By THE HERALD-WHIG STAFF

Todd Porter couldn't have been happier to see his team leader have a big day.

The Illini West baseball coach had a good reason for his excitement.

Junior starting pitcher Luke Burling tossed a five-inning no-hitter, striking out nine while walking two, as the Chargers took a 10-0 decision over Hamilton in West Central Conference action.

"Luke is one of those kids that everybody looks up to," Porter said. "I was just ecstatic for him."

Burling, who dropped his first game to Macomb and has since won five straight, had everything working Monday night.

"He had his fastball going, which is sneaky fast," Porter said. "He just really knows how to pitch and cruised after we got a cushion."

Illini West (16-6 overall, 5-3 WCC) scored four runs in the bottom of the first and added two runs in both the second and third innings to take the early lead.

Burling contributed at the plate as well, going 3 for 3 with a double. Teammate Cole Thompson had a triple and home run to finish with three RBI, while Ross Hudson and Stefan Flynn added two hits apiece.

West Prairie 16, Central-Southeastern 13: The Panthers could not fight back after surrendering eight runs in the top of the first, suffering the loss at home.

C-SE (10-11) scored two runs in the second and four more in the third to get within two, but watched as West Prairie scored four runs in both the fourth and fifth to put the game away.

Rickey Ramsey finished with two hits and a home run for C-SE, while Markus VonHolt had three hits, including a home run. Sophomore Sean Grosnic finished 3 for 3 with a double.

Nauvoo-Colusa/Warsaw 14, Unity 7: The Vikings used a 10-run fifth inning along with six extra-base hits to get the West Central North Conference win on the road.

Drew Reinhardt struck out 11 while walking five to get the win for NCW, which also saw the senior hurler finish with a double and a home run at the plate.

Tim Porter led Unity (6-10 overall, 1-3 WCC) with a double and home run.

Western 17, Rushville-Industry 6: Renn Schafer led the charge for the Wildcats, pounding two home runs to grab the win on the road.

Western (6-10) trailed 6-3 into the top of the fourth, before busting the game open with nine runs. Western, which collected 18 hits, also received a home run from Keaton Baker.

South Shelby 10, Salisbury 9: A bases-clearing double by Andrew Williams brought home the winning run for the Cardinals, who trailed throughout the game.

Salisbury scored six runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth to take a 9-7 lead, but Williams collected his second hit of the night with the bases loaded and two out in the seventh to grab the win.

"That was way too close for comfort," South Shelby coach Zach Grassley said.

Bryce Johnston finished 3 for 3 with two home runs -- a two-run shot in the third and another two-run homer in the fifth -- for the Cardinals (8-6).

Justin Wilt (2-1) picked up the win in relief, going two innings and tossing a perfect seventh.

Monroe City 19, Louisiana 3: The Panthers put the rout on early, plating four runs in the top of the first and never looking back to grab the Clarence Cannon Conference win on the road.

Tyler Adams (4-3) got the win, allowing two runs in five innings. The senior struck out four and walked three, while going 3 for 4 at the plate with a home run.

Canton 12, Highland 0: A grand slam in the second inning by freshman Dalton Baker capped a seven-run inning for the Tigers, who cruised to the win on the road.

Grant Lay's three-run homer in the first put Canton up early. Nathan Uhlmeyer added two doubles for Canton, while Josh Fellinger went the distance on the mound to pick up the win.

Highland (3-9), which has lost six straight, received a double from Jonathan Williams.

North Shelby 4, Bevier 2: Michael Coe had the go-ahead double in the fifth as the Raiders posted the home win.

Trailing 2-1 heading into the bottom of the fourth, North Shelby (5-5) tallied a single run in the inning and two more in the fifth for the victory.

Sophomore Nolan Otto finished 2 for 2 with a double, while starter Bradley Craigmyle (2-3) went the distance, striking out 13 and alking one.

Jacksonville 15, Pittsfield 10: The Crimsons scored eight runs in a decisive third inning to down the Saukees at home.

Pittsfield (16-7) had Jordan Cawthon go 3 for 4 in the loss.

PREP TENNIS

Quincy Notre Dame def. Hannibal: As they prepared for the cross-town match with QHS tonight, the Raiders improved to 11-3 with a tight 5-4 win at Resevoir Park Monday night.

QND won four of the six singles matches, capped by a 4-6, 6-1, 10-3 win by Scott Niemann over Ethan Mobley.

Hannibal's Chris Hassien came back after dropping the first set to Mike Hagstrom for a 1-6, 6-2, 10-5 win.

All three doubles matches went to the tie break, with the team of Michael Bergstrom and Niemann taking the lone match for QND.