Wildcats shutout Lions
LEESBURG — It was a complete game for the Whiteoak Wildcats from start to finish as the Wildcats tallied 15 hits and scored 11 runs, and behind the pitching of Gage Carraher, the Wildcats shutout the Lions 11-0 Thursday at Fairfield High School.
The Wildcats (8-1, 12-5) scored their runs by chipping away at Fairfield, all while taking advantage of eight errors committed by the host team, with one run in each of the first three innings, before scoring three runs in the fourth for a 6-0 lead.
After not scoring any runs in the fifth, the Wildcats added two runs in the sixth and three more runs in the seventh. In their first meeting this season at WHS, the Wildcats defeated Fairfield, 3-2.
Whiteoak's win continues to keep a first-place tie with the Fayetteville Rockets in Division II of the Southern Hills League.
Michael Smith set the tone of the game, as he forced a six-pitch at-bat from the lead-off spot, reaching base on an infield error to open the game. Smith was the most productive of the Wildcats from the plate, finishing 4-for-5 with a triple, double and two singles as he reached base on all five at-bats, scoring four runs.
Smith moved to second on a steal and scored on a one-out base hit by Jesse Bradds (3-for-4, two RBIs), who moved to second on an error, allowing Smith to round third and score the run.
"Good hitting is contagious, and I hate to single anyone out, but Michael's game stands out," WHS head coach Chris Veidt said. "Jesse also hit well, and I was pleased with our situational hitting.
"We forced them to throw a lot of pitches, as they averaged 25 pitches per inning, and Michael started that with the very first at-bat of the game."
That one run proved to be enough, but for good measure WHS added a second run in the second inning, with Tyler Williams scoring (he led off the inning on a triple) on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Emery.
The lead went to 3-0 with Smith scoring his second run of the game. Smith led off the inning with a triple and scored on a one-out single by Carraher (3-for-5, one RBI). In the fourth, WHS scored three runs on three hits and two FHS errors, with Smith, Doc Seip and Emery all adding runs. Smith added two RBIs with a base hit, scoring Seip and Emery. Zach Docter batted in Smith with a base hit.
In the sixth inning, it was Docter and Carraher scoring runs, with Bradds collecting one RBI by batting in Docter with a double.
The seventh inning saw Smith, Emery and David Deer score the final three runs, as all three scored on FHS miscues. Emery reached on a single, Deer on a hit-by-pitch and Smith on a single.
As for the Lions, they didn't have as much luck from the plate as Carraher (who gained the win) held FHS to just three hits (four walks), as he totaled 11 strikeouts, the fifth time he's accomplished the 10-plus strikeout total in a game this session. On the year, Carraher, who totaled 91 pitches, is 5-0, with two saves. This season, Carraher has 55 strikeouts in five starts and two relief appearances. In just his five starts, the junior ace has 50 strikeouts.
In their first meeting on April 5, Carraher struck out 13 Fairfield batters (two earned runs) on 113 pitches.
"Gage was Gage," Veidt said. "He pitched a good game against a good team."
Gaining hits for the Lions (4-5, 9-8) were Zach Cox, Gage Montgomery (who also reached first on a error) and Wyatt Crothers. The hits by Montgomery and Crothers were doubles. Forcing the walks were Cody Bennett with three, while Joey Wilson forced one.
"We needed a mistake-free game to beat Whiteoak, and we didn't do that," FHS head coach Ritchie Butler said. "We didn't string hits together. We left runners on second and third, but we can't make the mistakes we made like and expect to win."
The loss was charged to Wilson, who pitched four innings. allowing six runs (two earned) on eight hits and two walks. Wilson struck out six. Crothers pitched three innings of relief, allowing five runs (one earned) on five hits and three walks. He hit one batter and had two strikeouts.
"Like I said early in the season, we are young, and there are going to be growing pains," Butler said. "We've played well at times this year, and things will continue to improve."
Whiteoak will play again on Friday as they travel to North Adams at 5 p.m. in SHL play. On Saturday, WHS will face Oak Hill, and on Tuesday, April 24, the Wildcats will travel to Manchester.
The Lions will hit the road Friday as they will face Manchester in SHL play. On Monday, April 23, the Lions will travel to Blanchester in a non-league game. On Tuesday, April 24, FHS will travel to Ripley in league play.
BOX SCORE
WHS 111 302 3 — 11 15 1
FHS 000 000 0 — 0 3 8