Whiteoak drops road game to Paint Valley
Though very early into the season, the Whiteoak Wildcats had a tough test in front of them Monday night. In a non-conference road game, the Wildcats faced an All-Ohio pitcher, and though they did not return home with a win, the young team gained experience they can use throughout the season.
WHS (1-2) lost by a 6-1 score to the Paint Valley Bearcats in non-conference play to start the week, as they faced senior pitcher Anthony McFadden at PVHS in Ross County.
The Wildcats had their struggles hitting the baseball, finishing with just one run, that coming in the top of the seventh inning to avoid the shutout. On the other hand, the Bearcats scored four runs in the first two innings combined, with two in the first inning and two more in the second.
“We are not into moral victories here at Whiteoak, but considering we faced McFadden, who is a two-time All-Ohio selection, we played well,” WHS head coach Chris Veidt said. “McFadden nearly beat state champion Newark Catholic last year in regionals 2-1.
“It was a good experience, and we handled him fairly well after two. We’ve seen some good pitching to date, which can only help us in the long run.”
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PV (3-0), of the Scioto Valley Conference, added one run in the fifth, and their final run was scored in the sixth inning, completing their scoring.
Chase Carraher and Trevor Yeager each led the Wildcats with one hit apiece. Carraher was 1-for-3 with one run, and Yeager was 1-for-2 with one RBI.
“Trevor was solid defensively for us in centerfield and had a couple good at-bats,” Veidt said. “Kyle Marler continues to provide solid leadership, have quality at-bats and is very solid for us defensively behind the plate.”
The loss on the mound went to Austin Lewis. The WHS hurler pitched six innings, allowing six runs (three earned) on 10 hits and two walks. Lewis struck out one batter in his season debut. McFadden was the winning pitcher for PV.
“Austin Lewis was very respectable in his first varsity pitching start,” Veidt said. “For all intents and purposes, it should’ve been a 3-1 game.”
The Wildcats turn right back around and play again on Tuesday as they host the West Union Dragons in their Southern Hills Athletic Conference opener at 5 p.m.