is ranked No. 6 in Division II.
It just wrapped up the last weekend of the regular season by winning five straight games, outscoring its competition, 45-10.
On May 1, it swept a doubleheader against Harper College by the scores of 6-4 and 6-3. In the first game, Madison College took the lead with four runs in the fifth inning on a grand slam by Beau Bloxdorf.
In the second game, the WolfPack took the lead with a three-run sixth inning that featured a two-run double by Jonah Roloff.
On May 2, Madison College scored a 12-0 victory against McHenry County College, allowing just one hit the entire game. Pitchers Tavian Shramek and Chase Baker combined for the shutout, with Shramek earning the win allowing just one hit in six innings pitched. Casey Wambach hit a home run and a double to lead the WolfPack.
Finally, Madison College picked up two wins over Oakton College on May 3, winning the first game, 11-1, and the second game, 10-2.
An eight-run fourth inning was the key in the first game, with Braylen White and Eason Hurd both hitting doubles in the inning. Axel Donaldson and Noah Musolf combined for a five-inning no-hitter, but allowed a run thanks to six bases on balls and an error.
The second game saw Carter Lund, Landon Dessart and Adison Tevz combined for a five-hit victory. Lund earned the win, while Dessart got the save. The game was close until Madison College scored six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Paul Nuetzel and Matt Gruber both doubled in the inning.
Strong hitting has been a big part of the team’s success this season. The team is hitting .324, led by five players who are hitting over .350. They include Quinn Falish (.390), Sam Moses (.358), Nate Novinska (.356), Ian Salveson (.351) and JJ Wolbert (.350). Novinska leads the team in home runs with seven, while Easton Hurd has six.
Along with that, the pitching staff has had some strong performances this year as well. Broden Jackson leads the WolfPack with a 6-1 record. He also has a 2.44 earned run average and has struck out a team-high 61 batters in 48 innings pitched. Noah Musolf has a 5-1 record, while Noah Marschke and Shramek are both 4-0.
Look out for the WolfPack as the NJCAA Region 4 tournament starts on May 8.
Madison College 5, Dakota County 2
Dakota County 15, Madison College 0
After winning the first game of a doubleheader on April 29, Madison College was no-hit by Dakota County Technical College in the second game. Madison College won the first game, 5-2, taking control with a three-run third inning. Nate Novinska, Paul Nuetzel and Jonah Roloff each had two hits in the game. Braycen Burg pithed the win, while Carter Lund earned the save.
The second game saw the WolfPack fall 15-0 in a run-rule game. It was the first no-hitter against a Madison College team coached by Mike Davenport.
Madison College 3, McHenry County College 2
Freshman Braylen White got a walk-off infield single in the bottom of the 12th inning to lift Madison College to a 3-2 victory over McHenry County College on April 28. McHenry County had 14 hits in the game compared to six for Madison College, but were unable to get them across the plate. Falish Quinn had three of the WolfPack’s six hits.
Black Hawk 11, Madison College 8
Madison College 4, Black Hawk 3
Madison College split a double header against Back Hawk College on April 26. In game one, the WolfPack led early but gave up seven runs in the sixth inning, leading to the 11-8 loss. Ian Salvesen, Falish Quinn and Jonah Roloff each had two hits in the game.
Madison College won game two on a walk-off wild pitch that allowed Nate Novinska to score for a 4-3 victory. JJ Wolbert had three of the team’s five hits in the game.
Madison College 8, DuPage 2
Madison College 15, DuPage 5
Madison College’s Chase Baker was on fire in game one, striking out 12 over 5-1/3 Innings to lead the WolfPack to an 8-2 victory on April 25. A solo home run from Nate Novinska and key hits from JJ Wolbert helped power the win. In game two, the offense was on fire led by Quinn Falish who had a home run and five RBIs. Madison College won, 15-5, in five innings.
Madison College 21, Sauk Valley 2
Madison College scored 15 runs in the first five innings on its way to a 21-2 victory over Sauk Valley Community College on April 24. Home runs by Nate Novinska and Casey Wambach helped power the win. Pitcher Noah Musolf had a strong start with five scoreless innings while only allowing one hit.
Madison College 5, Milwaukee 1
Madison College 12, Milwaukee 6
Madison College used a two-run home run from Quinn Falish to pull away from Milwaukee Area Technical College for a 5-1 victory in game one on April 21. Pitchers Axel Donaldson and Landon Dessart combined to just give a one run in the win. In game two, Madison College’s offense scored 12 runs on just six hits thanks to 13 walks. Nate Novinska had two hits and a double to lead the team.
Highland Community College 8, Madison College 6
Madison College was handed its first home loss of the season, falling against Highland Community College, 8-6, on April 20. The WolfPack led multiple times in this game, with multi-hit games from Nate Novinska, Braylen White and Matt Gruber. The WolfPack’s home winning streak ended at 29 games, a streak that dated back to last season.
Madison College 6, Lake County 1
Madison College 5, Lake County 1
Madison College earned a doubleheader sweep against College of Lake County on April 19. In the 6-1 victory in game one, Nate Novinska hit a two-run home run and pitchers Noah Musolf and Charle Slawinski combine to just allow one run. In game two, Madison College jumped ahead early with help from a three-run home run from Ian Salvesen in the fourth inning. Adison Tevz pitched 5-1/3 scoreless innings and had nine strikeouts in the 5-1 win.
South Suburban College 8, Madison College 5
Madison College saw its 10 game-winning streak end with an 8-5 loss to South Suburban College on April 18. Despite the loss, Ian Salvesen went 5-for-5 at the plate and became the ninth player program history to reach five hits in a game.
Madison College 6, Elgin CC 2
Madison College showed off its strong pitching as Axel Donaldson delivered four scoreless innings with six strikeouts in his team’s 6-2 win over Elgin Community College on April 16. The offense showed its power with home runs from JJ Wolbert and Quinn Falish.