Saints march past Wildcats in regional semifinals
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
LANCASTER — Some days just aren't as good as the others, and the one bad day finally snuck up on the Whiteoak Wildcats this postseason.
As the final team remaining in the postseason from Highland County, the Wildcats saw the final chapter to their stellar season close.
The Wildcats were unable to show any positive consistency Thursday, falling by a 5-1 score to the Tuscarawas Central Catholic Saints, in the Division IV Regional semifinals.
"I liked our mentality before the game because they knew they belonged here," WHS head coach Chris Veidt said. "We didn't give (TCC) anything, they earned it.
"We competed, and our kids were aggressive. I'd rather see our kids aggressive than passive, but we just got beat."
[[In-content Ad]]Though the Wildcats were eliminated from the postseason, they finish the year ranked No. 9 in the state of all Division IV schools. They tied the school record for wins in a season, went undefeated in Southern Hills Athletic Conference play at 13-0, won a sectional title and for the first time in school history were crowned district champions.
WHS finishes with a postseason record of 3-1, defeating Glenwood New Boston, Trimble and Portsmouth Notre Dame.
The game played at Beavers Field had a bit of drama in the first inning. TCC (23-6) took a one-run lead with a run scored by Andrew Cugliari off a two-out base hit by Alex Lawless.
WHS tied the game in the top of the second with a one-out home run to left field by Tyler Williams, on a 3-1 count, for the 1-1 score.
That would be the only run for the Wildcats, as their two-out rally magic just didn't surface on the sunny 93-degree day.
No. 5 state-ranked TCC responded in their half of the second with a run by Carson Haney, scoring from third base on a fielder's choice hit into by Cugliari.
A two-out rally occurred in the sixth for TCC.
The Saints marched in three more runs in the bottom of the sixth for the four-run advantage, with Michael Lawless, Dan Fuller and Max Fragasse all rounding the bases.
Fuller and Fragasse both scored on a triple (off a 1-2 count) by Lawless. Lawless scored on a double by Cugliari (2-for-3) with all three runs scoring with two outs.
Fuller reached first on a full-count walk, and Fragasse took first base on a fielder's choice.
"I try to pick out the keys of this game, and one that sticks out is their (TCC) entire batting order was patient and had a plan," Veidt said. "They had a good approach.
"I really felt in the first couple innings after the double by Zach (Docter) and the home run by Tyler (Williams), we would put some runs on the board, but it didn't happen. We had our opportunities, but didn't score. Usually, we are the team to beat when we have two outs on us, but not today."
WHS left four runners stranded on the bases.
Gage Carraher was charged with the loss for the Wildcats, ending a four-year run for the senior that included multiple school records and postseason accolades.
Carraher, who threw over 100 pitches, allowed five runs (all earned) in six innings, on four hits and five walks, striking out eight. Entering the game, Carraher had allowed just three runs (three earned) all season.
He ends the year with a mark of 8-1, including a season ERA of 1.02 in 54.2 innings pitched.
For his four-year career, Carraher collected 345 strikeouts, with season totals of 78, 77, 103 and this season finishing with 87. His career ERA is 1.53 in 218 innings pitched.
Cade Cummings was the winning pitcher for TCC. Cummings allowed one earned run on four hits and one walk, collecting 11 strikeouts.
Two of the four hits by WHS were for extra bases, with Docter hitting a first-inning double and the aforementioned home run by Williams. Carraher led WHS at the plate, going 2-for-3.
Seniors playing in their final game for the Wildcats were Gage Carraher, Zach Docter, Luke Taggert, Jesse Bradds, Blake Trueblood, Tyler Roberts and Michael Snyder.
"We talk about the core four (Carraher, Taggert, Bradds, Docter) and what they've meant to the program as four-year starters, but the three we added this season have also meant a lot to the program," Veidt said. "All of them are good kids, and their families have been really supportive.
"My hope is the younger kids have learned from this group of seniors. They are great leaders, and they practiced hard. All I can say to them after this loss is we love them and it's time to start a new chapter in their life. This is a tough one to close the book on."
