Whiteoak drops season-opening doubleheader against South Webster

MOWRYSTOWN — Opening Day for the Whiteoak Wildcats baseball team was Saturday afternoon as they hosted a doubleheader against the South Webster Jeeps, as they also debuted their new turf field — named after head coach Chris Veidt — for the first time. 

WHS lost to the visiting Jeeps by scores of 11-2 and 4-2. 

Whiteoak struck first in the non-conference game, as they led game one by a 2-0 score with one run in both the second and third innings for a 2-0 lead. 

The Jeeps came back with a four-run top of the fourth, and after both teams were scoreless in the fifth and sixth innings, the Jeeps broke away with a seven-run top of the seventh to seal the win over the host Wildcats. 

As for the Wildcats’ runs, their first of the season came with a two-out walk by Abe Flader, and the next batter, Izayah Clift, hit a double to left field for the RBI, scoring Flader. 

Whiteoak’s third-inning run came with a leadoff, two-strike single up the middle by Jonah Michael, then he advanced off a double by Jacob Kiley. The run scored on a one-out sacrifice fly to centerfield by Christian Hite for the 1-0 lead as Michael scored the run. 

Clift led WHS in hits, finishing 2-for-3 with one double, one RBI and one walk. Kiley was 1-for-3 with a double. 

Michael ended the game at 1-for-4 with a run, and Flader finished 1-for-1 with a double, one walk, one HBP and a steal. Lucas Pollard was hit by a pitch, while Karson Arey forced a walk. 

WHS committed six errors in game one. 

The loss on the mound was charged to Clift, who in five innings allowed four runs (none earned) on three hits and three walks. Caden Butler pitched 1.1 innings, while Kellan Limon pitched 0.2 innings with no runs allowed and one strikeout. 

BOX SCORE (Game 1)
SWHS    000 400 7 — 11
WHS      011 000 0 — 2

In game two, Whiteoak and South Webster each scored a run in the first inning, and SWHS took the lead with a run in the top of the third. 

Whiteoak tied the score at 2-2 with a run in the bottom of the fifth, but in both the top of the sixth and seventh innings, the Jeeps scored one run each for the 4-2 win. 

WHS had three hits in game two with Kiley finishing 1-for-3 with one RBI, Arey going 1-for-3 with a steal, and Flader finishing 1-for-3 with a steal. 

Clift totaled one run, two walks and a steal. Hite scored one run and walked once. 

WHS committed four errors in the game-two loss. 

Arey was charged with the pitching loss, as in six innings he allowed three runs (none earned) on six hits and one walk. He ended the game with two strikeouts. 

Jude Michael pitched one inning in relief, allowing one earned run. 

Whiteoak starts the season at 0-2 overall and is scheduled to play Monday, March 30 at home against the Paint Valley Bearcats at 5 p.m. 

BOX SCORE (Game 2)
SWHS    101 001 1 — 4 
WHS      100 010 0 — 2