Whiteoak advances to district finals with 8-inning win over Huntington
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
The No. 3 seeded Whiteoak Wildcats built a lead, lost the lead, but had enough in them to win over the No. 6 seeded Huntington Huntsmen in the Division IV DE District Semifinals on Saturday afternoon, winning by a 7-6 score in eight innings at VA Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe.
The Wildcats (20-9) scored five runs in the bottom of the second inning with Ryan Barnett, Carson Emery, Ian Griffith, David Donohoo and Kaden Moon-Stone all rounding the bases for the 5-0 advantage. Those runs came with RBIs credited to Luken Roades as he batted in two batters in that sequence with a single, while Nate Price also had an RBI with a double.
Huntington battled back with a three-run fourth, and two runs in the fifth, tying the score at 5-5. In the top of the sixth, the Huntsmen took the lead with a run crossing the plate.
Whiteoak didn’t get down; instead, they went to the plate and added a run to their side of the scoreboard, as Luken Roades — who forced a walk to lead off the inning — eventually landed at third base due to an infield error on the pitcher, then going to third on a passed ball. He scored on a one-out infield error, making it a 6-6 score.
The Wildcats gained the walk-off win when Carson Emery hit a two-out double to plate Moon-Stone, who walked to start the inning.
Emery finished the game 2-for-4 with one run, one RBI, a walk and one steal. Griffith was 2-for-4 with a run. Luken Roades was 1-for-2 with two RBI and three walks. Landon Barnett finished with a hit, one run and a steal.
Price ended the game with a hit, one RBI and a steal. Donohoo had one hit and a walk. Connor Butler forced a walk and had a sacrifice. Moon-Stone totaled a hit, two runs, a walk and a steal.
In all, the Wildcats totaled nine hits, scored seven runs, collected four RBI and had two extra-base hits and three steals.
“We prepared for this game for two days, and the kids pulled the game plan off flawlessly,” Whiteoak head coach Chris Veidt said. “Our team defense today was simply outstanding. We not only pulled off the routine play but also the spectacular.
“Landon Barnett was dominant in relief. Carson Emery led us offensively and was super clutch with the walk-off liner down the left-field line to end it. Ian Griffith pieced together some nice leadoff at-bats for us. David Donohoo also contributed three quality at-bats. Luken Roades was spectacular defensively from the shortstop position and just as solid at the plate with 5-of-5 quality at-bats. We played present (Saturday) and played pressure free. What a fun game!”
Butler, who faced 26 batters, pitched 4.2 innings, where he allowed five earned runs on six hits and five walks. He totaled two strikeouts and hit two batters.
Barnett, who faced 14 batters, was the winning pitcher as he pitched 3.1 innings in relief, allowing one unearned run on four hits and no walks. Barnett in the relief appearance struck out five batters.
Next for Whiteoak is a Division IV SE District Finals game on Monday, May 23 at VA Memorial Stadium against No. 7 seeded South Webster at 7 p.m. SWHS knocked off No. 2 seeded Symmes Valley by a 1-0 score on Saturday.
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The Wildcats (20-9) scored five runs in the bottom of the second inning with Ryan Barnett, Carson Emery, Ian Griffith, David Donohoo and Kaden Moon-Stone all rounding the bases for the 5-0 advantage. Those runs came with RBIs credited to Luken Roades as he batted in two batters in that sequence with a single, while Nate Price also had an RBI with a double.
Huntington battled back with a three-run fourth, and two runs in the fifth, tying the score at 5-5. In the top of the sixth, the Huntsmen took the lead with a run crossing the plate.
Whiteoak didn’t get down; instead, they went to the plate and added a run to their side of the scoreboard, as Luken Roades — who forced a walk to lead off the inning — eventually landed at third base due to an infield error on the pitcher, then going to third on a passed ball. He scored on a one-out infield error, making it a 6-6 score.
The Wildcats gained the walk-off win when Carson Emery hit a two-out double to plate Moon-Stone, who walked to start the inning.
Emery finished the game 2-for-4 with one run, one RBI, a walk and one steal. Griffith was 2-for-4 with a run. Luken Roades was 1-for-2 with two RBI and three walks. Landon Barnett finished with a hit, one run and a steal.
Price ended the game with a hit, one RBI and a steal. Donohoo had one hit and a walk. Connor Butler forced a walk and had a sacrifice. Moon-Stone totaled a hit, two runs, a walk and a steal.
In all, the Wildcats totaled nine hits, scored seven runs, collected four RBI and had two extra-base hits and three steals.
“We prepared for this game for two days, and the kids pulled the game plan off flawlessly,” Whiteoak head coach Chris Veidt said. “Our team defense today was simply outstanding. We not only pulled off the routine play but also the spectacular.
“Landon Barnett was dominant in relief. Carson Emery led us offensively and was super clutch with the walk-off liner down the left-field line to end it. Ian Griffith pieced together some nice leadoff at-bats for us. David Donohoo also contributed three quality at-bats. Luken Roades was spectacular defensively from the shortstop position and just as solid at the plate with 5-of-5 quality at-bats. We played present (Saturday) and played pressure free. What a fun game!”
Butler, who faced 26 batters, pitched 4.2 innings, where he allowed five earned runs on six hits and five walks. He totaled two strikeouts and hit two batters.
Barnett, who faced 14 batters, was the winning pitcher as he pitched 3.1 innings in relief, allowing one unearned run on four hits and no walks. Barnett in the relief appearance struck out five batters.
Next for Whiteoak is a Division IV SE District Finals game on Monday, May 23 at VA Memorial Stadium against No. 7 seeded South Webster at 7 p.m. SWHS knocked off No. 2 seeded Symmes Valley by a 1-0 score on Saturday.
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