Wildcats bring out brooms against Titans
Lead Summary
By
The Highland County Press-
Whiteoak used Saturday to do a little cleaning as they brought out the brooms on their home field, sweeping a doubleheader against the Notre Dame Titans by scores of 2-0 and 16-9 to gain their 16th and 17th wins of the season.
In the first game, WHS scored both of their runs in the fifth inning, while the Titans scored their lone run in the sixth.
Luke Taggert led WHS in game one at the plate, going 2-for-3 with one run, as one of his hits was a triple. Jesse Bradds was 1-for-2 (a double) with an RBI, and Kyle Marler was 1-for-3 with a double.
As for the fifth inning of the Wildcats, Taggert led off with a triple. Zach Docter walked and stole second base. After a popup to first base for the first out of the inning, Tyler Williams hit a sacrifice fly to score Taggert. Bradds followed with a double to score Docter.
The winning pitcher was Docter, as he pitched all seven innings. The senior improved to 3-2 on the season, as he allowed one run (none earned) on three hits and no walks, with two strikeouts on 75 pitches.
"Zach was sharp on the mound (Saturday)," WHS head coach Chris Veidt said. "We threw and caught it behind him very well. We've been doing an excellent job of communicating on relays and throwing runners out attempting the extra base.
"Both catchers (Jason Jones and Bradds) have also been throwing out their fair share of base runners attempting to steal. There wasn't much hard contact against Zach, who was facing a quality opponent."
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In the second game, the Wildcats dominated the late innings as they trailed 7-5 after four as WHS scored three runs in the first, followed by one run in the second and one in the fourth. The Titans had a five-run first and two-run second.
The fifth inning saw WHS explode for seven runs, followed by a sixth inning where they added four more. ND added one run in the fifth and one in the seventh.
"I can't say enough about this team's ability to play the game the right way, no matter the score," Veidt said. "They chipped away at an early five-run deficit and just exploded in the fifth inning."
Taggert and Williams each had four hits, where Taggert went 4-for-6 (two doubles) with four runs and three RBIs. Williams was 4-for-4 with three runs and two RBIs.
Docter and Jones each had two hits, while Carraher, Bradds, Marler and Blake Trueblood each had one hit. One of Docter's two hits was a double.
Docter added three runs, while Carraher scored twice. Scoring one run each were Bradds, Jones and Trueblood. Docter, Marler and Trueblood also each had an RBI, while Bradds had three RBIs, but the team leader in RBIs in the second game was Jones with four.
"Jason, Jesse Bradds and Luke were very productive for us offensively," Veidt said. "Luke's been on a tear lately, and Jesse looked very locked in both games."
The winning pitcher was Nick Wardlow, who pitched five innings of relief. Wardlow allowed four runs (two earned) on two hits and five walks as he improved to 2-0 overall. Justin Emery was the starting pitcher for WHS, allowing five earned runs on two hits and four walks, as he struck out two. Trueblood pitched the final inning of relief, allowing no runs on no hits and one walk.
"Nick was huge for us in relief, giving us five strong innings when we need it the most," Veidt said. "Blake not only finished things out for us on the mound, but also gave us a big shot in the arm pinch hitting for an injured Justin Emery in the fifth.
"He (Blake) laid down a sacrifice bunt that couldn't be fielded, and that was the true turning point in the game."
The Wildcats are scheduled to host Valley on Monday at 5 p.m.
In the first game, WHS scored both of their runs in the fifth inning, while the Titans scored their lone run in the sixth.
Luke Taggert led WHS in game one at the plate, going 2-for-3 with one run, as one of his hits was a triple. Jesse Bradds was 1-for-2 (a double) with an RBI, and Kyle Marler was 1-for-3 with a double.
As for the fifth inning of the Wildcats, Taggert led off with a triple. Zach Docter walked and stole second base. After a popup to first base for the first out of the inning, Tyler Williams hit a sacrifice fly to score Taggert. Bradds followed with a double to score Docter.
The winning pitcher was Docter, as he pitched all seven innings. The senior improved to 3-2 on the season, as he allowed one run (none earned) on three hits and no walks, with two strikeouts on 75 pitches.
"Zach was sharp on the mound (Saturday)," WHS head coach Chris Veidt said. "We threw and caught it behind him very well. We've been doing an excellent job of communicating on relays and throwing runners out attempting the extra base.
"Both catchers (Jason Jones and Bradds) have also been throwing out their fair share of base runners attempting to steal. There wasn't much hard contact against Zach, who was facing a quality opponent."
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In the second game, the Wildcats dominated the late innings as they trailed 7-5 after four as WHS scored three runs in the first, followed by one run in the second and one in the fourth. The Titans had a five-run first and two-run second.
The fifth inning saw WHS explode for seven runs, followed by a sixth inning where they added four more. ND added one run in the fifth and one in the seventh.
"I can't say enough about this team's ability to play the game the right way, no matter the score," Veidt said. "They chipped away at an early five-run deficit and just exploded in the fifth inning."
Taggert and Williams each had four hits, where Taggert went 4-for-6 (two doubles) with four runs and three RBIs. Williams was 4-for-4 with three runs and two RBIs.
Docter and Jones each had two hits, while Carraher, Bradds, Marler and Blake Trueblood each had one hit. One of Docter's two hits was a double.
Docter added three runs, while Carraher scored twice. Scoring one run each were Bradds, Jones and Trueblood. Docter, Marler and Trueblood also each had an RBI, while Bradds had three RBIs, but the team leader in RBIs in the second game was Jones with four.
"Jason, Jesse Bradds and Luke were very productive for us offensively," Veidt said. "Luke's been on a tear lately, and Jesse looked very locked in both games."
The winning pitcher was Nick Wardlow, who pitched five innings of relief. Wardlow allowed four runs (two earned) on two hits and five walks as he improved to 2-0 overall. Justin Emery was the starting pitcher for WHS, allowing five earned runs on two hits and four walks, as he struck out two. Trueblood pitched the final inning of relief, allowing no runs on no hits and one walk.
"Nick was huge for us in relief, giving us five strong innings when we need it the most," Veidt said. "Blake not only finished things out for us on the mound, but also gave us a big shot in the arm pinch hitting for an injured Justin Emery in the fifth.
"He (Blake) laid down a sacrifice bunt that couldn't be fielded, and that was the true turning point in the game."
The Wildcats are scheduled to host Valley on Monday at 5 p.m.