Whiteoak Wildcats gain 4th consecutive SHAC championship
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Thursday was another championship day for the Whiteoak Wildcats baseball team, as they earned the 2022 Southern Hills Athletic Conference Division II baseball championship after defeating rival Lynchburg-Clay by a 7-4 score at WHS.
This is the Wildcats’ fourth consecutive SHAC baseball championship and 11th in program history. WHS has now won eight conference titles since 2000.
“This is our fourth consecutive conference championship, and to me, it displays the commitment of our kids, schools and community to prioritizing success,” Whiteoak head coach Chris Veidt said. “As the saying goes, ‘It takes a village.’”
Whiteoak began the bottom half of the first inning by scoring two runs, with Landon Barnett scoring off a double by Nate Price, then Price scoring a run off a single by Ian Griffith.
WHS added two more runs in the bottom of the second, as Connor Butler and Kaden Moon-Stone each scored a run. Moon-Stone batted in Butler with a double, as Butler initially reached the bases via walk. Barnett knocked in Moon-Stone with a single.
The scoring continued for WHS as they scored their final three runs in the bottom of the third with Griffith, Roberts and Moon-Stone all rounding the bases. Griffith scored his run off a groundout RBI from Butler, followed with Moon-Stone batting in Roberts with his second double of the game. Moon-Stone scored when Luken Roades hit a groundout to second base for the 7-0 lead after three innings.
LCHS scored their runs with one in the top of the fourth, one run in the fifth and two runs in the six inning, with those runs being scored by Josiah Burns, Hunter Barnhill, Braden West and Austin Bell.
For the Wildcats, Barnett finished 2-for-4 with one run, one RBI and a steal. Also with two hits were Griffith (2-for-4, one run, one RBI, one steal), Roberts (2-for-3, one run, a double and a walk) and Moon-Stone (2-for-4, two runs, two RBI).
Finishing with one hit each for Whiteoak were Price (one run, one RBI, a double, one hit-by-pitch) and Donohoo (one hit, one walk). Roades had one RBI, one walk and one steal. Butler finished with one run, one RBI and one walk.
“We started fast with the seven-run lead, but give Lynchburg-Clay credit, they chipped away at us and didn’t panic,” Veidt said. “Our team defense was outstanding. Luken Roades, David Donohoo, Eli Roberts and Nate Price with plus defensive plays. Connor Butler was the player of the game on senior day.”
On the mound, Butler earned the win on senior day. The WHS pitcher (7-0) finished with four runs allowed (two earned) on six hits and four walks. He finished the game with six strikeouts as he faced 28 batters in six innings.
The save went to Roades, who in one inning (the seventh inning) allowed no runs on one hit and two walks, facing five batters.
“Connor was his usual steady self. Luken Roades had an impressive save pitching the seventh inning, and Landon Barnett, Ian Griffith and Kaden Moon-Stone all finished with multiple hits, plus Kaden’s two doubles were huge,” Veidt said.
The win moves Whiteoak to 17-6 overall and 12-1 in the SHAC. LCHS falls to 8-3 in the SHAC (second place in Division I) and 9-7 overall.
[[In-content Ad]]
This is the Wildcats’ fourth consecutive SHAC baseball championship and 11th in program history. WHS has now won eight conference titles since 2000.
“This is our fourth consecutive conference championship, and to me, it displays the commitment of our kids, schools and community to prioritizing success,” Whiteoak head coach Chris Veidt said. “As the saying goes, ‘It takes a village.’”
Whiteoak began the bottom half of the first inning by scoring two runs, with Landon Barnett scoring off a double by Nate Price, then Price scoring a run off a single by Ian Griffith.
WHS added two more runs in the bottom of the second, as Connor Butler and Kaden Moon-Stone each scored a run. Moon-Stone batted in Butler with a double, as Butler initially reached the bases via walk. Barnett knocked in Moon-Stone with a single.
The scoring continued for WHS as they scored their final three runs in the bottom of the third with Griffith, Roberts and Moon-Stone all rounding the bases. Griffith scored his run off a groundout RBI from Butler, followed with Moon-Stone batting in Roberts with his second double of the game. Moon-Stone scored when Luken Roades hit a groundout to second base for the 7-0 lead after three innings.
LCHS scored their runs with one in the top of the fourth, one run in the fifth and two runs in the six inning, with those runs being scored by Josiah Burns, Hunter Barnhill, Braden West and Austin Bell.
For the Wildcats, Barnett finished 2-for-4 with one run, one RBI and a steal. Also with two hits were Griffith (2-for-4, one run, one RBI, one steal), Roberts (2-for-3, one run, a double and a walk) and Moon-Stone (2-for-4, two runs, two RBI).
Finishing with one hit each for Whiteoak were Price (one run, one RBI, a double, one hit-by-pitch) and Donohoo (one hit, one walk). Roades had one RBI, one walk and one steal. Butler finished with one run, one RBI and one walk.
“We started fast with the seven-run lead, but give Lynchburg-Clay credit, they chipped away at us and didn’t panic,” Veidt said. “Our team defense was outstanding. Luken Roades, David Donohoo, Eli Roberts and Nate Price with plus defensive plays. Connor Butler was the player of the game on senior day.”
On the mound, Butler earned the win on senior day. The WHS pitcher (7-0) finished with four runs allowed (two earned) on six hits and four walks. He finished the game with six strikeouts as he faced 28 batters in six innings.
The save went to Roades, who in one inning (the seventh inning) allowed no runs on one hit and two walks, facing five batters.
“Connor was his usual steady self. Luken Roades had an impressive save pitching the seventh inning, and Landon Barnett, Ian Griffith and Kaden Moon-Stone all finished with multiple hits, plus Kaden’s two doubles were huge,” Veidt said.
The win moves Whiteoak to 17-6 overall and 12-1 in the SHAC. LCHS falls to 8-3 in the SHAC (second place in Division I) and 9-7 overall.
[[In-content Ad]]