Whiteoak falls to Hicksville in state semifinal
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
COLUMBUS — The Whiteoak Wildcats saw their historic season come to an end at Huntington Park — the home of the Columbus Clippers — in the 91st annual state baseball tournament, falling to the Hicksville Aces, 4-1.
The Wildcats finish with a 28-3 overall record and won a regional, district, sectional and conference title, but on Thursday, the day belonged to Hicksville pitcher Jake Greer, who controlled the pace on the mound as Whiteoak head coach Chris Veidt praised not only his team, but the pitching of Greer.
“Today was Greer’s day. I thought we did a great job there and it was a good sign in the first inning, manufacturing that run, which if you’ve watched us all year – that’s what we do. He settled in, and it was Jake Greer’s day today,” Veidt said. “Unfortunately, it wasn’t ours. That’s the nature of high school baseball at this level. You don’t have another game, you don’t have seven-game series. You play one and done, and he was good enough to knock us out, unfortunately.
“It’s a great season. It’s a historical season. The great thing about it is we’ve got so many kids coming back. We’re losing a solid core, but we’ve got a solid group coming back. I tell you, with that being said, Traeten Hamilton – my goodness, today. Offensively, defensively, pitching in the mid-to-upper 80s – he was just fantastic. Hats off to him.”
Whiteoak — who was the state poll No. 1 ranked team in Division IV this season — was first to score in the state semifinal game, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first after a sacrifice fly by Caleb West scored Hamilton. Hamilton battled to a 2-2 count as the lead-off batter of the game and reached first on an infield error on a throw to first base. Hamilton was awarded second base when the throw sailed into the Hicksville dugout.
Hamilton advanced to third base on a ground out to the shortstop, then scored a run off a sacrifice fly by Caleb West for the 1-0 lead. Evan Brill walked in the ensuing at-bat but was out at second later in the inning on a stolen base attempt to end the top of the first inning.
The Aces (21-5) played their hand early with a two-run bottom of the first inning where they began with a full-count walk by Parker Thiel, followed by a fielder’s choice off the bat of Lukas Yoder. The Aces then had Jake Greer single to centerfield, who took second on a passed ball, giving Hicksville runners and second and third. Both runners crossed home plate on the next at-bat as Zac Brickel singled to centerfield, scoring both Thiel and Greer for a 2-1 advantage over the Wildcats.
Hicksville added two more runs in the bottom of the third, beginning with a infield single by Yoder, and with one out, Brickel smashed a double to the right field wall, scoring Yoder. Brickel eventually moved to third on a passed ball and scored on a two-out sacrifice fly to centerfield hit by Eric Chapman for the 4-1 lead.
Whiteoak (28-3) recorded two hits in the game. Hamilton hit a double to centerfield with two outs in the third inning, and Lehr had an infield base hit with two outs in the seventh inning. In the seventh, Joey Oliver pinch ran, stole second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch, but was left stranded.
Hamilton and Lehr were each 1-for-3 in the state semifinal loss. For Hicksville, they totaled five hits in the win with Brickel and Jonah Gipple each having two hits and Greer with one. Brickel was 2-for-3 with one run, while Gipple finished 2-for-2. Greer was 1-for-3 with one run.
For the game, the Wildcats left two runners on the bases and committed two errors, while Hicksville left three runners stranded and committed one error.
“It’s been monumental,” Veidt said of the season. “Like I told the radio guys, these guys are so much fun. They’re grinders, they’re ball players, they enjoy being with each other. I could coach these guys until October. I could do 162 games with them. I’d love to. Unfortunately, that’s not what we get to do at this point in time, but 28-3 is pretty darn good.
“It (the 2018 season) meant everything in the world to me. Like I said before, after 27 years, I’m glad it happened at this point in my life, honestly. It probably meant more that you don’t take it for granted. The thing is, I don’t want the kids, our school or our community to think this is one of those once-in-a-lifetime type deals. This is the kind of thing you build for. We talked about these guys being the roots of the bamboo tree and how you toil and you work and it takes time for you to grow.
“We have all intents and purposes to be back again,” Veidt continued. “I think what it takes is the realization a group like this, that’s as gutty and as selfless as these guys are and that has this work ethic that they have, to show our younger kids and even our underclassmen how possible this actually is. I really think now we’ve broken the ice and done this, I expect it to happen again.”
The winning pitcher was Greer who forced the pace of the game for the Wildcats. Greer allowed one run (none earned) on two hits and one walk. Greer in seven innings on the mound hit between 88-90 on the radar gun, striking out 12 batters in 94 total pitches.
