Rockets lift-off against Wildcats for SHL title
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
FAYETTEVILLE — In a neck-and-neck battle for first place in Division II of the Southern Hills League all season long, the Whiteoak Wildcats ran out of gas in the bottom of the seventh inning Thursday at Fayetteville, as the Rockets walked off for a 2-1 victory, en route to winning the SHL Division II championship.
The loss wraps up the Wildcats' league season at 10-3, second place in Division II of the SHL. Two of the three league losses have occurred in their past two games, as the Wildcats are 15-7 overall.
Winning the championship wasn't easy for the Rockets (11-1, 13-9), as it was Whiteoak who scored first and held the lead through three innings, but one run in the fourth and the aforementioned run in the seventh ended the hopes of the Wildcats to win the league crown.
"(Thursday) was just a good baseball game, unfortunately we just came up short," Whiteoak head coach Chris Veidt said. "Credit Fayetteville, they got the late clutch hits when they needed them."
Entering the bottom of the seventh inning, Whiteoak ace Gage Carraher had already totaled 108 pitches through six innings, and the Rockets worked the count to start the inning with Dion Barber, on a 3-1 count, singling past third base. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by E.J. Aubry.
[[In-content Ad]]Taylor Smucker (1-for-3, one walk) ended the game with a base hit to left field, scoring Barber from second base. Barber finished 1-for-3.
The first run of the game was scored by the Wildcats, as they used early momentum from Michael Smith, who reached first base on a first-pitch bunt single down the third base line. Smith moved to second with a infield out from Zach Docter.
Smith, a senior, scored on a two-out double hit to centerfield by Jesse Bradds.
Fayetteville turned the momentum in their favor in the bottom of the fourth, tying the game at 1-1. Cody Shaw (2-for-2, one walk) opened the walk-off inning with a single to centerfield on a 1-1 count, with Taylor Wood entering the game as a pinch runner.
Wood took second base on an errant pick-off attempt at first, and scored on a base hit to deep centerfield by Stephen Pappas, again on a 1-1 count. Pappas finished 2-for-2 with one walk and one RBI.
Whiteoak's leading hitter was Tyler Williams with a 2-for-3 day at the plate but was left stranded both times. Doc Seip was 1-for-3 and Smith went 1-for-2 as he was also hit by a pitch.
"I knew the guys were ready to play at the start when we came out and scored the first run," Veidt said. "We squandered a couple opportunities leaving runners on the bases, and things worked out well for Fayetteville late.
"This is the time of year where we need to win these type of games, but our guys need to walk out of here with their heads held up high because I've had teams that have won league titles with more losses than we have now."
The game was more about the scoring of runs, as the pitching was on point. Both Fayetteville pitcher Derek Peters and Carraher threw over 100 pitches, keeping the game close with their skills from the mound.
Carraher was charged with his first loss of the season, now standing at 4-1 on the year in five starts. The junior pitched seven innings, allowing two runs (two earned) on six hits and five walks. Carraher continued his streak of 10 or more strikeouts in starts this season, as he finished with 11 strikeouts. In five starts this season, Carraher has totaled 61 strikeouts.
Peters was the winning pitcher for the Rockets, pitching seven innings, while allowing one run (one earned) on five hits and no walks. The ace struck out nine batters and hit one.
"This was a game with two great pitchers battling," Veidt said. "Gage had good stuff. Again, this was a game between two good teams, but sometimes that's that way things go."
Fayetteville is 11-1 in league games, and a win next week against Ripley would give the Rockets the best overall SHL record between the two league divisions, as reigning SHL Division I champion Lynchburg-Clay has two league losses.
Whiteoak has four games remaining in the regular season with a game Tuesday, May 1 vs. Eastern Pike, on Wednesday, May 2 vs. Georgetown and on Saturday, May 5 as they travel for a doubleheader against Portsmouth Notre Dame and Southeastern.
Fayetteville will play again on Saturday as they are scheduled for a non-league doubleheader vs. Blanchester. On Tuesday, the Rockets will host Ripley, and on Wednesday, they will host New Richmond to end the regular season.
