Wildcats unable to overcome Ripley rally
Lead Summary
By
The Highland County Press-
RIPLEY — On the road and with each team having six runs through 5 innings, the Whiteoak Wildcats were unable to have the clutch moments to pull out a Southern Hills League win, as the Blue Jays scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning en route to a 9-8 win Tuesday over the visiting Wildcats.
"We did not play every pitch (Tuesday), and in the end, it cost us a league victory," WHS head coach Chris Veidt said. "The mental focus has to be there for 21 outs on both sides of the ball, and Tuesday, it was not."
Leading WHS at the plate were Gage Carraher and Tyler Williams with Carraher going 2-for-2 with two runs and two RBIs, including a double.
Williams was 2-for-3 with two runs, including a triple. Also gaining one hit each were Michael Smith, Doc Seip (two RBIs), Nathan Hauke (one RBI), Jesse Bradds (two RBIs) and Luke Taggert.
The Wildcats (8-5, 4-1) trailed 2-0 after the first inning and 4-1 as two innings wrapped up.
WHS took the lead in the top of the third with a four-run inning, jumping ahead 5-4. In the fifth, WHS added one more run for a two-run lead.
[[In-content Ad]]The two-run lead vanished in the bottom of the fifth, with RHS tying the score with two runs. WHS took the lead again with one in the sixth, but the Blue Jays were there to respond, adding three runs to their total, taking a two-run lead.
In the seventh, the Wildcats were unable to tie the score, adding just one run in the final inning.
The loss was charged to Taggert with one inning pitched. Taggert allowed three runs (none earned) on one hit and two walks. He struck out one.
Starting the game for WHS was Zach Docter, who pitched six innings. Docter allowed six runs (four earned) on 10 hits and two walks. He tallied seven strikeouts.
WHS is set to face the Fayetteville Rockets on Thursday, as the Rockets are 5-0 in the SHL.
BOX SCORE
WHS 014 011 1 — 8
RHS 220 023 x — 9
"We did not play every pitch (Tuesday), and in the end, it cost us a league victory," WHS head coach Chris Veidt said. "The mental focus has to be there for 21 outs on both sides of the ball, and Tuesday, it was not."
Leading WHS at the plate were Gage Carraher and Tyler Williams with Carraher going 2-for-2 with two runs and two RBIs, including a double.
Williams was 2-for-3 with two runs, including a triple. Also gaining one hit each were Michael Smith, Doc Seip (two RBIs), Nathan Hauke (one RBI), Jesse Bradds (two RBIs) and Luke Taggert.
The Wildcats (8-5, 4-1) trailed 2-0 after the first inning and 4-1 as two innings wrapped up.
WHS took the lead in the top of the third with a four-run inning, jumping ahead 5-4. In the fifth, WHS added one more run for a two-run lead.
[[In-content Ad]]The two-run lead vanished in the bottom of the fifth, with RHS tying the score with two runs. WHS took the lead again with one in the sixth, but the Blue Jays were there to respond, adding three runs to their total, taking a two-run lead.
In the seventh, the Wildcats were unable to tie the score, adding just one run in the final inning.
The loss was charged to Taggert with one inning pitched. Taggert allowed three runs (none earned) on one hit and two walks. He struck out one.
Starting the game for WHS was Zach Docter, who pitched six innings. Docter allowed six runs (four earned) on 10 hits and two walks. He tallied seven strikeouts.
WHS is set to face the Fayetteville Rockets on Thursday, as the Rockets are 5-0 in the SHL.
BOX SCORE
WHS 014 011 1 — 8
RHS 220 023 x — 9