Whiteoak Wildcats wrap up SHAC season with win at Fairfield
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
LEESBURG — The Whiteoak Wildcats secured a one-loss Southern Hills Athletic Conference record, as the Division II conference champions defeated the host Fairfield Lions, 6-1 Tuesday at FHS.
The Wildcats (12-1, 20-3) began the game by scoring one run in the top of the first inning for the early advantage. Traeten Hamilton reached first base on an error and went to second base on a walk forced by Zach Harless.
Next, both runners stole a base, and Hamilton scored on a sacrifice fly by Mason Lehr for the 1-0 lead. Hamilton finished the game 2-for-4 with three runs, four steals and one RBI.
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“We had seven different guys with hits, and we were very aggressive on the base paths and stole a lot of bases,” WHS head coach Chris Veidt said of his team on Monday. “I was happy with that because we applied pressure well. We scored a lot of different ways, and Billy scored from second base on a strikeout, of all things.”
The Wildcats added two runs in the top of the second, beginning with a one-out single by Billy Oliver. Oliver stole second base and went to third on a passed ball. Oliver scored off a single by Hamilton. Oliver finished the game 2-for-3 with two steals and two runs.
“Billy had a whale of a game for us offensively and behind the plate, and that was nice to see,” Veidt said.
Next, Hamilton scored on a double off the bat of Harless, who went 1-for-3 with one walk, one steal and one RBI. FHS fought back by ending the inning on a double play.
After both teams went scoreless in the third, Whiteoak added two more runs, starting with a single by Hamilton, Hamilton then stole second and third base, then scored on an error where Lehr (1-for-3, SAC, one run, one RBI) reached first base.
From there, Ty Large (1-for-3, one walk, one steal) singled and Evan Brill drew a walk. Trey Bogart (hit by pitch, one RBI, one steal) knocked in Lehr with a fielder’s choice for a 5-0 lead.
Whiteoak scored their final run in the top of the fifth with Oliver hitting a one-out single. He stole second base and scored on an infield error for a six-run advantage.
The Lions (6-6, 6-11) scored their lone run in the bottom of the seventh to avoid the shutout. Their half of the seventh inning began with a lead-off single by Andrew Dingey, and he went to third base on a double by Layne Morgan. Dingey scored on a ground out to second base by Jacob Morgan.
FHS totaled four hits off the bats of Austin Setty, Dingey, Layne Morgan and Griffin Irvin (hit by pitch).
Also having hits for Whiteoak were Ryan Roberts and Chase Butler (one steal).
Brill was the winning pitcher for the Wildcats, where he allowed one run (earned) on four hits and no walks in seven innings on the mound. Brill finished the game with nine strikeouts.
“Evan pitched a solid game, and he got stronger as the game went on,” Veidt said. “The fourth, fifth and sixth innings were his best innings, and that is always good to see. He probably started running out of gas a little bit in the seventh, but with his competitive nature we felt good, and he struck out the nine hitter to end the game.”
The loss was charged to Dingey, and also pitching in relief for Fairfield was Setty.
WHS for the game totaled nine hits, 10 steals, forced three walks and scored six runs.
“We end up with one loss in the SHAC and win a conference championship with our only loss to another quality opponent, and it has been a great season, but we aren’t done,” Veidt said. “At this point in time, that’s where you want to be.
“This concludes our league play, which means we have more preparation time, which is good. We have some quality non-league opponents coming in. We are 20-3, and we hope to play four more games in the regular season, weather permitting.
“We want to get ourselves ready for the tournament, and I believe are a No. 1 seed. As my wife said, if you aren’t the one seed, just go play baseball because you are going to have to beat somebody anyway, so that is just the way it goes.”
Seniors for the Lions who were honored included: Ethan Grooms, Layne Morgan, Sam Buddelmeyer, Andrew Dingey, Griffin Irvin and Austin Setty.
The Wildcats (12-1, 20-3) began the game by scoring one run in the top of the first inning for the early advantage. Traeten Hamilton reached first base on an error and went to second base on a walk forced by Zach Harless.
Next, both runners stole a base, and Hamilton scored on a sacrifice fly by Mason Lehr for the 1-0 lead. Hamilton finished the game 2-for-4 with three runs, four steals and one RBI.
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“We had seven different guys with hits, and we were very aggressive on the base paths and stole a lot of bases,” WHS head coach Chris Veidt said of his team on Monday. “I was happy with that because we applied pressure well. We scored a lot of different ways, and Billy scored from second base on a strikeout, of all things.”
The Wildcats added two runs in the top of the second, beginning with a one-out single by Billy Oliver. Oliver stole second base and went to third on a passed ball. Oliver scored off a single by Hamilton. Oliver finished the game 2-for-3 with two steals and two runs.
“Billy had a whale of a game for us offensively and behind the plate, and that was nice to see,” Veidt said.
Next, Hamilton scored on a double off the bat of Harless, who went 1-for-3 with one walk, one steal and one RBI. FHS fought back by ending the inning on a double play.
After both teams went scoreless in the third, Whiteoak added two more runs, starting with a single by Hamilton, Hamilton then stole second and third base, then scored on an error where Lehr (1-for-3, SAC, one run, one RBI) reached first base.
From there, Ty Large (1-for-3, one walk, one steal) singled and Evan Brill drew a walk. Trey Bogart (hit by pitch, one RBI, one steal) knocked in Lehr with a fielder’s choice for a 5-0 lead.
Whiteoak scored their final run in the top of the fifth with Oliver hitting a one-out single. He stole second base and scored on an infield error for a six-run advantage.
The Lions (6-6, 6-11) scored their lone run in the bottom of the seventh to avoid the shutout. Their half of the seventh inning began with a lead-off single by Andrew Dingey, and he went to third base on a double by Layne Morgan. Dingey scored on a ground out to second base by Jacob Morgan.
FHS totaled four hits off the bats of Austin Setty, Dingey, Layne Morgan and Griffin Irvin (hit by pitch).
Also having hits for Whiteoak were Ryan Roberts and Chase Butler (one steal).
Brill was the winning pitcher for the Wildcats, where he allowed one run (earned) on four hits and no walks in seven innings on the mound. Brill finished the game with nine strikeouts.
“Evan pitched a solid game, and he got stronger as the game went on,” Veidt said. “The fourth, fifth and sixth innings were his best innings, and that is always good to see. He probably started running out of gas a little bit in the seventh, but with his competitive nature we felt good, and he struck out the nine hitter to end the game.”
The loss was charged to Dingey, and also pitching in relief for Fairfield was Setty.
WHS for the game totaled nine hits, 10 steals, forced three walks and scored six runs.
“We end up with one loss in the SHAC and win a conference championship with our only loss to another quality opponent, and it has been a great season, but we aren’t done,” Veidt said. “At this point in time, that’s where you want to be.
“This concludes our league play, which means we have more preparation time, which is good. We have some quality non-league opponents coming in. We are 20-3, and we hope to play four more games in the regular season, weather permitting.
“We want to get ourselves ready for the tournament, and I believe are a No. 1 seed. As my wife said, if you aren’t the one seed, just go play baseball because you are going to have to beat somebody anyway, so that is just the way it goes.”
Seniors for the Lions who were honored included: Ethan Grooms, Layne Morgan, Sam Buddelmeyer, Andrew Dingey, Griffin Irvin and Austin Setty.