BOX SCORE
WHS 100 000 0 — 1 5 2
FHS 000 100 1 — 2 6 0
The loss wraps up the Wildcats' league season at 10-3, second place in Division II of the SHL. Two of the three league losses have occurred in their past two games, as the Wildcats are 15-7 overall.
Winning the championship wasn't easy for the Rockets (11-1, 13-9), as it was Whiteoak who scored first and held the lead through three innings, but one run in the fourth and the aforementioned run in the seventh ended the hopes of the Wildcats to win the league crown.
"(Thursday) was just a good baseball game, unfortunately we just came up short," Whiteoak head coach Chris Veidt said. "Credit Fayetteville, they got the late clutch hits when they needed them."
Entering the bottom of the seventh inning, Whiteoak ace Gage Carraher had already totaled 108 pitches through six innings, and the Rockets worked the count to start the inning with Dion Barber, on a 3-1 count, singling past third base. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by E.J. Aubry.
[[In-content Ad]]Taylor Smucker (1-for-3, one walk) ended the game with a base hit to left field, scoring Barber from second base. Barber finished 1-for-3.
The first run of the game was scored by the Wildcats, as they used early momentum from Michael Smith, who reached first base on a first-pitch bunt single down the third base line. Smith moved to second with a infield out from Zach Docter.
Smith, a senior, scored on a two-out double hit to centerfield by Jesse Bradds.
Fayetteville turned the momentum in their favor in the bottom of the fourth, tying the game at 1-1. Cody Shaw (2-for-2, one walk) opened the walk-off inning with a single to centerfield on a 1-1 count, with Taylor Wood entering the game as a pinch runner.
Wood took second base on an errant pick-off attempt at first, and scored on a base hit to deep centerfield by Stephen Pappas, again on a 1-1 count. Pappas finished 2-for-2 with one walk and one RBI.
Whiteoak's leading hitter was Tyler Williams with a 2-for-3 day at the plate but was left stranded both times. Doc Seip was 1-for-3 and Smith went 1-for-2 as he was also hit by a pitch.
"I knew the guys were ready to play at the start when we came out and scored the first run," Veidt said. "We squandered a couple opportunities leaving runners on the bases, and things worked out well for Fayetteville late.
"This is the time of year where we need to win these type of games, but our guys need to walk out of here with their heads held up high because I've had teams that have won league titles with more losses than we have now."
The game was more about the scoring of runs, as the pitching was on point. Both Fayetteville pitcher Derek Peters and Carraher threw over 100 pitches, keeping the game close with their skills from the mound.
Carraher was charged with his first loss of the season, now standing at 4-1 on the year in five starts. The junior pitched seven innings, allowing two runs (two earned) on six hits and five walks. Carraher continued his streak of 10 or more strikeouts in starts this season, as he finished with 11 strikeouts. In five starts this season, Carraher has totaled 61 strikeouts.
Peters was the winning pitcher for the Rockets, pitching seven innings, while allowing one run (one earned) on five hits and no walks. The ace struck out nine batters and hit one.
"This was a game with two great pitchers battling," Veidt said. "Gage had good stuff. Again, this was a game between two good teams, but sometimes that's that way things go."
Fayetteville is 11-1 in league games, and a win next week against Ripley would give the Rockets the best overall SHL record between the two league divisions, as reigning SHL Division I champion Lynchburg-Clay has two league losses.
Whiteoak has four games remaining in the regular season with a game Tuesday, May 1 vs. Eastern Pike, on Wednesday, May 2 vs. Georgetown and on Saturday, May 5 as they travel for a doubleheader against Portsmouth Notre Dame and Southeastern.
Fayetteville will play again on Saturday as they are scheduled for a non-league doubleheader vs. Blanchester. On Tuesday, the Rockets will host Ripley, and on Wednesday, they will host New Richmond to end the regular season.
BOX SCORE
WHS 100 000 0 — 1 5 2
FHS 000 100 1 — 2 6 0