Regional Semifinal Preview: State-ranked Wildcats rested entering regionals
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
When the Whiteoak Wildcats take the diamond on Thursday, they will have had a 10-day break in-between their district final game and their Division IV Regional semifinal game, but the rest has been a positive for the reigning Division II Southern Hills Athletic Conference champions.
With most of the break out of the way, it is time for WHS to get back on the playing field as they will face the Tuscarawas Central Catholic Saints (New Philadelphia) on Thursday, May 31 at 2 p.m. at Beavers Field in Lancaster.
Since the last time the 21-win Wildcats played a game, they have not only rested, but the seniors have graduated, and they've had a lot of time to practice.
"The break has been great," WHS head coach Chris Veidt said. "We've been able to do things in practice we don't normally do, both because we've advanced to this stage skill-wise and because of the simple fact we've been off 10 days.
"We've been able to get through graduation and the end of the school year, and all that comes with it, so those distractions no longer exist. Spending quality time during those aforementioned events with family and Memorial Day was also nice."
The Wildcats have four batters who are batting .395 or higher with Carraher leading the way at the plate as well with a .468 batting average, followed by Tyler Williams at .435, Taggert at .432 and Docter at .395.
A closer look at the stats shows WHS has 47 extra-base hits through their first 27 games, with 38 doubles, six triples and three home runs. In total, the Wildcats have 221 hits and 171 runs.
Then there is the pitching for Whiteoak.
WHS has a trio of senior starters who have been more than on-point this season with Carraher, Taggert and Docter anchoring the Wildcats from the mound.
Of the three hurlers, none have an ERA close to 2.00 with Docter having the "highest" ERA at 1.71 in 11 games pitched. Taggert has an ERA of 0.84 in eight games, and Carraher, the ace of the staff, has an ERA of 0.56.
Carraher has allowed not just three earned runs all season, but just three runs total, as he's 8-0 overall with 79 strikeouts on 48.2 innings pitched.
TCC (22-5) enters the game as the the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association No. 5 ranked team in Division IV, while the Wildcats are the No. 9 state-ranked team.
To get to the regional round, TCC, the No. 1 seed of the Cambridge District, defeated Toronto, 4-1. Before that game, TCC began the postseason with a 10-0 five-inning win over Caldwell, followed by a 12-5 win against Strasburg-Franklin in six innings. In the district semifinals, they topped Steubenville Catholic Central, 7-3.
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When asked who TCC compares to on the Wildcats' schedule, Veidt spoke about some of the Wildcats' rivals.
"A comparable team in the SHAC would be Fayetteville or perhaps Eastern," he said. "The one major similarity would be the pitching, in terms of the Boyer kid from Fayetteville is similar to the TCC ace.
"The kid from Tusky may throw a bit harder, but he doesn't seem to be the type of kid that's going to beat you with velocity. His curveball is his bread and butter, and he'll throw it to any kid in the order, any count. Their athleticism, especially defensively, is similar to the aforementioned two schools."
Veidt does see one difference from the two teams he compared to TCC.
"The only major difference is they have three, with the potential of four, left-handed hitters in the lineup," he said. "Three of their top four kids in the order hit left-handed."
With this being the first time WHS has been this far in the baseball postseason, Veidt said he knows this isn't just another game, being one of the final 16 teams remaining in Division IV, but WHS is preparing for it as if it was in the regular season.
"Obviously, to say it's just like any other game is a stretch," Veidt said. "Pressure is a choice, and we don't choose to put pressure on ourselves.
"Our goal is to apply it to the other team in the manner in which we play. Really, it's not about the level at which you play, or who you play … ultimately, it's about how you play on that given day."
Back to having a 10-day break, Veidt said he tells his team the following: "The practice belongs to us, games belong to you."
"As a coach, I love to practice," Veidt said. "Games are their reward for hard work. With that being said, this group practices consistently better than any group we've ever had. They are a joy to coach and spend time with."
As the game nears, Veidt said he wants his team to know they belong at this stage of the tournament, along with speaking about a few folks who have helped along the way.
"As far as the kids are concerned, I just want them to know they belong," he said. "As long as we stay involved in the process of playing the game of baseball and not in what the results might be, we'll succeed. My head assistant coach DJ O'Cull has been priceless in terms of everything he does for the program both on and off the field.
