IHSA

* Last updated at 10:33 am on Wednesday, June 4, 2025

State Final Teams: Eureka | Springfield (Sacred Heart-Griffin) | Sterling (Newman Central Catholic) | Teutopolis

Sterling (Newman Central Catholic) Comets (28-7-1)

School Information

Name: Newman Central Catholic High School
City: Sterling
County: Whiteside
Classification Enrollment: 346.5
Nickname: Comets
Colors: Blue/White/Grey
Conference: Three Rivers Athletic
Head of School: Jennifer Oetting
Athletic Director: Justin Stevenson
Spiritual Director: Father Thomas Doyle
Head Coach: Kenny Koerner
Athletic Trainer: Andy Accardi
Assistant Coaches: Ryan Decker, Chad Miner, Nate Mason, John Kutz
Athletic Trainer: Andrew Accardi
Captains: Daniel Kelly, Chase Decker, Joe Oswalt
Manager: Jace Murphy
Last Year's Advancement: 4th Place in 2A Final vs. Wilmington, 4-0

Team Photo

Roster

No.	Name	B	T	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Yr.
1	Garret Matznick	R	R	SS	5-10	170	Jr.
2	Daniel Kelly	R	R	C	6-0	200	Sr.
3	Jacob Payne	R	R	C	5-10	170	Jr.
5	Riley Mason	R	R	OF	5-8	175	So.
6	Evan Bushman	R	R	P-1B	5-10	180	Jr.
7	Miner Ashton	R	R	RF	5-10	185	So.
9	Joe Oswalt	R	R	LF	5-10	160	Sr.
12	Owen Frank	R	R	OF	5-8	200	Fr.
13	Cooper Spears	R	R	IF	5-10	200	Jr.
14	Jameson Hanlon	R	R	2B	5-10	150	Fr.
15	Liam Nicklaus	R	R	2B	5-8	150	So.
16	Tyson Williams	R	R	OF	6-0	180	Fr.
18	Garet Wolfe	R	R	3B	5-10	170	Jr.
19	Roman Reynolds	R	R	OF	5-8	150	Fr.
21	Michael Morse	R	R	P-DH	6-1	190	So.
23	Jeff Thormeyer	R	R	IF	5-10	165	So.
26	Tim Plote	R	R	C	5-10	175	Fr.
29	John Rowzee	R	R	OF	6-3	190	Jr.
32	Easton Coward	R	R	IF	5-8	150	Fr.
42	Chase Decker	R	R	CF	6-1	175	Sr.
44	Drake Cole	L	L	1B	6-1	175	Jr.
51	Brandt Camper	R	R	OF	5-10	150	Fr.

Statistics

BATTING
  
 
Name
  G
  AB
  R
  H
  RBI
  Avg.
  2B
  3B
  HR

 
 
  Miner Ashton
   35 
  96
  35
  42
  38
  .438
  14
  0
  1

 
 
  Evan Bushman
   29 
  55
  11
  12
  7
  .218
  2
  0
  0

 
 
  Brandt Camper
   0 
  0
  0
  0
  0
   
  0
  0
  0

 
 
  Drake Cole
   26 
  72
  9
  18
  16
  .250
  2
  0
  0

 
 
  Easton Coward
   0 
  0
  0
  0
  0
   
  0
  0
  0

 
 
  Chase Decker
   35 
  119
  34
  46
  42
  .387
  6
  2
  3

 
 
  Owen Frank
   1 
  1
  0
  0
  0
  .000
  0
  0
  0

 
 
  Jameson Hanlon
   30 
  76
  24
  19
  15
  .250
  3
  0
  0

 
 
  Daniel Kelly
   34 
  99
  30
  39
  28
  .394
  9
  1
  3

 
 
  Riley Mason
   1 
  1
  0
  0
  0
  .000
  0
  0
  0

 
 
  Garret Matznick
   36 
  112
  48
  42
  25
  .375
  12
  1
  0

 
 
  Michael Morse
   30 
  82
  9
  21
  22
  .256
  3
  0
  0

 
 
  Liam Nicklaus
   34 
  88
  22
  24
  16
  .273
  3
  0
  0

 
 
  Joe Oswalt
   27 
  71
  14
  24
  9
  .338
  0
  0
  0

 
 
  Jacob Payne
   10 
  4
  7
  1
  0
  .250
  0
  0
  0

 
 
  Tim Plote
   0 
  0
  0
  0
  0
   
  0
  0
  0

 
 
  Roman Reynolds
   0 
  0
  0
  0
  0
   
  0
  0
  0

 
 
  John Rowzee
   15 
  6
  10
  2
  2
  .333
  0
  0
  0

 
 
  Cooper Spears
   0 
  0
  0
  0
  0
   
  0
  0
  0

 
 
  Jeff Thormeyer
   1 
  0
  0
  0
  1
   
  0
  0
  0

 
 
  Tyson Williams
   20 
  14
  6
  1
  3
  .071
  0
  0
  0

 
 