As the final team remaining in the postseason from Highland County, the Wildcats saw the final chapter to their stellar season close.
The Wildcats were unable to show any positive consistency Thursday, falling by a 5-1 score to the Tuscarawas Central Catholic Saints, in the Division IV Regional semifinals.
"I liked our mentality before the game because they knew they belonged here," WHS head coach Chris Veidt said. "We didn't give (TCC) anything, they earned it.
"We competed, and our kids were aggressive. I'd rather see our kids aggressive than passive, but we just got beat."
[[In-content Ad]]Though the Wildcats were eliminated from the postseason, they finish the year ranked No. 9 in the state of all Division IV schools. They tied the school record for wins in a season, went undefeated in Southern Hills Athletic Conference play at 13-0, won a sectional title and for the first time in school history were crowned district champions.
WHS finishes with a postseason record of 3-1, defeating Glenwood New Boston, Trimble and Portsmouth Notre Dame.
The game played at Beavers Field had a bit of drama in the first inning. TCC (23-6) took a one-run lead with a run scored by Andrew Cugliari off a two-out base hit by Alex Lawless.
WHS tied the game in the top of the second with a one-out home run to left field by Tyler Williams, on a 3-1 count, for the 1-1 score.
That would be the only run for the Wildcats, as their two-out rally magic just didn't surface on the sunny 93-degree day.
No. 5 state-ranked TCC responded in their half of the second with a run by Carson Haney, scoring from third base on a fielder's choice hit into by Cugliari.
A two-out rally occurred in the sixth for TCC.
The Saints marched in three more runs in the bottom of the sixth for the four-run advantage, with Michael Lawless, Dan Fuller and Max Fragasse all rounding the bases.
Fuller and Fragasse both scored on a triple (off a 1-2 count) by Lawless. Lawless scored on a double by Cugliari (2-for-3) with all three runs scoring with two outs.
Fuller reached first on a full-count walk, and Fragasse took first base on a fielder's choice.
"I try to pick out the keys of this game, and one that sticks out is their (TCC) entire batting order was patient and had a plan," Veidt said. "They had a good approach.
"I really felt in the first couple innings after the double by Zach (Docter) and the home run by Tyler (Williams), we would put some runs on the board, but it didn't happen. We had our opportunities, but didn't score. Usually, we are the team to beat when we have two outs on us, but not today."
WHS left four runners stranded on the bases.
Gage Carraher was charged with the loss for the Wildcats, ending a four-year run for the senior that included multiple school records and postseason accolades.
Carraher, who threw over 100 pitches, allowed five runs (all earned) in six innings, on four hits and five walks, striking out eight. Entering the game, Carraher had allowed just three runs (three earned) all season.
He ends the year with a mark of 8-1, including a season ERA of 1.02 in 54.2 innings pitched.
For his four-year career, Carraher collected 345 strikeouts, with season totals of 78, 77, 103 and this season finishing with 87. His career ERA is 1.53 in 218 innings pitched.
Cade Cummings was the winning pitcher for TCC. Cummings allowed one earned run on four hits and one walk, collecting 11 strikeouts.
Two of the four hits by WHS were for extra bases, with Docter hitting a first-inning double and the aforementioned home run by Williams. Carraher led WHS at the plate, going 2-for-3.
Seniors playing in their final game for the Wildcats were Gage Carraher, Zach Docter, Luke Taggert, Jesse Bradds, Blake Trueblood, Tyler Roberts and Michael Snyder.
"We talk about the core four (Carraher, Taggert, Bradds, Docter) and what they've meant to the program as four-year starters, but the three we added this season have also meant a lot to the program," Veidt said. "All of them are good kids, and their families have been really supportive.
"My hope is the younger kids have learned from this group of seniors. They are great leaders, and they practiced hard. All I can say to them after this loss is we love them and it's time to start a new chapter in their life. This is a tough one to close the book on."