Whiteoak Wildcats fall to Fayetteville
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
The Whiteoak Wildcats were unable to gain a road win in the Southern Hills Athletic Conference Friday night, falling to the Fayetteville Rockets by a 5-4 score in eight innings.
WHS scored one run in the top of the first inning and held the lead until the bottom of the third when the Rockets tied the score at 1-1. Fayetteville took the lead in the bottom of the fourth with another one-run inning, then gained a 3-1 advantage over the WHS with one run in the fifth.
The Wildcats (3-3, 6-6) came back with a three-run fifth inning, but the Rockets were able to defend their home field with one run in the seventh to tie the score, followed by gaining the game-winning run in extras during the bottom of the eighth inning.
Three WHS batters went 2-for-4 in the loss. Those batters were Traeten Hamilton (two runs, double), Casey Nace and Trever Yeager (one run, one RBI). Finishing 2-for-3 for the Wildcats was Mason Lehr.
Earning one hit each for the Wildcats were Zach Harless, Evan Brill and Brandon Lowe.
The pitching loss was charged to Hamilton, who pitched all eight innings. He allowed five runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks. Hamilton finished with eight strikeouts, with his record on the season moving to 1-3.
“Traeten Hamilton pitched his best game of the year and matured a bit during the process,” WHS head coach Chris Veidt said. “We will close out games like this better as the entire team matures and use the next pitch process immediately instead of waiting a pitch or two.
“We played six fantastic innings of baseball (Friday), but against a quality opponent like Fayetteville that will never be enough. Hamilton, Trever Yeager, Mason Lehr and Casey Nace all had nice offensive days. We are looking forward to winning these tight one-run affairs as the season progresses.”
WHS scored one run in the top of the first inning and held the lead until the bottom of the third when the Rockets tied the score at 1-1. Fayetteville took the lead in the bottom of the fourth with another one-run inning, then gained a 3-1 advantage over the WHS with one run in the fifth.
The Wildcats (3-3, 6-6) came back with a three-run fifth inning, but the Rockets were able to defend their home field with one run in the seventh to tie the score, followed by gaining the game-winning run in extras during the bottom of the eighth inning.
Three WHS batters went 2-for-4 in the loss. Those batters were Traeten Hamilton (two runs, double), Casey Nace and Trever Yeager (one run, one RBI). Finishing 2-for-3 for the Wildcats was Mason Lehr.
Earning one hit each for the Wildcats were Zach Harless, Evan Brill and Brandon Lowe.
The pitching loss was charged to Hamilton, who pitched all eight innings. He allowed five runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks. Hamilton finished with eight strikeouts, with his record on the season moving to 1-3.
“Traeten Hamilton pitched his best game of the year and matured a bit during the process,” WHS head coach Chris Veidt said. “We will close out games like this better as the entire team matures and use the next pitch process immediately instead of waiting a pitch or two.
“We played six fantastic innings of baseball (Friday), but against a quality opponent like Fayetteville that will never be enough. Hamilton, Trever Yeager, Mason Lehr and Casey Nace all had nice offensive days. We are looking forward to winning these tight one-run affairs as the season progresses.”