Greer struck out the side in the fourth and fifth innings, plus the first batter of the sixth to have seven consecutive strikeouts. In the top of the second, Greer — a Sinclair Community College commit — also struck out the side.
The loss went to Brill, who pitched four innings in the state semifinals. Brill (9-1) allowed four runs (two earned) on five hits and one walk. Brill totaled two strikeouts, facing 19 batters with 65 total pitches. Hamilton pitched two innings of relief for the Wildcats. Hamilton allowed no runs or hits and struck out three batters. For the relief appearance, Hamilton faced six batters and threw 27 pitches.
Whiteoak’s season was one for the record books, as they went undefeated in the Southern Hills Athletic Conference with a 13-0 mark, and they were 24-2 in the regular season. In the postseason, the Wildcats won the sectional finals by a 10-0 score over Peebles, and in the district round won by a 12-3 score over Belpre and 10-0 over Waterford to clinch the district championship.
The Wildcats in the regional round defeated Toronto by a 4-3 score and Eastern Meigs, 5-4, winning the program’s first regional baseball crown.
Whiteoak’s 28 wins set a new program record, and their undefeated SHAC championship was the second perfect conference season for the Wildcats. Also during their record-setting season, Whiteoak was the Division IV OHSBCA State Poll champion.
Seniors for the Wildcats are Chase Carraher, Casey Nace, Joey Oliver, Caleb West and Trever Yeager.
The Wildcats received a standing ovation from the fans from Mowrystown and Highland County following the game, as they were well represented in Columbus.
“You could see orange. Like we told them before the game started, the boys could see orange behind them, and there has been all year. That’s taken our breath away. That’s given them something to remember,” Veidt said. “In terms of the season – think about what we did. Undefeated in the league, district, regional and sectional champs. Today wasn’t our day, and sometimes that’s the nature of the game.
“I want to thank the community, the parents, the school administration and just our kids. There’s not a greater place to coach baseball than Whiteoak High School, from the facilities to the people. It’s second to none.”
The Division IV State Championship game will feature No. 15 Fort Loramie (26-6) vs. No. 9 Hicksville (21-5) on Saturday, June 2 at 10 a.m. In the first state semifinal game of the day, Fort Loramine defeated Garfield Heights Trinity (22-4) by a 2-1 score.
The Wildcats finish with a 28-3 overall record and won a regional, district, sectional and conference title, but on Thursday, the day belonged to Hicksville pitcher Jake Greer, who controlled the pace on the mound as Whiteoak head coach Chris Veidt praised not only his team, but the pitching of Greer.
“Today was Greer’s day. I thought we did a great job there and it was a good sign in the first inning, manufacturing that run, which if you’ve watched us all year – that’s what we do. He settled in, and it was Jake Greer’s day today,” Veidt said. “Unfortunately, it wasn’t ours. That’s the nature of high school baseball at this level. You don’t have another game, you don’t have seven-game series. You play one and done, and he was good enough to knock us out, unfortunately.
“It’s a great season. It’s a historical season. The great thing about it is we’ve got so many kids coming back. We’re losing a solid core, but we’ve got a solid group coming back. I tell you, with that being said, Traeten Hamilton – my goodness, today. Offensively, defensively, pitching in the mid-to-upper 80s – he was just fantastic. Hats off to him.”
Whiteoak — who was the state poll No. 1 ranked team in Division IV this season — was first to score in the state semifinal game, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first after a sacrifice fly by Caleb West scored Hamilton. Hamilton battled to a 2-2 count as the lead-off batter of the game and reached first on an infield error on a throw to first base. Hamilton was awarded second base when the throw sailed into the Hicksville dugout.
Hamilton advanced to third base on a ground out to the shortstop, then scored a run off a sacrifice fly by Caleb West for the 1-0 lead. Evan Brill walked in the ensuing at-bat but was out at second later in the inning on a stolen base attempt to end the top of the first inning.
The Aces (21-5) played their hand early with a two-run bottom of the first inning where they began with a full-count walk by Parker Thiel, followed by a fielder’s choice off the bat of Lukas Yoder. The Aces then had Jake Greer single to centerfield, who took second on a passed ball, giving Hicksville runners and second and third. Both runners crossed home plate on the next at-bat as Zac Brickel singled to centerfield, scoring both Thiel and Greer for a 2-1 advantage over the Wildcats.
