Late rally by Wildcats not enough to defeat Titans

    PORTSMOUTH - The Whiteoak Wildcats didn't go down quietly. In fact, they tied the game in the top half of its final inning, but they allowed the Notre Dame Titans to score the game's winning run in its half of the same inning for a 12-11 win over the visiting Wildcats.

    "It was just a strange day, from the weather, to umpires showing up late, to appeal plays, to ground rules, to batters hit by pitch (6), to walks (22) by both teams," WHS head coach Chris Veidt said. "Just a strange, ugly baseball game pitting two of the top Division IV programs in the district."

    WHS (12-15) trailed 5-0 after two innings, but put together three runs in the top of the third.

    The Wildcats came within one run of tying the game in the top of the fourth, but the Titans plated three runs in its half of the inning for a 9-5 lead with four innings in the books.

    The fifth saw each team score twice, and in the sixth, neither team was able to add runs to its total.

    Whiteoak put four runs on the board in the top of the seventh, tying the game at 11, but the Titans were too strong in the end, knocking in the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh.

    Gage Carraher led WHS at the plate at 3-for-5 with three RBIs and one RBI. Ben Barnett went 2-for-3 with two runs. Ethan Eyre and Ben Ruark each had one hit. Eyre scored two runs and Ruark scored one run and collected one RBI. Ryan Emery also had one hit, along with scoring three runs. Luke Taggert finished with three RBIs.

    "We had a nice comeback for in the seventh to tie the game. (Ben) Barnett, Gage, and (Ben) Ruark had nice days for us at the plate," Veidt said. "Our outfield played a nice defensive game with Mike Carraher and Corey Hughes recording eight putouts in a strong wind. 

    "Our defense is really settling down and playing well as we head into the tournament, but any time you score 11 runs you expect to win. We gave up too many free passes from the mound (Saturday) with 16 walks and hit batters."

    The loss was charged to Gage Carraher. Carraher (5-3) pitched 1 2-3 innings, allowing one hit, one run (earned) and two walks. He struck out one batter. Eyre pitched 2-3 of an inning, allowing two hits, two runs (two earned) and three walks. Eyre also struck out one batter. Barnett started the game with 3 2-3 innings, allowing four hits, nine runs (eight earned) and five walks. Barnett finished with two strikeouts.

    The win lifts ND to 13-6 overall, while WHS drops to 12-15.

    

WHS  003 220 4 - 11

ND   420 320 1 - 12