Whiteoak Lady Wildcats cruise to 5-run win over West Union in season opener
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
MOWRYSTOWN — After having a rainout on Monday, the weather cooperated with the Whiteoak Lady Wildcats on Tuesday as the home game of West Union was moved to WHS, with the Lady ’Cats being the away team at their home field.
The Southern Hills Athletic Conference game saw the Lady ’Cats leave as the victors, beginning 2019 with a season-opening, 5-0 shutout victory over the Lady Dragons.
Getting off to a hot start on a 50-degree day for the Lady ’Cats was key in their win, and the hot start began in the top of the first with a three-run inning, with lead-off hitter Ann Ames (2-for-4, three steals) hitting a lead-off single. That was followed by a base hit by Brooklyn Gross (2-for-4), then came a walk forced by Cylee Bratton to load the bases.
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Katie Ames (1-for-3) walked in the ensuing at-bat, scoring Ann Ames. Chandra Hill also walked, scoring Bratton for a two-run lead with one out. Following an out in the next at-bat, WHS took a three-run lead off a base hit by Hailey Price, who was 2-for-3 on the day.
WHS added another run in the top of the third with a run scored by Hill, as she initially reached the bases with a one-out walk. Hill crossed home plate off a base hit by Price for the 4-0 lead.
The Lady Wildcats added a final run to their lead in the top of the seventh inning as Ann Ames rounded the bases after reaching first with a base hit to lead off the inning, She eventually scored a run off a base hit by Bratton for what was the final 5-0 advantage.
Gross was also the winning pitcher for the Lady ’Cats, gaining the shutout win in the circle. Gross finished with a complete game, pitching all seven innings, allowing no runs on three hits and two walks while totaling four strikeouts. In the win, Gross faced three batters in an inning three times and four batters in four innings.
For the game, the Lady ’Cats totaled seven hits, with Ann Ames and Gross each having two hits and Katie Ames having one hit, a double in the top of the fifth inning. WHS also totaled four walks.
Next for the Lady ’Cats is a SHAC game Thursday, March 28 at home vs. North Adams.
The Southern Hills Athletic Conference game saw the Lady ’Cats leave as the victors, beginning 2019 with a season-opening, 5-0 shutout victory over the Lady Dragons.
Getting off to a hot start on a 50-degree day for the Lady ’Cats was key in their win, and the hot start began in the top of the first with a three-run inning, with lead-off hitter Ann Ames (2-for-4, three steals) hitting a lead-off single. That was followed by a base hit by Brooklyn Gross (2-for-4), then came a walk forced by Cylee Bratton to load the bases.
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Katie Ames (1-for-3) walked in the ensuing at-bat, scoring Ann Ames. Chandra Hill also walked, scoring Bratton for a two-run lead with one out. Following an out in the next at-bat, WHS took a three-run lead off a base hit by Hailey Price, who was 2-for-3 on the day.
WHS added another run in the top of the third with a run scored by Hill, as she initially reached the bases with a one-out walk. Hill crossed home plate off a base hit by Price for the 4-0 lead.
The Lady Wildcats added a final run to their lead in the top of the seventh inning as Ann Ames rounded the bases after reaching first with a base hit to lead off the inning, She eventually scored a run off a base hit by Bratton for what was the final 5-0 advantage.
Gross was also the winning pitcher for the Lady ’Cats, gaining the shutout win in the circle. Gross finished with a complete game, pitching all seven innings, allowing no runs on three hits and two walks while totaling four strikeouts. In the win, Gross faced three batters in an inning three times and four batters in four innings.
For the game, the Lady ’Cats totaled seven hits, with Ann Ames and Gross each having two hits and Katie Ames having one hit, a double in the top of the fifth inning. WHS also totaled four walks.
Next for the Lady ’Cats is a SHAC game Thursday, March 28 at home vs. North Adams.