Wildcats defeat Lions for 3rd time this season
Lead Summary
By
The Highland County Press-
MOWRYSTOWN — Wanting to keep sharp during down time in-between postseason games, the Whiteoak Wildcats and Fairfield Lions added a third meeting to their slate against each other Friday. For the third time this season it was Whiteoak who were the victors in the non-league game, defeating the Lions 10-8 at WHS.
The game between the two Highland County and Southern Hills League counterparts was led by WHS early as they took a 5-0 advantage after two innings, only to have the Lions score four runs in the top of the third.
[[In-content Ad]]WHS added two more runs to their half of the third for a 7-4 lead after three complete innings.
FHS (12-14) added one run in the top of the fourth, only to see the Wildcats put three on the scoreboard in the same inning for a lead of 10-5.
The final three runs by FHS came in the top of the seventh as they finished with an overall total of eight runs, nine hits and four errors. WHS tallied the aforementioned 10 runs, along with nine hits and three errors.
"Coach (Ritchie) Butler and I thought it was a good idea to get together for a non-league encounter. With all the rain lately and the SHL over, games have been hard to come by, and it's important to keep your guys in the rhythm of game situations," WHS head coach Chris Veidt said of Friday's game. "Zach (Docter) played a terrific all-around game. Offensively and defensively he was huge.
"Many of our outs were hard hit. Doc (Seip) had a very productive day at the plate reaching base all four times, and David (Deer) had a big two-run single for us in the fourth inning. Fairfield, they are so competitive. Their kids just never quit. No lead is safe. Made for a very exciting evening, and a quality tune-up headed in to the districts."
WHS (19-7) had seven players with at least one hit. Leading the way was Jesse Bradds at 2-for-4 with a double and one run scored. Doc Seip was 2-for-2 with a double, three runs and one RBI.
Having one hit each for WHS were Michael Smith (two RBIs, one run), Zach Docter (two runs, one RBI), Gage Carraher (one RBI), David Deer (two RBIs) and Nick Wardlow (one run).
Luke Taggert scored one run and walked once, while Tyler Williams walked once and scored a run.
For the visiting Lions, Blake Hildebrant led them at the plate with a 2-for-3 day, including two runs and one RBI.
Kyle Carson (two runs, one walk), Zach Cox (one run, one walk), Quintin Schaffer, Chase Fulkerson (two runs, one walk), Ryan Bates (one RBI), Nathan Crabtree (one run) and Gage Montgomery (one RBI) each had one hit.
Cody Bennett had one RBI, as did Wyatt Crothers for the Lions.
Earning the win on the hill was WHS senior Nathan Hauke, who finished the game with 6 2-3 innings pitched. The senior allowed eight runs (four earned) on eight hits and four walks, while striking out four.
Docter pitched 1-3 of an inning in relief for the save. He allowed no runs on one hit and one strikeout.
"Nate was excellent for us (Friday), Veidt said. "This was one of the more impressive outings of his career.
"Zach's save with the bases laded in the seventh capped off a great day for him."
The loss went to Carson as he pitched two innings, allowing five runs (two earned) on three hits and four walks. He struck out four.
Also pitching for FHS were Dylan Rohde and Crothers. Rohde went two innings, allowing five runs (three earned) on six hits and no walks, while striking out three. Crothers pitched two innings, walking two, while allowing no hits or runs. He struck out two.
Both teams will be back on the tournament road this weekend as the No. 4 seeded Lions will take on No. 1 seeded Southern (22-0) on Sunday, May 13 at 12 p.m. at VA Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe, in a Division IV SE District semifinal game.
The Wildcats, a No. 3 seed, will also play at VA Memorial Stadium on Sunday as they face No. 2 seeded Green (17-6) at 6 p.m.
BOX SCORE
FHS 004 100 3 — 8 9 4
WHS 142 300 x — 10 9 3
The game between the two Highland County and Southern Hills League counterparts was led by WHS early as they took a 5-0 advantage after two innings, only to have the Lions score four runs in the top of the third.
[[In-content Ad]]WHS added two more runs to their half of the third for a 7-4 lead after three complete innings.
FHS (12-14) added one run in the top of the fourth, only to see the Wildcats put three on the scoreboard in the same inning for a lead of 10-5.
The final three runs by FHS came in the top of the seventh as they finished with an overall total of eight runs, nine hits and four errors. WHS tallied the aforementioned 10 runs, along with nine hits and three errors.
"Coach (Ritchie) Butler and I thought it was a good idea to get together for a non-league encounter. With all the rain lately and the SHL over, games have been hard to come by, and it's important to keep your guys in the rhythm of game situations," WHS head coach Chris Veidt said of Friday's game. "Zach (Docter) played a terrific all-around game. Offensively and defensively he was huge.
"Many of our outs were hard hit. Doc (Seip) had a very productive day at the plate reaching base all four times, and David (Deer) had a big two-run single for us in the fourth inning. Fairfield, they are so competitive. Their kids just never quit. No lead is safe. Made for a very exciting evening, and a quality tune-up headed in to the districts."
WHS (19-7) had seven players with at least one hit. Leading the way was Jesse Bradds at 2-for-4 with a double and one run scored. Doc Seip was 2-for-2 with a double, three runs and one RBI.
Having one hit each for WHS were Michael Smith (two RBIs, one run), Zach Docter (two runs, one RBI), Gage Carraher (one RBI), David Deer (two RBIs) and Nick Wardlow (one run).
Luke Taggert scored one run and walked once, while Tyler Williams walked once and scored a run.
For the visiting Lions, Blake Hildebrant led them at the plate with a 2-for-3 day, including two runs and one RBI.
Kyle Carson (two runs, one walk), Zach Cox (one run, one walk), Quintin Schaffer, Chase Fulkerson (two runs, one walk), Ryan Bates (one RBI), Nathan Crabtree (one run) and Gage Montgomery (one RBI) each had one hit.
Cody Bennett had one RBI, as did Wyatt Crothers for the Lions.
Earning the win on the hill was WHS senior Nathan Hauke, who finished the game with 6 2-3 innings pitched. The senior allowed eight runs (four earned) on eight hits and four walks, while striking out four.
Docter pitched 1-3 of an inning in relief for the save. He allowed no runs on one hit and one strikeout.
"Nate was excellent for us (Friday), Veidt said. "This was one of the more impressive outings of his career.
"Zach's save with the bases laded in the seventh capped off a great day for him."
The loss went to Carson as he pitched two innings, allowing five runs (two earned) on three hits and four walks. He struck out four.
Also pitching for FHS were Dylan Rohde and Crothers. Rohde went two innings, allowing five runs (three earned) on six hits and no walks, while striking out three. Crothers pitched two innings, walking two, while allowing no hits or runs. He struck out two.
Both teams will be back on the tournament road this weekend as the No. 4 seeded Lions will take on No. 1 seeded Southern (22-0) on Sunday, May 13 at 12 p.m. at VA Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe, in a Division IV SE District semifinal game.
The Wildcats, a No. 3 seed, will also play at VA Memorial Stadium on Sunday as they face No. 2 seeded Green (17-6) at 6 p.m.
BOX SCORE
FHS 004 100 3 — 8 9 4
WHS 142 300 x — 10 9 3