Lions defeat rival Whiteoak for SHAC win

The Fairfield Lions visited rival Whiteoak in Mowrystown on Friday and left with a two-run Southern Hills Athletic Conference victory, defeating host WHS, 8-6. 

Though both teams committed five errors, it was WHS who led early on by a 3-2 score, as the Lions scored two runs in the top of the second, only to be answered with a three-run bottom of the second by the Wildcats. 

The Lions also had a three-run inning, taking a 5-3 advantage following the top of the third. 

Not to be outdone, it was the Wildcats who had a second three-run inning in the bottom of the fourth, moving ahead 6-5 after four complete innings. 

There was still one more three-run inning to be had, belonging to the Lions, as they scored their second three-run inning at the top of the fifth. 

"We had two leads and couldn't hold them against one of the better, if not the best team in the conference," WHS head coach Chris Veidt said.

In total, the Lions had eight hits, while WHS had five.  

Each team committed five errors. 

Of the eight FHS hits, Wyatt Crothers and Isaiah Liggins each had two, with Crothers also scoring one run and one RBI. Liggins scored two runs and had a double. 

Dylan Rhode had one hit but collected two RBIs. 

Also with one hit apiece were Blake Hildebrant, Ryan Bates and Gage Montgomery. Hildebrant also had one run and one RBI, and Montgomery scored two runs.

Quintin Schaffer and Cody Bennett each scored one run and one RBI, while also forcing a walk. 

Zach Cox forced two walks. 

The win went to Joey Wilson. Wilson pitched 3.2 innings, allowing no runs on one hit and seven strikeouts as he faced 12 batters. Wilson pitched in relief of Rhode, who had the no-decision. 

For WHS, Justin Emery was 2-for-4 with two runs, and Nick Wardlow was 2-for-4 with two runs and a walk. 

Tyler Williams, Jason Jones and Jacob Burns each had one hit, with Jones scoring one run and collecting two RBIs. Burns had one run and one RBI. 

Wardlow and Williams each had a double. 

The loss was charged to Wardlow (1-1). He pitched 4.2 innings, allowing seven runs (two earned) on six hits and four walks. He struck out four. Burns pitched 2.1 innings of relief, allowing one run (none earned) on two hits and no walks. Burns had one strikeout. 

"Nick (Wardlow) deserved a better fate as a pitcher (Friday), and he also swung the bat well," Veidt said. "Jason (Jones) had a clutch two-RBI single in fourth that gave us our last lead. Jacob (Burns) continues to impress in relief."