Wildcats swept up by Tornadoes in districts
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
CHILLICOTHE — There just wasn't much the Whiteoak Wildcats could do when they ran into the Racine Southern Tornadoes Sunday afternoon in Chillicothe.
The Wildcats scored first, then the Tornadoes scored the most, defeating Whiteoak 15-5 in a five-inning run-rule win in the Division IV SE District semifinals at VA Memorial Stadium.
"One good thing, on a positive standpoint, was we jumped out on top at 3-0 early. It was great to see the kids were ready to play, but we just didn't play the game of throw-and-catch," WHS head coach Chris Veidt said. "Bottom line, is I look up and it's 13-4, and they were out-hitting us 7-4. That's all I can really say."
The No. 1 seeded Tornadoes, who are ranked 14th in the state in Division IV, tallied nine hits but took advantage of Whiteoak's seven errors, with four errors coming in the second inning, as Southern took a 5-3 lead.
Southern (16-5) added eight runs in the third and two more in the fourth for their 15 total runs.
The Wildcats had their biggest inning in the top of the second, scoring three runs on a triple by David Deer.
Whiteoak began their half of the second inning by making two straight outs, but Tyler Williams kept the inning alive with a six-pitch walk. Wes Stratton followed with another walk on a 3-2 count. Then came the hit of the game for WHS, when Deer, on the third straight 3-2 count, rocketed the ball to right-center field, taking three bases on the hit, scoring on a fielding error, which allowed him to turn the corner at third base to get the third run of the second inning.
In the third inning, Ryan Emery scored on a double to right-center field by Luke Taggert. The inning was ended on a 6-4-3 double play by the Tornadoes.
WHS trailed 5-4 when the bottom of the third began, but eight runs and two pitchers later, the Tornadoes damaged any chances of a Wildcat win, taking a 13-4 lead. In the inning, Southern sent 14 batters to the plate, with just one extra base hit (a triple) hit by Eric Buzzard. In the third, WHS walked three and hit two batters while committing three errors.
WHS scored one final run in the fifth with Michael Carraher, who drew a walk, scored on an errant throw to third, as he stole the base. WHS struck out three times to end the game.
Though WHS lost in the districts, they did have a productive season, finishing 14-11 overall. WHS defeated Manchester 10-5 to win the sectional title last Thursday.
"We had a great season," Veidt said. "I'm proud of these kids and all the hard work they put in. Today was disappointing, but you can't be disappointed about the effort and the season we had."
WHS finished with four hits. Taggert led the Wildcats, going 2-for-3. Carraher was 1-for-2 with one walk, and Deer was 1-for-2. The Wildcats also forced eight walks, with Ryan Emery, Gage Carraher and Williams each walking twice. Wes Stratton drew one walk.
Southern sent 36 batters to the plate in four innings, including 25 in the second and third innings combined.
Leading the Tornadoes at the plate was Buzzard at 2-for-4 and Hunter Johnson at 2-for-3 with one walk. Ryan Taylor was also 2-for-3 with one walk.
The loss was charged to Taggert, who pitched 1 2-3 innings, leaving the game trailing 5-3. Gage Carraher pitched in relief of Taggert, striking out two. Todd Ridener pitched the fifth inning.
Seniors playing their final game for WHS were Michael Carraher, Ryan Emery and Nick Eldridge.
"Nick did everything we asked him to do in his first year with us," Veidt said. "Mikey played three years, and Ryan played two years. They are both tough kids and do anything you ask them to do for you … they would go through a brick wall for you. We love them to death, and they will be missed.
"It's going to be tough losing them, and it's tough going out like this."
GAME NOTES: Southern's Dustin Carter didn't have an official at-bat as he was hit by a pitch twice and drew two walks … Three Southern players had two hits, and three SHS batters didn't have a hit … WHS struck out seven times … SHS struck out three times … WHS had two extra base hits … The Wildcats forced seven full counts.[[In-content Ad]]
The Wildcats scored first, then the Tornadoes scored the most, defeating Whiteoak 15-5 in a five-inning run-rule win in the Division IV SE District semifinals at VA Memorial Stadium.
"One good thing, on a positive standpoint, was we jumped out on top at 3-0 early. It was great to see the kids were ready to play, but we just didn't play the game of throw-and-catch," WHS head coach Chris Veidt said. "Bottom line, is I look up and it's 13-4, and they were out-hitting us 7-4. That's all I can really say."
The No. 1 seeded Tornadoes, who are ranked 14th in the state in Division IV, tallied nine hits but took advantage of Whiteoak's seven errors, with four errors coming in the second inning, as Southern took a 5-3 lead.
Southern (16-5) added eight runs in the third and two more in the fourth for their 15 total runs.
The Wildcats had their biggest inning in the top of the second, scoring three runs on a triple by David Deer.
Whiteoak began their half of the second inning by making two straight outs, but Tyler Williams kept the inning alive with a six-pitch walk. Wes Stratton followed with another walk on a 3-2 count. Then came the hit of the game for WHS, when Deer, on the third straight 3-2 count, rocketed the ball to right-center field, taking three bases on the hit, scoring on a fielding error, which allowed him to turn the corner at third base to get the third run of the second inning.
In the third inning, Ryan Emery scored on a double to right-center field by Luke Taggert. The inning was ended on a 6-4-3 double play by the Tornadoes.
WHS trailed 5-4 when the bottom of the third began, but eight runs and two pitchers later, the Tornadoes damaged any chances of a Wildcat win, taking a 13-4 lead. In the inning, Southern sent 14 batters to the plate, with just one extra base hit (a triple) hit by Eric Buzzard. In the third, WHS walked three and hit two batters while committing three errors.
WHS scored one final run in the fifth with Michael Carraher, who drew a walk, scored on an errant throw to third, as he stole the base. WHS struck out three times to end the game.
Though WHS lost in the districts, they did have a productive season, finishing 14-11 overall. WHS defeated Manchester 10-5 to win the sectional title last Thursday.
"We had a great season," Veidt said. "I'm proud of these kids and all the hard work they put in. Today was disappointing, but you can't be disappointed about the effort and the season we had."
WHS finished with four hits. Taggert led the Wildcats, going 2-for-3. Carraher was 1-for-2 with one walk, and Deer was 1-for-2. The Wildcats also forced eight walks, with Ryan Emery, Gage Carraher and Williams each walking twice. Wes Stratton drew one walk.
Southern sent 36 batters to the plate in four innings, including 25 in the second and third innings combined.
Leading the Tornadoes at the plate was Buzzard at 2-for-4 and Hunter Johnson at 2-for-3 with one walk. Ryan Taylor was also 2-for-3 with one walk.
The loss was charged to Taggert, who pitched 1 2-3 innings, leaving the game trailing 5-3. Gage Carraher pitched in relief of Taggert, striking out two. Todd Ridener pitched the fifth inning.
Seniors playing their final game for WHS were Michael Carraher, Ryan Emery and Nick Eldridge.
"Nick did everything we asked him to do in his first year with us," Veidt said. "Mikey played three years, and Ryan played two years. They are both tough kids and do anything you ask them to do for you … they would go through a brick wall for you. We love them to death, and they will be missed.
"It's going to be tough losing them, and it's tough going out like this."
GAME NOTES: Southern's Dustin Carter didn't have an official at-bat as he was hit by a pitch twice and drew two walks … Three Southern players had two hits, and three SHS batters didn't have a hit … WHS struck out seven times … SHS struck out three times … WHS had two extra base hits … The Wildcats forced seven full counts.[[In-content Ad]]