Junior College Athletics seems to be a place for new beginnings or second chances. You have people who want to continue their career at a higher level, or someone who was at the highest level and had to turn a back a few pages. Players come from all over the world. Illinois Valley Community College has athletes that are from around the world or even some from out of state. Ashton Pecher is a Hall High School Graduate from Spring Valley. He is going into his sophomore year and is an infielder for the Eagles.

     With going into your sophomore year, you have expectations from your coach and even your teammates. This is especially true for a junior college because you only have two years with the team. For Pecher, he feels that he is “going to have a big role as being a leader”. He stated, “keep the freshman up and to not get down on themselves, because we know what they can do for us.”

    With new teammates come higher expectations and new friendships, Freshman Ryan Slingsby played with or against Pecher throughout his whole life on the diamond. Slingsby told IV Leader, “Pecher is a good teammate” and “he is a utility guy for us that is consistent with the bat.” Pecher stated “You can put these freshmen in at any moment and get the job done.”

                  Pecher is coming off a stelar freshman outing with a .313 batting average including 21 RBIs and 3 home runs. Pecher said IVCC’s goal is to “be a better team than last year” with hopes of making a playoff run.

                  Pecher is able to rely on his pitching staff “at any given moment.”  Max Cook, a sophomore from Milford, is a “player that lifts his teammates up, no matter what the situation is.”

                  They have a long season ahead of them after their trip to Myrtle Beach that just passed. The Eagles have potential and the power to create something special in the Illinois Valley.