Wildcats finish district runner-up
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
CHILLICOTHE — An inch here and an inch there equaled defeat for the Whiteoak Wildcats in their Division IV SE District title game Wednesday. The miscues in the infield turned into runs for their opponent, with the Wildcats falling to the Valley Indians, 3-1 Wednesday at VA Memorial Stadium.
The game, which the Wildcats never led, was full of very high-quality pitching with starters Gage Carraher (WHS) and Patrick Riehl (VHS) going the distance, but it was errors by the Wildcats that led to the runs for the No. 1 seeded Indians.
[[In-content Ad]]VHS scored one run in the first, one in the fifth, breaking a 1-1 tie as WHS scored their lone run in the top of the fourth. Valley added to their lead in the sixth with the final run of the game.
This postseason, Valley has allowed one run in three games with their pitching tallying 28 strikeouts in those games.
All the Valley runs were unearned, but runs count as long as they cross home plate, and WHS head coach Chris Veidt praised both starting pitchers.
"Riehl was very good. He's their ace, and we knew coming in our margin for error was very small," he said. "This game was played between two good teams and two good pitchers. Gage matched him pitch for pitch.
"We got ourselves into some situations, but we didn't play bad. It's hard to make one run stand up in high school baseball. Baseball is a game of inches, and (Wednesday) they were an inch better than us."
Valley was first to score with their aforementioned run in the first inning with Alex Hartley taking first base with two outs on an infield error. After stealing second base, Hartley scored on a base hit to centerfield by Tyler Rowe, who finished the game 2-for-3.
The Wildcats tied the score in the top of the fourth, beginning with Zach Docter (1-for-2) taking first base on a full-count walk. With one out, Jesse Bradds (1-for-2, HBP) singled, and the bases were loaded with Luke Taggert reaching first safely on a fielder's choice, as all three runners were ruled safe.
WHS tied the score with a base hit to centerfield by Doc Seip (2-for-3) on a 1-1 count with two outs. WHS ended the inning with a strikeout, leaving the bases full.
In the bottom of the fifth, Valley broke the tied score when Adam Arnett perfected a rare safety squeeze, scoring Rob Dwyer from third base.
The Indians (15-8) took a two-run lead in the bottom of the sixth with Tyler Rowe scoring on a ball hit to right field by CJ Burk, as the run was ruled unearned. There was an error earlier in Burk's at-bat on a fly ball in foul territory, with two outs, keeping the inning going.
Also at the plate for Valley, Nathan Arnett was 2-for-3.
"These are the type of games we prefer, but Valley is a really good team," Veidt said. "I don't like to lose, but if there is one coach I have to lose to, it would be Coach Dean Schuler."
Carraher (8-2) was charged with the loss as he finished with 95 pitches in the game. The junior ace pitched six innings, allowing three runs (none earned) on five hits and one walk. Carraher's 10-plus strikeouts per start season-long streak came to an end as he finished with eight strikeouts against Valley.
For the season, Carraher struck out 111 batters (the WHS single-season school record), including 28 strikeouts this postseason in three games (two starts), totaling 15 1-3 innings on the mound.
Carraher struck out two batters in the first, two in the second, three in the third and one in the sixth.
The win went to Riehl (102 pitches), who is 6-1 on the season. Against WHS, Riehl pitched seven innings, allowing one earned run on four hits, three walks and one hit batter. The senior ace finished with 10 strikeouts.
Riehl struck out two batters in the second, along with two in the third, three in the fourth and ended the game by striking out the side.
Valley will continue their postseason in the regional tournament, as they will face the winner of Berlin Hiland and Steubenville Catholic Central, who play Thursday, May 17 at 5 p.m. at Cambridge High School. The regional game will be played at Beavers Field in Lancaster on May 24 at 5 p.m.
BOX SCORE
WHS 000 100 0 — 1 4 3
VHS 100 011 x — 3 6 1
The game, which the Wildcats never led, was full of very high-quality pitching with starters Gage Carraher (WHS) and Patrick Riehl (VHS) going the distance, but it was errors by the Wildcats that led to the runs for the No. 1 seeded Indians.
[[In-content Ad]]VHS scored one run in the first, one in the fifth, breaking a 1-1 tie as WHS scored their lone run in the top of the fourth. Valley added to their lead in the sixth with the final run of the game.
This postseason, Valley has allowed one run in three games with their pitching tallying 28 strikeouts in those games.
All the Valley runs were unearned, but runs count as long as they cross home plate, and WHS head coach Chris Veidt praised both starting pitchers.
"Riehl was very good. He's their ace, and we knew coming in our margin for error was very small," he said. "This game was played between two good teams and two good pitchers. Gage matched him pitch for pitch.
"We got ourselves into some situations, but we didn't play bad. It's hard to make one run stand up in high school baseball. Baseball is a game of inches, and (Wednesday) they were an inch better than us."
Valley was first to score with their aforementioned run in the first inning with Alex Hartley taking first base with two outs on an infield error. After stealing second base, Hartley scored on a base hit to centerfield by Tyler Rowe, who finished the game 2-for-3.
The Wildcats tied the score in the top of the fourth, beginning with Zach Docter (1-for-2) taking first base on a full-count walk. With one out, Jesse Bradds (1-for-2, HBP) singled, and the bases were loaded with Luke Taggert reaching first safely on a fielder's choice, as all three runners were ruled safe.
WHS tied the score with a base hit to centerfield by Doc Seip (2-for-3) on a 1-1 count with two outs. WHS ended the inning with a strikeout, leaving the bases full.
In the bottom of the fifth, Valley broke the tied score when Adam Arnett perfected a rare safety squeeze, scoring Rob Dwyer from third base.
The Indians (15-8) took a two-run lead in the bottom of the sixth with Tyler Rowe scoring on a ball hit to right field by CJ Burk, as the run was ruled unearned. There was an error earlier in Burk's at-bat on a fly ball in foul territory, with two outs, keeping the inning going.
Also at the plate for Valley, Nathan Arnett was 2-for-3.
"These are the type of games we prefer, but Valley is a really good team," Veidt said. "I don't like to lose, but if there is one coach I have to lose to, it would be Coach Dean Schuler."
Carraher (8-2) was charged with the loss as he finished with 95 pitches in the game. The junior ace pitched six innings, allowing three runs (none earned) on five hits and one walk. Carraher's 10-plus strikeouts per start season-long streak came to an end as he finished with eight strikeouts against Valley.
For the season, Carraher struck out 111 batters (the WHS single-season school record), including 28 strikeouts this postseason in three games (two starts), totaling 15 1-3 innings on the mound.
Carraher struck out two batters in the first, two in the second, three in the third and one in the sixth.
The win went to Riehl (102 pitches), who is 6-1 on the season. Against WHS, Riehl pitched seven innings, allowing one earned run on four hits, three walks and one hit batter. The senior ace finished with 10 strikeouts.
Riehl struck out two batters in the second, along with two in the third, three in the fourth and ended the game by striking out the side.
Valley will continue their postseason in the regional tournament, as they will face the winner of Berlin Hiland and Steubenville Catholic Central, who play Thursday, May 17 at 5 p.m. at Cambridge High School. The regional game will be played at Beavers Field in Lancaster on May 24 at 5 p.m.
BOX SCORE
WHS 000 100 0 — 1 4 3
VHS 100 011 x — 3 6 1