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Whiteoak baseball opens ’24 season with twin bill win over South Webster

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By
Stephen Forsha, The Highland County Press

The 2024 season for the Whiteoak Wildcats opened with a home doubleheader win against the South Webster Jeeps by scores of 8-7 and 7-2 Saturday, as these two programs won district championships last season. 

The March 23 wins in their season opener saw Whiteoak win their first game of the season by a 8-7 score, with Whiteoak scoring two runs in the first inning, followed by a three-run third, one run in the fourth and two final runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. 

Whiteoak had runs scored by Zander Roades and Eli Roberts in the bottom of the first, and in the bottom of the third, Whiteoak had runs scored by Roberts, Jaycen Applegate and Jonah Michael. 

The bottom of the fourth had a WHS run scored by Roades, and in the bottom of the fifth, it was Kaden Moon-Stone and Abraham Flader adding runs. 

Flader finished 2-for-3 with one run and one RBI in his high school debut, while Roberts began his senior season 2-for-3 with two runs and three RBI, as he hit a home run and forced one walk. 

Having one hit each for the Wildcats were Izayah Clift (high school debut), Michael (high school debut), Moon-Stone and Roades. 

WHS forced five walks in the win, and those drawing a walk were Applegate, Moon-Stone, Roades, Roberts and Camron Storms. Applegate was the lone Wildcat batter hit by a pitch. 

Moon-Stone tossed five innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on four hits and seven walks. He collected four strikeouts in the win. 

Michael didn’t record an out, allowing two runs (none earned) on zero hits and two walks. Roberts pitched two innings and was the winning pitcher, allowing one run (none earned) on one hit and no walks with two strikeouts. 

The Jeeps scored one run in the top of the third and had a five-run sixth inning and one run scored in the top of the seventh. 

WHS totaled eight hits and had two errors, while South Webster totaled five hits and two errors. 


BOX SCORE
SWHS
    001 005 1 — 7 5 2
WHS    203 120 x — 8 8 2


In game two of the home doubleheader, the Wildcats defeated the Jeeps, 7-2, as Whiteoak totaled 10 hits and had one error, while SWHS finished with six hits and one error. 

WHS scored one run in the bottom of the first, followed by a run in the third and five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. SWHS scored two runs in the top of the fourth. 

Roades scored the first run for WHS as he crossed home plate in the bottom of the first, followed by Michael scoring a run in the third inning for the Wildcats. In the bottom of the sixth, the Wildcats had runs scored by Roades, Izayah Clift, Moon-Stone, Dakota Clift and Christian Hite (a pinch runner). 

Michael finished 2-for-3 with one run, followed by Roberts at 2-for-4 with two RBI and Storms at 2-for-2. 

Others for WHS with a hit were Dakota Clift (one run), Izayah Clift (one run, one RBI, double), Moon-Stone (one run, one RBI, one double, one HBP) and Roades (two runs, one double, one walk). Jacob Kiley drew a walk in his high school debut. 

Applegate was the winning pitcher, throwing five innings. Applegate allowed two runs (none earned) on four hits and three walks, while totaling six strikeouts. 

Izayah Clift pitched one inning, allowing no runs, hits or walks, and striking out two. Kiley pitched one inning, allowing no runs on two hits and no walks, with one strikeout. 

SWHS scored their two runs in the top of the fourth inning. 

WHS (2-0) is scheduled to play a non-conference game Monday, March 25 at 5 p.m. at Paint Valley High School. 

BOX SCORE
SWHS
    000 200 0 — 2 6 1
WHS    101 005 x — 7 10 1 


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