Top-ranked Whiteoak Wildcats win 23rd game, defeating Piketon, 10-1
Lead Summary

By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
MOWRYSTOWN – On a rainy Saturday afternoon in Mowrystown, Mason Lehr fueled the Whiteoak Wildcats’ 10-1 non-conference win over the Piketon Redstreaks.
Lehr pitched a complete-game victory and delivered a pair of three-run homers for Coach Chris Veidt’s No. 1-ranked Wildcats.
The game was played throughout a steady rain, and after the Redstreaks batted in the top of the fifth inning, umpires Jeff Burns and Matt Carson met with Veidt and Piketon Coach Gene Bumgardner. The game was called, and the second game of a scheduled doubleheader was canceled.
Whiteoak (23-1 overall, 13-0 in the SHAC) is ranked No. 1 in Division IV in the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association (OHSBCA) State Poll.
In addition to Lehr’s two home runs, Whiteoak scored its first run in the first inning after Traeten Hamilton hit his first of three doubles on the day and scored on a sacrifice fly by Caleb West. Lehr then cleared the bases with his first homer of the game for a 4-0 Whiteoak lead.
The Wildcats increased the margin to 5-0 on a pair of second-inning doubles, as Ryan Roberts doubled and scored on Hamilton’s second double in as many innings. Hamilton was thrown out at third when he tried to stretch it into a triple.
Piketon reached Lehr for its only run in the top of the third. Scott Lightle singled and moved to third on a double by Koleton Penwell. Coleton Blakeman drove in Lightle with a sacrifice fly.
Whiteoak answered in the home half of the third. West scored on a hit by Evan Brill. Chase Butler knocked in another run with a sacrifice fly to make it 7-1 after three innings.
Lehr’s second homer of the day put the game out of reach after four innings.
Whiteoak begins Div. IV tournament play at home Tuesday, May 8.
• For a Highland County Press feature on the 2018 Wildcats, see Sports Editor Stephen Forsha’s story at: http://www.highlandcountypress.com/Content/Default/Rotator-Articles-/Article/No-1-state-ranked-Wildcats-understand-the-process-/-3/546/44199.
Lehr pitched a complete-game victory and delivered a pair of three-run homers for Coach Chris Veidt’s No. 1-ranked Wildcats.
The game was played throughout a steady rain, and after the Redstreaks batted in the top of the fifth inning, umpires Jeff Burns and Matt Carson met with Veidt and Piketon Coach Gene Bumgardner. The game was called, and the second game of a scheduled doubleheader was canceled.
Whiteoak (23-1 overall, 13-0 in the SHAC) is ranked No. 1 in Division IV in the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association (OHSBCA) State Poll.
In addition to Lehr’s two home runs, Whiteoak scored its first run in the first inning after Traeten Hamilton hit his first of three doubles on the day and scored on a sacrifice fly by Caleb West. Lehr then cleared the bases with his first homer of the game for a 4-0 Whiteoak lead.
The Wildcats increased the margin to 5-0 on a pair of second-inning doubles, as Ryan Roberts doubled and scored on Hamilton’s second double in as many innings. Hamilton was thrown out at third when he tried to stretch it into a triple.
Piketon reached Lehr for its only run in the top of the third. Scott Lightle singled and moved to third on a double by Koleton Penwell. Coleton Blakeman drove in Lightle with a sacrifice fly.
Whiteoak answered in the home half of the third. West scored on a hit by Evan Brill. Chase Butler knocked in another run with a sacrifice fly to make it 7-1 after three innings.
Lehr’s second homer of the day put the game out of reach after four innings.
Whiteoak begins Div. IV tournament play at home Tuesday, May 8.
• For a Highland County Press feature on the 2018 Wildcats, see Sports Editor Stephen Forsha’s story at: http://www.highlandcountypress.com/Content/Default/Rotator-Articles-/Article/No-1-state-ranked-Wildcats-understand-the-process-/-3/546/44199.