Whiteoak baseball ranked 2nd in state coaches poll
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
MOWRYSTOWN — The Whiteoak Wildcats are back in the Division IV state spotlight by being voted the No. 2 team in the division in the first Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association state poll of the season.
Whiteoak has built a perfect 14-0 overall record thus far through their first 14 games, and within that they have a 9-0 record in the Southern Hills Athletic Conference. In the coaches’ vote this week, the Wildcats received nine first-place votes, five second-place votes, one third-place vote, four fourth-place votes and five fifth-place votes for a total of 208 points. Toronto is the top-ranked team in Division IV with 230 points, receiving 14 first-place votes.
The rest of the Division IV Top 10 (3-10) includes: Lincolnview (195), Lake Ridge Academy (158), St. Henry (113), Minster (107), Seneca East (103), Carey (94), Lima Central Catholic (65) and St. Paul (55).
Rounding out the second half of the state poll (11-20) are: Clay (54), New Bremen (41), Hicksville (26), Mississinawa Valley (23), Newton Local (20), Berne Union (12), Western Reserve (10), Fort Loramie (6), Trinity (6) and Fisher Catholic (4). Also receiving votes are Grove City Christian (3), Conotton Valley (3), Green (2) and Kalida (2).
This season for the Wildcats is one that has had high expectations from the very beginning. The ’Cats haven’t disappointed with not only having 14 wins, but also the way they’ve played games this season, especially with their plate presence with two outs.
Thus far in 2018, Caleb West leads the Wildcats in batting with a .450 batting average, a .775 slugging percentage and he has an on-base percentage of .556 in 14 games (40 at-bats). West has collected 25 runs, 18 hits (six doubles, two triples, one home run) and nine walks. West has struck out just once on the season and has also collected 12 stolen bases and 21 RBI.
Evan Brill and Mason Lehr are also batting leaders for WHS with Brill batting .441 with a .588 slg. percentage and .553 OBP in 13 games. Lehr in 14 games is batting .400 with a .500 slg. and .528 OBP. Batting .300 or better this season for the Wildcats are Trever Yeager (.311), Ryan Roberts (.333) and Chase Carraher (.354).
Brill leads the Wildcats in pitching with a 0.27 ERA in 26 innings pitched. Brill is 4-0 in four starts with just two runs allowed (one earned), while leading WHS with 36 strikeouts.
Traeten Hamilton this season is 4-0 on the mound, pitching 20 innings with a 1.40 ERA with 29 strikeouts. Chase Butler is also 4-0 on the season in 31.2 innings pitched. He has an ERA of 3.09 with eight strikeouts in five games. The Wildcats have had eight pitchers on the mound for them through the first 14 games, and none of their pitchers have allowed an extra-base hit.
In terms of their overall production this season, Whiteoak has outscored their opponents 141-38 at the plate, including four shutouts and four games where they held the opposition to one run. Within the SHAC games played, the Wildcats have outscored their conference counterparts, 86-15 with two shutouts and four games of keeping the opponent at one run.
In non-conference action — five games — Whiteoak has outscored opponents, 55-23 by defeating Paint Valley, East Clinton in a doubleheader, Hillsboro in extra innings and Georgetown. Two of the non-conference wins by Whiteoak have come via shutout.
Whiteoak has built a perfect 14-0 overall record thus far through their first 14 games, and within that they have a 9-0 record in the Southern Hills Athletic Conference. In the coaches’ vote this week, the Wildcats received nine first-place votes, five second-place votes, one third-place vote, four fourth-place votes and five fifth-place votes for a total of 208 points. Toronto is the top-ranked team in Division IV with 230 points, receiving 14 first-place votes.
The rest of the Division IV Top 10 (3-10) includes: Lincolnview (195), Lake Ridge Academy (158), St. Henry (113), Minster (107), Seneca East (103), Carey (94), Lima Central Catholic (65) and St. Paul (55).
Rounding out the second half of the state poll (11-20) are: Clay (54), New Bremen (41), Hicksville (26), Mississinawa Valley (23), Newton Local (20), Berne Union (12), Western Reserve (10), Fort Loramie (6), Trinity (6) and Fisher Catholic (4). Also receiving votes are Grove City Christian (3), Conotton Valley (3), Green (2) and Kalida (2).
This season for the Wildcats is one that has had high expectations from the very beginning. The ’Cats haven’t disappointed with not only having 14 wins, but also the way they’ve played games this season, especially with their plate presence with two outs.
Thus far in 2018, Caleb West leads the Wildcats in batting with a .450 batting average, a .775 slugging percentage and he has an on-base percentage of .556 in 14 games (40 at-bats). West has collected 25 runs, 18 hits (six doubles, two triples, one home run) and nine walks. West has struck out just once on the season and has also collected 12 stolen bases and 21 RBI.
Evan Brill and Mason Lehr are also batting leaders for WHS with Brill batting .441 with a .588 slg. percentage and .553 OBP in 13 games. Lehr in 14 games is batting .400 with a .500 slg. and .528 OBP. Batting .300 or better this season for the Wildcats are Trever Yeager (.311), Ryan Roberts (.333) and Chase Carraher (.354).
Brill leads the Wildcats in pitching with a 0.27 ERA in 26 innings pitched. Brill is 4-0 in four starts with just two runs allowed (one earned), while leading WHS with 36 strikeouts.
Traeten Hamilton this season is 4-0 on the mound, pitching 20 innings with a 1.40 ERA with 29 strikeouts. Chase Butler is also 4-0 on the season in 31.2 innings pitched. He has an ERA of 3.09 with eight strikeouts in five games. The Wildcats have had eight pitchers on the mound for them through the first 14 games, and none of their pitchers have allowed an extra-base hit.
In terms of their overall production this season, Whiteoak has outscored their opponents 141-38 at the plate, including four shutouts and four games where they held the opposition to one run. Within the SHAC games played, the Wildcats have outscored their conference counterparts, 86-15 with two shutouts and four games of keeping the opponent at one run.
In non-conference action — five games — Whiteoak has outscored opponents, 55-23 by defeating Paint Valley, East Clinton in a doubleheader, Hillsboro in extra innings and Georgetown. Two of the non-conference wins by Whiteoak have come via shutout.