"John Combs has helped us immensely with his scouting reports, and his willingness to drive anywhere to get the job done. Our administration and staff at Whiteoak have been very supportive. As far as the parents are concerned, I want to say thank you for everything. It is no wonder we have shared the success we have this year with quality kids … they come from quality homes."
With most of the break out of the way, it is time for WHS to get back on the playing field as they will face the Tuscarawas Central Catholic Saints (New Philadelphia) on Thursday, May 31 at 2 p.m. at Beavers Field in Lancaster.
Since the last time the 21-win Wildcats played a game, they have not only rested, but the seniors have graduated, and they've had a lot of time to practice.
"The break has been great," WHS head coach Chris Veidt said. "We've been able to do things in practice we don't normally do, both because we've advanced to this stage skill-wise and because of the simple fact we've been off 10 days.
"We've been able to get through graduation and the end of the school year, and all that comes with it, so those distractions no longer exist. Spending quality time during those aforementioned events with family and Memorial Day was also nice."
The Wildcats have four batters who are batting .395 or higher with Carraher leading the way at the plate as well with a .468 batting average, followed by Tyler Williams at .435, Taggert at .432 and Docter at .395.
A closer look at the stats shows WHS has 47 extra-base hits through their first 27 games, with 38 doubles, six triples and three home runs. In total, the Wildcats have 221 hits and 171 runs.
Then there is the pitching for Whiteoak.
WHS has a trio of senior starters who have been more than on-point this season with Carraher, Taggert and Docter anchoring the Wildcats from the mound.
Of the three hurlers, none have an ERA close to 2.00 with Docter having the "highest" ERA at 1.71 in 11 games pitched. Taggert has an ERA of 0.84 in eight games, and Carraher, the ace of the staff, has an ERA of 0.56.
Carraher has allowed not just three earned runs all season, but just three runs total, as he's 8-0 overall with 79 strikeouts on 48.2 innings pitched.
TCC (22-5) enters the game as the the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association No. 5 ranked team in Division IV, while the Wildcats are the No. 9 state-ranked team.
To get to the regional round, TCC, the No. 1 seed of the Cambridge District, defeated Toronto, 4-1. Before that game, TCC began the postseason with a 10-0 five-inning win over Caldwell, followed by a 12-5 win against Strasburg-Franklin in six innings. In the district semifinals, they topped Steubenville Catholic Central, 7-3.
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When asked who TCC compares to on the Wildcats' schedule, Veidt spoke about some of the Wildcats' rivals.
"A comparable team in the SHAC would be Fayetteville or perhaps Eastern," he said. "The one major similarity would be the pitching, in terms of the Boyer kid from Fayetteville is similar to the TCC ace.
"The kid from Tusky may throw a bit harder, but he doesn't seem to be the type of kid that's going to beat you with velocity. His curveball is his bread and butter, and he'll throw it to any kid in the order, any count. Their athleticism, especially defensively, is similar to the aforementioned two schools."
Veidt does see one difference from the two teams he compared to TCC.
"The only major difference is they have three, with the potential of four, left-handed hitters in the lineup," he said. "Three of their top four kids in the order hit left-handed."
With this being the first time WHS has been this far in the baseball postseason, Veidt said he knows this isn't just another game, being one of the final 16 teams remaining in Division IV, but WHS is preparing for it as if it was in the regular season.
"Obviously, to say it's just like any other game is a stretch," Veidt said. "Pressure is a choice, and we don't choose to put pressure on ourselves.
"Our goal is to apply it to the other team in the manner in which we play. Really, it's not about the level at which you play, or who you play … ultimately, it's about how you play on that given day."
Back to having a 10-day break, Veidt said he tells his team the following: "The practice belongs to us, games belong to you."
"As a coach, I love to practice," Veidt said. "Games are their reward for hard work. With that being said, this group practices consistently better than any group we've ever had. They are a joy to coach and spend time with."
As the game nears, Veidt said he wants his team to know they belong at this stage of the tournament, along with speaking about a few folks who have helped along the way.
"As far as the kids are concerned, I just want them to know they belong," he said. "As long as we stay involved in the process of playing the game of baseball and not in what the results might be, we'll succeed. My head assistant coach DJ O'Cull has been priceless in terms of everything he does for the program both on and off the field.
"John Combs has helped us immensely with his scouting reports, and his willingness to drive anywhere to get the job done. Our administration and staff at Whiteoak have been very supportive. As far as the parents are concerned, I want to say thank you for everything. It is no wonder we have shared the success we have this year with quality kids … they come from quality homes."