Walks, miscues cost Whiteoak in loss to Eastern; Wildcats rebound with win over Williamsburg

MOWRYSTOWN — In a Southern Hills Athletic Conference game on Monday at Whiteoak High School, the visiting Eastern Warriors took advantage of WHS in the final two innings, giving Whiteoak an 8-4 loss. 

The May 19 game saw each team score two runs in the first inning, but WHS gained the lead with a run in the bottom of the third for a 3-2 advantage, but in the sixth inning everything changed. 

Eastern scored three runs in the top of the sixth inning, followed by three more runs in the top of the seventh for an 8-3 lead. WHS scored one last run in the seventh as they had bases loaded with the tying run at the plate. 

“First of all, they (Eastern) won the freebie war, so they won the game,” WHS head coach Chris Veidt said. “Give our kids credit, they fought back and had the tying run at the plate after a really tough part of the inning, so I’m really proud of them for that.

“In the top of the seventh, we just gave away too many opportunities. Early on when they scored two, it was the same type of situation where we could have prevented that. We’ll work on those type of things and come back strong. Give Eastern credit, the mistakes we made, they (Eastern) made them hurt, and that’s what good teams do.” 

Eastern in the top of the first inning scored both runs with two outs, starting with Jackson Prine hitting a single, followed by a walk by Pryce Murphy and the runners scoring on a wild pitch, then an error in left field for the 2-0 Eastern lead. 

WHS came back with two runs in the bottom of the first with Zander Roades leading off by taking first base after being hit by a pitch. Next was a single by Jonah Michael, after Roades stole second base and scored on an error by the catcher. Michael also stole second base and eventually scored a run on a groundout RBI by Jacob Kiley. 

In the top of the sixth, Eastern had runs scored by Mason Riggs, Will Litzinger and Payden McCarthy. The seventh inning saw the Warriors have runs scored by Braxton Vance, Riggs and Litzinger. In the seventh inning, Whiteoak walked four batters. 

For the game, WHS finished with seven errors and three hits, while Eastern had six hits and four errors, while also forcing eight walks in the game. 

Prine led EHS at 2-for-4 with a run, and two RBI. Vance was the winning pitcher, throwing 1.2 innings of relief, where he allowed no earned runs on no hits and three walks with three strikeouts. The no-decision went to Riggs, who in 5.1 innings allowed one earned run on three hits and four walks with eight strikeouts. 

Izayah Clift had the loss, as he allowed just two earned runs in six innings. Clift gave up six hits and walked three, finishing with 11 strikeouts. 

Kiley and Michael also pitched in relief for a combined one inning as they allowed no earned runs with each pitcher walking two batters. Michael had one strikeout. 

WHS at the plate was led by Michael who went 2-for-4 with two runs, a double and two steals. Wyatt Ruark was 1-for-3 with one run and two walks. 

Jacen Applegate walked once and had a steal, while Caden Butler also had a walk. Clift also drew a walk, while Kiley had an RBI. Roades scored one run, walked twice, was hit by a pitch and had a steal. 

BOX SCORE
EHS      200 003 3 — 8 6 4 
WHS    201 000 1 — 4 3 7 

On Wednesday, May 21, the Whiteoak Wildcats defeated the Williamsburg Wildcats 12-2 in five innings at Whiteoak High School. 

Whiteoak’s non-conference win saw them have an 11-run second inning, followed by a run scored in the bottom of the fifth. Williamsburg had two runs in the top of the third. 

For the game, Williamsburg had two hits and two errors, while Whiteoak totaled 10 hits and had no errors. 

Whiteoak had three players with two hits apiece with Caden Butler finishing 2-for-3 with two rund, one RBI, a HBP and a steal. 

Christian Hite was 2-for-3 with three runs, one walk and two steals. Jacob Kiley was 2-for-4 with a run, two RBI and a steal. 

Jacen Applegate finished 1-for-3 with one run, one RBI, a HBP and a steal. Izayah Clift went 1-for-3 with a run, one RBI, a walk and a steal. 

Abraham Flader ended the day at 1-for-2 with a run, two RBI, a SAC fly and a steal. Jonah Michael ended the day at 1-for-2 with a run, one RBI, a double, and two walks. 

WHS also had a run and RBI by Zander Roades who also walked twice and hit a SAC fly. Wyatt Ruark also scored a run, plus he had an RBI, three walks plus a steal. 

Applegate was the winning pitcher, finishing with five innings pitched as he allowed two earned runs on two hits and a walk with seven strikeouts. 

BOX SCORE
WBHS        002 00x x — 2 2 2 
WHS        0(11)0 01x x — 12 10 0