  Garet Wolfe
   25 
  78
  23
  29
  21
  .372
  3
  1
  0
 


PITCHING
  
 

Name
  G
  W-L
  IP
  H
  ER
  BB
  SO
  ERA

 
 
  Miner Ashton
  6
  2-0
  18.0
  22
  12
  5
  12
  4.67

 
 
  Evan Bushman
  12
  9-0
  66.0
  75
  23
  15
  44
  2.44

 
 
  Drake Cole
  10
  5-1
  42.0
  42
  28
  26
  28
  4.67

 
 
  Chase Decker
  5
  0-2
  4.0
  8
  12
  9
  7
  21.00

 
 
  Jameson Hanlon
  1
  0-0
  0.0
  0
  0
  0
  0

 
 
  Daniel Kelly
  3
  1-0
  5.0
  6
  10
  13
  6
  14.00

 
 
  Garret Matznick
  10
  2-1
  19.0
  11
  3
  7
  18
  1.11

 
 
  Michael Morse
  11
  5-1
  32.0
  17
  12
  18
  38
  2.63

 
 
  Liam Nicklaus
  8
  2-1
  23.0
  25
  6
  6
  18
  1.83

 
 
  Joe Oswalt
  3
  1-1
  9.0
  20
  15
  9
  6
  11.67

 
 
  Jacob Payne
  1
  0
  1.0
  1
  3
  5
  0
  21.00

 
 
  Roman Reynolds
   
   
  0.0
  0
  0
  0
  0

 
 
  John Rowzee
  2
  0
  4.0
  7
  5
  1
  5
  8.75

 
 
  Tyson Williams
  1
  0-0
  0.0
  0
  0
  0
  0

 
 
  Garet Wolfe
  3
  1-0
  5.0
  9
  8
  1
  4
  11.20
 



Scores


 
  Date
  Opponent
  W/L
  Own
  Opp

 
 
  3/17
  East Dubuque
  T
   2 
   2 

 
 
  3/18
  Sterling (H.S.)
  W
   6 
   5 

 
 
  3/21
  Taylor Ridge (Rockridge)
  L
   3 
   5 

 
 
  3/24
  Fulton (H.S.)
  W
   11 
   9 

 
 
  3/26
  Kewanee (Wethersfield)
  W
   8 
   7 

 
 
  3/27
  Savanna (West Carroll)
  W
   20 
   5 

 
 
  3/28
  Morrison
  W
   11 
   8 

 
 
  3/31
  Manlius (Bureau Valley)
  W
   11 
   1 

 
 
  4/4
  Port Byron (Riverdale)
  W
   7 
   0 

 
 
  4/9
  Varsity Opponent,
  W
   8 
   3 

 
 
  4/10
  Princeton
  W
   3 
   1 

 
 
  4/11
  Orion
  W
   3 
   1 

 
 
  4/14
  Prophetstown
  W
   15 
   7 

 
 
  4/16
  Lanark (Eastland)
  L
   4 
   5 

 
 
  4/21
  Spring Valley (Hall)
  W
   3 
   1 

 
 
  4/23
  Rock Falls
  W
   7 
   3 

 
 
  4/24
  Spring Valley (Hall)
  W
   6 
   1 

 
 
  4/25
  Aledo (Mercer County)
  W
   10 
   6 

 
 
  4/26
  Byron
  L
   2 
   12 

 
 
  4/28
  Mendota
  W
   13 
   3 

 
 
  4/29
  Princeton
  W
   3 
   2 

 
 
  5/2
  Sherrard
  W
   10 
   3 

 
 
  5/5
  Kewanee (H.S.)
  W
   8 
   7 

 
 
  5/7
  Mendota
  W
   11 
   1 

 
 
  5/8
  Kewanee (H.S.)
  W
   21 
   3 

 
 
  5/9
  Monmouth (M.-Roseville)
  W
   19 
   6 

 
 
  5/10
  Kankakee (McNamara)
  L
   2 
   18 

 
 
  5/12
  Amboy
  W
   8 
   0 

 
 
  5/14
  Prophetstown
  L
   2 
   3 

 
 
  5/15
  Warren
  L
   12 
   13 

 
 
  5/16
  Ottawa (Marquette)
  L
   0 
   13 

 
 
  Rock Island (Alleman) Regional
 
 
  5/23
  Prophetstown [Coop]
  W
   7 
   4 

 
 
  5/24
  Rock Island (Alleman)
  W
   10 
   7 

 
 
  Mendota Sectional
 
 
  5/28
  Marengo
  W
   5 
   3 

 
 
  5/31
  Johnsburg
  W
   6 
   2 

 
 