Hicksville added two more runs in the bottom of the third, beginning with a infield single by Yoder, and with one out, Brickel smashed a double to the right field wall, scoring Yoder. Brickel eventually moved to third on a passed ball and scored on a two-out sacrifice fly to centerfield hit by Eric Chapman for the 4-1 lead.
Whiteoak (28-3) recorded two hits in the game. Hamilton hit a double to centerfield with two outs in the third inning, and Lehr had an infield base hit with two outs in the seventh inning. In the seventh, Joey Oliver pinch ran, stole second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch, but was left stranded.
Hamilton and Lehr were each 1-for-3 in the state semifinal loss. For Hicksville, they totaled five hits in the win with Brickel and Jonah Gipple each having two hits and Greer with one. Brickel was 2-for-3 with one run, while Gipple finished 2-for-2. Greer was 1-for-3 with one run.
For the game, the Wildcats left two runners on the bases and committed two errors, while Hicksville left three runners stranded and committed one error.
“It’s been monumental,” Veidt said of the season. “Like I told the radio guys, these guys are so much fun. They’re grinders, they’re ball players, they enjoy being with each other. I could coach these guys until October. I could do 162 games with them. I’d love to. Unfortunately, that’s not what we get to do at this point in time, but 28-3 is pretty darn good.
“It (the 2018 season) meant everything in the world to me. Like I said before, after 27 years, I’m glad it happened at this point in my life, honestly. It probably meant more that you don’t take it for granted. The thing is, I don’t want the kids, our school or our community to think this is one of those once-in-a-lifetime type deals. This is the kind of thing you build for. We talked about these guys being the roots of the bamboo tree and how you toil and you work and it takes time for you to grow.
“We have all intents and purposes to be back again,” Veidt continued. “I think what it takes is the realization a group like this, that’s as gutty and as selfless as these guys are and that has this work ethic that they have, to show our younger kids and even our underclassmen how possible this actually is. I really think now we’ve broken the ice and done this, I expect it to happen again.”
The winning pitcher was Greer who forced the pace of the game for the Wildcats. Greer allowed one run (none earned) on two hits and one walk. Greer in seven innings on the mound hit between 88-90 on the radar gun, striking out 12 batters in 94 total pitches.
Greer struck out the side in the fourth and fifth innings, plus the first batter of the sixth to have seven consecutive strikeouts. In the top of the second, Greer — a Sinclair Community College commit — also struck out the side.
The loss went to Brill, who pitched four innings in the state semifinals. Brill (9-1) allowed four runs (two earned) on five hits and one walk. Brill totaled two strikeouts, facing 19 batters with 65 total pitches. Hamilton pitched two innings of relief for the Wildcats. Hamilton allowed no runs or hits and struck out three batters. For the relief appearance, Hamilton faced six batters and threw 27 pitches.
Whiteoak’s season was one for the record books, as they went undefeated in the Southern Hills Athletic Conference with a 13-0 mark, and they were 24-2 in the regular season. In the postseason, the Wildcats won the sectional finals by a 10-0 score over Peebles, and in the district round won by a 12-3 score over Belpre and 10-0 over Waterford to clinch the district championship.
The Wildcats in the regional round defeated Toronto by a 4-3 score and Eastern Meigs, 5-4, winning the program’s first regional baseball crown.
Whiteoak’s 28 wins set a new program record, and their undefeated SHAC championship was the second perfect conference season for the Wildcats. Also during their record-setting season, Whiteoak was the Division IV OHSBCA State Poll champion.
Seniors for the Wildcats are Chase Carraher, Casey Nace, Joey Oliver, Caleb West and Trever Yeager.
The Wildcats received a standing ovation from the fans from Mowrystown and Highland County following the game, as they were well represented in Columbus.
“You could see orange. Like we told them before the game started, the boys could see orange behind them, and there has been all year. That’s taken our breath away. That’s given them something to remember,” Veidt said. “In terms of the season – think about what we did. Undefeated in the league, district, regional and sectional champs. Today wasn’t our day, and sometimes that’s the nature of the game.
“I want to thank the community, the parents, the school administration and just our kids. There’s not a greater place to coach baseball than Whiteoak High School, from the facilities to the people. It’s second to none.”
The Division IV State Championship game will feature No. 15 Fort Loramie (26-6) vs. No. 9 Hicksville (21-5) on Saturday, June 2 at 10 a.m. In the first state semifinal game of the day, Fort Loramine defeated Garfield Heights Trinity (22-4) by a 2-1 score.