The Salem Wildcats won their Class 3a regional baseball opener at home 12-0 over visiting Mattoon.
The Cats jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the first inning on a Ryan Detering double and a Rhett Detering sac-fly. Salem added 2 more runs in the 4th before blowing the game open with 8 runs in the top of the 7th.
Noah Nix was really good allowing 2 hits in the complete game shutout while striking out 8 and walking just one.
At the plate, Jalen Inlow went 3-4, Cody Beard hit a long double down the left field line that nearly left the park as he drove in 2 runs. Nix went 2-3 with a double and 3 RBI. Also driving in runs were Inlow, Aden Bass, Keyton Grawe and Cooper Lobek. Keaton Gullion walked 3 times and scored.
The Wildcats will play in their 4th straight regional championship game tomorrow morning at 11am against the team they beat last year in the title game, Effingham. We will have first pitch on WSIQ and at southernillinoisnow.com. The win improves Salem to 14-14 on the season.
Today Waterloo and Freeburg will play in the Mascoutah semifinal at 11 a.m.