Wildcats struggle with fielding, fall to Peebles 4-3
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
MOWRYSTOWN — Getting a runner on the bases to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning wasn't enough for the Whiteoak Wildcats to mount a come-from-behind victory Thursday evening. The Wildcats had a runner in scoring position but were unable to rally in a 4-3 loss to the Peebles Indians.
"We didn't bunt Ethan (Eyre) with no outs because he is our clean up hitter and we got (Gage) into scoring position anyways," WHS head coach Chris Veidt said while explaining the situation in the final inning. "The thing about that final at-bats for us was we didn't get clutch hits when we needed them."
The Southern Hills League loss came one day after the Wildcats fell to the North Adams Green Devils.
On Thursday, Whiteoak's final three outs came via infield fly ball to third base and two ground balls that eventually landed in the glove of the first baseman for 4-3 and 5-3 outs.
"Quite honestly, we didn't show up last night against North Adams, but in this game (vs. Peebles) the intensity was there, but we had too many mistakes," Veidt said. "We had too many walks and too many errors."
In the early portion of the SHL contest, it was the Wildcats who reigned on top as they scored two runs in the top of the first inning.
Zach Docter led the charge with a one-out infield single. Docter then stole second and scored on a two-out base hit to centerfield by Eyre.
With Luke Taggert on first, after reaching on an error, Jesse Bradds smacked the ball over the head of the leaping Peebles third baseman to score Eyre for the two-run lead.
Peebles waited a couple innings but scored four runs in the top of the third, all with two outs to take the advantage on the scoreboard.
Whiteoak pitcher Gage Carraher began the inning with back-to-back strikeouts (one looking, one swinging). Then after consecutive walks, Bryce Swango reached first base on a single. He advanced to second on an error, scoring both walked players in Blake Justice and Nate Stephens. Brandon Leedy forced the third walk of the inning. A single by Zach Swayne scored both Swango and Leedy for a Peebles lead of 4-2.
In the bottom of the fifth, Whiteoak began with a lead-off single down the third base line by Barnett. With one out, Gage Carraher walked. Barnett scored on a single by Eyre. Bradds reached the bases in the inning with a walk.
The win was credited to Swango. He pitched seven innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits, one hit batter and five walks. Swango struck out seven batters.
Carraher suffered the loss for the Wildcats. The freshman pitcher went seven complete innings, allowing four runs (one earned) on two hits and five walks. Carraher finished with 10 strikeouts.
"Gage had a good outing, and I am proud of the way he pitched after getting out of the third inning," Veidt said. "He labored after getting two outs in the third. But like I said before, we had too many errors and walks tonight."
In the game Peebles' Andy Countryman started with a lead-off single to right field in the top of the first inning. He was left stranded at third, which he stole, with Carraher forcing two infield pop ups and a ground ball to second base to end the first inning.
The loss drops WHS to 5-7 overall, 4-2 in the SHL.
BOX SCORE
PHS 004 000 0 — 4
WHS 200 010 0 — 3[[In-content Ad]]
"We didn't bunt Ethan (Eyre) with no outs because he is our clean up hitter and we got (Gage) into scoring position anyways," WHS head coach Chris Veidt said while explaining the situation in the final inning. "The thing about that final at-bats for us was we didn't get clutch hits when we needed them."
The Southern Hills League loss came one day after the Wildcats fell to the North Adams Green Devils.
On Thursday, Whiteoak's final three outs came via infield fly ball to third base and two ground balls that eventually landed in the glove of the first baseman for 4-3 and 5-3 outs.
"Quite honestly, we didn't show up last night against North Adams, but in this game (vs. Peebles) the intensity was there, but we had too many mistakes," Veidt said. "We had too many walks and too many errors."
In the early portion of the SHL contest, it was the Wildcats who reigned on top as they scored two runs in the top of the first inning.
Zach Docter led the charge with a one-out infield single. Docter then stole second and scored on a two-out base hit to centerfield by Eyre.
With Luke Taggert on first, after reaching on an error, Jesse Bradds smacked the ball over the head of the leaping Peebles third baseman to score Eyre for the two-run lead.
Peebles waited a couple innings but scored four runs in the top of the third, all with two outs to take the advantage on the scoreboard.
Whiteoak pitcher Gage Carraher began the inning with back-to-back strikeouts (one looking, one swinging). Then after consecutive walks, Bryce Swango reached first base on a single. He advanced to second on an error, scoring both walked players in Blake Justice and Nate Stephens. Brandon Leedy forced the third walk of the inning. A single by Zach Swayne scored both Swango and Leedy for a Peebles lead of 4-2.
In the bottom of the fifth, Whiteoak began with a lead-off single down the third base line by Barnett. With one out, Gage Carraher walked. Barnett scored on a single by Eyre. Bradds reached the bases in the inning with a walk.
The win was credited to Swango. He pitched seven innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits, one hit batter and five walks. Swango struck out seven batters.
Carraher suffered the loss for the Wildcats. The freshman pitcher went seven complete innings, allowing four runs (one earned) on two hits and five walks. Carraher finished with 10 strikeouts.
"Gage had a good outing, and I am proud of the way he pitched after getting out of the third inning," Veidt said. "He labored after getting two outs in the third. But like I said before, we had too many errors and walks tonight."
In the game Peebles' Andy Countryman started with a lead-off single to right field in the top of the first inning. He was left stranded at third, which he stole, with Carraher forcing two infield pop ups and a ground ball to second base to end the first inning.
The loss drops WHS to 5-7 overall, 4-2 in the SHL.
BOX SCORE
PHS 004 000 0 — 4
WHS 200 010 0 — 3[[In-content Ad]]