Wildcats split weekend doubleheader
Lead Summary
By
The Highland County Press-
MOWRYSTOWN — The Whiteoak Wildcats continued their regular season Saturday, splitting a doubleheader against the Portsmouth Notre Dame Titans.
WHS lost the first game of the twin bill 16-3 but bounced back in the second game, winning 13-1.
The win by WHS puts them at 11-10 overall this season, and Notre Dame, with their win, gives them an overall mark of 10-2.
The game was close in the early innings with the Titans scoring two runs in the top of the first and one in the second. The Wildcats added one in the bottom of the first for a 2-1 score.
"We were two great plays away from getting out of the first two innings with no runs," WHS head coach Chris Veidt said.
Then came the third inning where the Wildcats committed two errors, hit a batter, plus numerous bloop hits allowed the Titans to score seven runs for a 10-1 lead.
ND added four runs in the fourth, all with two outs and the bases empty before the rally began. In the fifth, ND added two more runs.
"We have to throw more quality strikes and focus better with two outs as a defense than we did in this game," Veidt said. "Good teams capitalize on mistakes, and that's what they (ND) did."
WHS added two runs in the fifth for their final runs.
Michael Carraher went 1-for-2, including a double, with two runs. Luke Taggert hit two doubles going 2-for-2 in the first game, scoring one run and collecting one RBI.
Michael Smith finished 2-for-3 with one RBI, and Wes Stratton went 1-for-3.
"Mike Carraher and Luke Taggert showed tremendous leadership both by actions and words. They were fun to watch," Veidt said.
The loss went to Nathan Hauke, who pitched 2 2-3 innings, allowing three earned runs on six walks and seven hits. Hauke struck out three.
BOX SCORE
PND 217 42 — 16
WHS 100 02 — 3
- - - - -
In the second game of the doubleheader, WHS bounced back with a 13-1 win against the Titans.
Todd Ridener was the winning pitcher for WHS, going five complete innings on the mounds, improving to 2-0 on the season. He allowed one run (none earned) on five hits and three walks. Ridener finished with two strikeouts.
"Todd had a solid start when we were in a huge need of one," Veidt said.
At the plate, WHS tallied 10 hits, as WHS began the bottom of the first with three runs, followed by a three-run third for a 6-0 lead. The Wildcats added another three runs in the fourth for a 9-1 advantage and scored four runs in the fifth for the run-rule victory.
Leading the way was Taggert with a 2-for-3 second game with two runs. Also leading the Wildcats was Gage Carraher, who also went 2-for-3 with three runs and three RBIs. One of Carraher's hits was a triple.
Jesse Bradds was 2-for-2 with a double, two runs and two RBIs. Ryan Emery went 1-for-2 with three runs, and Blake Trublood finished 1-for-2 with three RBIs, including a triple.
Stratton went 1-for-3 with an RBI, and Smith ended the second game going 1-for-1 with two runs and one RBI.
"Gage, Luke and Jesse had impressive offensive performances," Veidt said. "Blake Trublood's walk-off bases-loaded triple in the fifth sealed the win for us.
"The most impressive element was our ability to put game one behind us and garner a split."
BOX SCORE
PND 000 10 — 1
WHS 303 34 — 13[[In-content Ad]]
WHS lost the first game of the twin bill 16-3 but bounced back in the second game, winning 13-1.
The win by WHS puts them at 11-10 overall this season, and Notre Dame, with their win, gives them an overall mark of 10-2.
The game was close in the early innings with the Titans scoring two runs in the top of the first and one in the second. The Wildcats added one in the bottom of the first for a 2-1 score.
"We were two great plays away from getting out of the first two innings with no runs," WHS head coach Chris Veidt said.
Then came the third inning where the Wildcats committed two errors, hit a batter, plus numerous bloop hits allowed the Titans to score seven runs for a 10-1 lead.
ND added four runs in the fourth, all with two outs and the bases empty before the rally began. In the fifth, ND added two more runs.
"We have to throw more quality strikes and focus better with two outs as a defense than we did in this game," Veidt said. "Good teams capitalize on mistakes, and that's what they (ND) did."
WHS added two runs in the fifth for their final runs.
Michael Carraher went 1-for-2, including a double, with two runs. Luke Taggert hit two doubles going 2-for-2 in the first game, scoring one run and collecting one RBI.
Michael Smith finished 2-for-3 with one RBI, and Wes Stratton went 1-for-3.
"Mike Carraher and Luke Taggert showed tremendous leadership both by actions and words. They were fun to watch," Veidt said.
The loss went to Nathan Hauke, who pitched 2 2-3 innings, allowing three earned runs on six walks and seven hits. Hauke struck out three.
BOX SCORE
PND 217 42 — 16
WHS 100 02 — 3
- - - - -
In the second game of the doubleheader, WHS bounced back with a 13-1 win against the Titans.
Todd Ridener was the winning pitcher for WHS, going five complete innings on the mounds, improving to 2-0 on the season. He allowed one run (none earned) on five hits and three walks. Ridener finished with two strikeouts.
"Todd had a solid start when we were in a huge need of one," Veidt said.
At the plate, WHS tallied 10 hits, as WHS began the bottom of the first with three runs, followed by a three-run third for a 6-0 lead. The Wildcats added another three runs in the fourth for a 9-1 advantage and scored four runs in the fifth for the run-rule victory.
Leading the way was Taggert with a 2-for-3 second game with two runs. Also leading the Wildcats was Gage Carraher, who also went 2-for-3 with three runs and three RBIs. One of Carraher's hits was a triple.
Jesse Bradds was 2-for-2 with a double, two runs and two RBIs. Ryan Emery went 1-for-2 with three runs, and Blake Trublood finished 1-for-2 with three RBIs, including a triple.
Stratton went 1-for-3 with an RBI, and Smith ended the second game going 1-for-1 with two runs and one RBI.
"Gage, Luke and Jesse had impressive offensive performances," Veidt said. "Blake Trublood's walk-off bases-loaded triple in the fifth sealed the win for us.
"The most impressive element was our ability to put game one behind us and garner a split."
BOX SCORE
PND 000 10 — 1
WHS 303 34 — 13[[In-content Ad]]