McHenry clinches Valley

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McHENRY – McHenry might have played a little tight in its loss to Prairie Ridge on Tuesday, so Warriors coach Brian Rockweiler tried to foster a different pregame atmosphere Wednesday.

“We came out, had good batting practice and told them to have fun,” Rockweiler said. “That either way [win or lose], we’re going to celebrate.”

Still, a loss that could have meant sharing the Fox Valley Conference Valley Division championship, instead of winning outright, would have dampened the mood. McHenry did not have to worry about that.

The Warriors took care of business behind senior left-hander Joe Feilen and defeated Prairie Ridge, 7-3, in their FVC baseball game Wednesday at Petersen Park.

Shortstop Chase Matheson charged Alex Martini’s ground ball and fired to first baseman Jamie Rammel for the final out, sending the players into a celebration on the infield that ended up in a dogpile.

McHenry (23-9 overall, 20-4 FVC Valley) won its first FVC title since 1999 and ended a three-year run for Cary-Grove, which could have tied the Warriors for the division championship with two wins against Woodstock North.

“This is awesome,” said Matheson, who was 2 for 4 with two RBIs. “At the beginning of the season we set this as a goal. I feel like this is just a start, that this team has a lot more left in it.”

McHenry’s Nos. 2-6 hitters each drove in at least one run. The Warriors held a 5-3 lead in the sixth for Feilen, who had reached 100 pitches. Rockweiler had two pitchers warming up, but when McHenry added two more runs, he let Feilen finish.

“Those two runs definitely made the difference [on Feilen staying in],” Rockweiler said. “He was getting up there in the pitch count and they were going to see him for the fourth time. But he said, ‘I’m not coming out.’ ”

Feilen (5-2) threw 117 pitches, struck out four, walked one and allowed seven hits.

“It means a lot to pitch seven innings for my team,” Feilen said. “I know our defense is going to be stellar every game. In the sixth, coach asked how I was and I said, ‘I’m going to finish this for you.’ ”

Matheson and Cody Freund each drove in runs in the sixth inning to pad the lead for Feilen.

“We had fun and the score took care of itself,” Matheson said. “We played loose and it showed out there.”

McHenry jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, but the Wolves (12-20, 10-11 FVC Fox) came back and trailed, 5-3, after four innings. Jordan Getzelman went 3 for 3 and led off the second with a solo home run. Getzelman also singled and scored in the fourth.

McHenry clinched a share of the Valley Division on Saturday, but Prairie Ridge defeated the Warriors, 5-3, on Tuesday to prevent them from winning outright.

“This is definitely a different dugout than it was in March and April,” Wolves coach Glen Pecoraro said. “We were right in it. Now, if we make mistakes early, it doesn’t shut us down. Not one kid in that dugout gave up.”

McHenry hosts its IHSA Class 4A Regional next week and is the top seed. The Warriors will see No. 4 Prairie Ridge again at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.