Lady Wildcats own the SHAC; Sosby perfect for 4th time this season

DODSONVILLE — This season, the Whiteoak Lady Wildcats own Division II of the Southern Hills Athletic Conference, becoming champions of the league for the first time since the 2004 season. Also on their championship night, pitcher Kiley Sosby was perfect for the fourth time this season.

Whiteoak finishes the SHAC season with a 12-1 record and improve to 18-1 overall, and on Thursday night at Lynchburg-Clay, they proved to any doubters they were the best team in the conference this season, clinching the conference title with a 4-0 victory over the Lady Mustangs.

"This is a big accomplishment for the girls," WHS head coach Trisha Hauke said of winning the Division II SHAC title. Like I told them at the beginning of the season, I knew they were capable of doing it, they just had to show up and be ready to play every game.

"Unfortunately, we didn't show up ready to play one game, and that cost us the perfect conference record. That's the only bad part about it, but we won the league, and it is a great accomplishment."

En route to the shutout win, Sosby was un-hittable, retiring 21 straight batters (72 pitches, 64 strikes), including 19 strikeouts. The game ended with an LC bunt back to Sosby, as she tossed the ball to first base for the win.

Sosby now has five perfect games in her high school career, and with four this season, she's tied for fourth all-time in the OHSAA state record book for perfect games in one season. Sosby is the first player since 2013 in Ohio to have at least four perfect games in one season.

In her four perfect games in '15, Sosby has collected 61 strikeouts, and for her five career perfect games, the strikeout total is 72. Catching all of Sosby's perfect games is fellow senior Jayde Parr. Sosby also has two no-hitters this season.

"Kiley is just an awesome kid to have on the field and on the team," Hauke said. "She keeps the girls motivated and will be one who is truly missed from the entire area, because everyone wants to come watch her play.

"She's worked hard for everything she has earned and has done a great job."

Finishing second in the SHAC Division II standings were Highland County rival Fairfield with a 11-2 conference record. The two teams split games this season.

Thursday belonged to the Lady Wildcats, and behind the pitching of Sosby, who couldn't be stopped. In fact, Sosby struck out the first 15 batters she faced, with 14 of the 15 strikeouts being swinging third strikes.

The first non-strikeout out came in the sixth inning with a ground out to first base, and the game ended with a ground out back to the pitcher.

Jaycie Parr led the Lady 'Cats at the plate with a 2-for-3 game with one run. Alexis Jones was one of four Lady 'Cats with one hit each as she also had two RBIs. Jayde Parr finished with a hit and RBI, while Chelsea Chisman and Misty McClure each had one hit.

WHS scored three runs in the third inning with Sosby, Jaycie Parr and Ashleigh Harless all crossing home plate. In the inning, Jones had a two-RBI double. In the sixth, Sosby scored on a base hit by Jayde Parr.

As for this season, the Lady 'Cats have outscored their opponents 95-15 in SHAC play. In the 13 SHAC games this season, WHS shut out their opponents eight times.

WHS still has two regular-season games left on the schedule with a doubleheader this Saturday. They play their first Division IV postseason game on Thursday, May 14 at 5 p.m. when they host the winner of Western Latham vs. Manchester.

LC will travel to face the McClain Lady Tigers in Division III postseason play on Tuesday, May 12 at 5 p.m. in Greenfield.