  Kane Co. Cougars (Northwestern Medicine Field) Super-Sectional
 
 
  6/2
  Chicago (C. Hope Academy)
  W
   5 
   1

Name	G	AB	R	H	RBI	Avg.	2B	3B	HR
Miner Ashton	35	96	35	42	38	.438	14	0	1
Evan Bushman	29	55	11	12	7	.218	2	0	0
Brandt Camper	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0
Drake Cole	26	72	9	18	16	.250	2	0	0
Easton Coward	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0
Chase Decker	35	119	34	46	42	.387	6	2	3
Owen Frank	1	1	0	0	0	.000	0	0	0
Jameson Hanlon	30	76	24	19	15	.250	3	0	0
Daniel Kelly	34	99	30	39	28	.394	9	1	3
Riley Mason	1	1	0	0	0	.000	0	0	0
Garret Matznick	36	112	48	42	25	.375	12	1	0
Michael Morse	30	82	9	21	22	.256	3	0	0
Liam Nicklaus	34	88	22	24	16	.273	3	0	0
Joe Oswalt	27	71	14	24	9	.338	0	0	0
Jacob Payne	10	4	7	1	0	.250	0	0	0
Tim Plote	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0
Roman Reynolds	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0
John Rowzee	15	6	10	2	2	.333	0	0	0
Cooper Spears	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0
Jeff Thormeyer	1	0	0	0	1		0	0	0
Tyson Williams	20	14	6	1	3	.071	0	0	0
Garet Wolfe	25	78	23	29	21	.372	3	1	0

Name	G	W-L	IP	H	ER	BB	SO	ERA
Miner Ashton	6	2-0	18.0	22	12	5	12	4.67
Evan Bushman	12	9-0	66.0	75	23	15	44	2.44
Drake Cole	10	5-1	42.0	42	28	26	28	4.67
Chase Decker	5	0-2	4.0	8	12	9	7	21.00
Jameson Hanlon	1	0-0	0.0	0	0	0	0
Daniel Kelly	3	1-0	5.0	6	10	13	6	14.00
Garret Matznick	10	2-1	19.0	11	3	7	18	1.11
Michael Morse	11	5-1	32.0	17	12	18	38	2.63
Liam Nicklaus	8	2-1	23.0	25	6	6	18	1.83
Joe Oswalt	3	1-1	9.0	20	15	9	6	11.67
Jacob Payne	1	0	1.0	1	3	5	0	21.00
Roman Reynolds			0.0	0	0	0	0
John Rowzee	2	0	4.0	7	5	1	5	8.75
Tyson Williams	1	0-0	0.0	0	0	0	0
Garet Wolfe	3	1-0	5.0	9	8	1	4	11.20

Date	Opponent	W/L	Own	Opp
3/17	East Dubuque	T	2	2
3/18	Sterling (H.S.)	W	6	5
3/21	Taylor Ridge (Rockridge)	L	3	5
3/24	Fulton (H.S.)	W	11	9
3/26	Kewanee (Wethersfield)	W	8	7
3/27	Savanna (West Carroll)	W	20	5
3/28	Morrison	W	11	8
3/31	Manlius (Bureau Valley)	W	11	1
4/4	Port Byron (Riverdale)	W	7	0
4/9	Varsity Opponent,	W	8	3
4/10	Princeton	W	3	1
4/11	Orion	W	3	1
4/14	Prophetstown	W	15	7
4/16	Lanark (Eastland)	L	4	5
4/21	Spring Valley (Hall)	W	3	1
4/23	Rock Falls	W	7	3
4/24	Spring Valley (Hall)	W	6	1
4/25	Aledo (Mercer County)	W	10	6
4/26	Byron	L	2	12
4/28	Mendota	W	13	3
4/29	Princeton	W	3	2
5/2	Sherrard	W	10	3
5/5	Kewanee (H.S.)	W	8	7
5/7	Mendota	W	11	1
5/8	Kewanee (H.S.)	W	21	3
5/9	Monmouth (M.-Roseville)	W	19	6
5/10	Kankakee (McNamara)	L	2	18
5/12	Amboy	W	8	0
5/14	Prophetstown	L	2	3
5/15	Warren	L	12	13
5/16	Ottawa (Marquette)	L	0	13
Rock Island (Alleman) Regional
5/23	Prophetstown [Coop]	W	7	4
5/24	Rock Island (Alleman)	W	10	7
Mendota Sectional
5/28	Marengo	W	5	3
5/31	Johnsburg	W	6	2
Kane Co. Cougars (Northwestern Medicine Field) Super-Sectional
6/2	Chicago (C. Hope Academy)	W	5	1

Head Coach Kenny Koerner

Year	W-L
Sterling (Newman Central Catholic)
2020-21	16-9
2021-22	19-8
2022-23	23-9 (3rd)
2023-24	25-6 (4th)
4 yrs.	83-32

Tournament History

2023-1A     6    2  1-1 (23-9)     3rd  Kenny Koerner
       L    1    2  Henry (H.-Senachwine)
       W    6    2  Goreville
2024-2A     0    4  0-2 (25-6-1)   4th  Kenny Koerner
       L    1   11  Maroa (M.-Forsyth)
       L    0    4  Wilmington