Wildcats fall to Peebles by one run
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
MOWRYSTOWN — One wild pitch, a walk, a base hit and a big double play was what it took for the Peebles Indians to defeat the Whiteoak Wildcats 2-1, Friday night at Whiteoak High School.
Though both teams played an overall quality game, it was the Indians who took advantage of various miscues by the Wildcats, who were the away team on their own home field, to gain the Southern Hills League victory.
Even another one-hitter by sophomore Gage Carraher wasn't enough for the Wildcats to gain their fourth win of the week.
Carraher was charged with the loss on the mound, as he didn't allow a hit until the fifth inning, which came with two outs, and proved to be the game-winning RBI swing. Friday was the third one-hitter by Carraher this season, all resulting in losses. Against PHS, he threw 104 pitches, struck out 12 and walked five, while allowing two runs, both earned.
"Gage deserved a much better fate," WHS head coach Chris Veidt said. "The one hit that Peebles got was a clutch hit."
The Wildcats (10-9) were first to score in the top of the third inning when Luke Taggert hit a ground ball to the second baseman to bring home Michael Carraher from third for the only WHS run. Carraher led off the inning with walk and took second on a single, through the gap at second base and short, hit by Ryan Emery.
Peebles pressured the Wildcats in the bottom of the fourth, tying the score at one.
In the fourth, Andy Countryman forced a one-out walk, eventually scoring on a wild pitch as he sprinted down the third base line for the game-tying run.
Whiteoak staged a rally in the top of the fifth with David Deer beginning the inning with a hard-hit single to centerfield. With one out, Emery and Taggert were hit by a pitch on consecutive trips to the plate, loading the bases.
Peebles pitcher Brandon Leedy worked out of the jam, with help from his defense, as the Indians caught the Wildcats off-guard with a 9-4-5 double play to end the inning.
"That was the play of the game for us," Peebles head coach Judd Johnson said. "Our guys just took advantage of their mistake, and we just made a good play."
Peebles took the lead for the first and last time in the bottom of the fifth, starting when Jonathan Pryor forced a one-out walk. After another out was recorded by a Gage Carraher strikeout, his second of the inning, Leedy helped his own cause with a base hit past a diving shortstop, scoring Pryor for what turned out to be the game-winning run.
The Wildcats had opportunities to score runs, but out of six runners who reached third base on Friday, only one crossed home plate.
"What we failed at today was the fact we left too many runners at third base with less than two outs. We had no contact with runners on third, and that hurts.
"Defensively, we were solid, but when you have no contact with runners on base, that's a credit to Peebles, and hats off to them. Leedy pitched excellent against us."
Leedy was the winning pitcher, throwing six innings. Leedy threw 103 pitches, striking out five and walking three while allowing four hits and one earned run. Leedy hit two batters.
Freshman Brady Johnson pitched the final inning for the Indians, earning the save. He struck out one and allowed no hits retiring three straight batters.
Michael Smith also had a bunt single for the Wildcats in the sixth inning with one out.
Jesse Bradds walked in the second, as the Wildcats left two runners on base that inning.
WHS ends the week with three wins and one loss. They now stand at 10-9 overall and are 4-8 in the SHL.
"If you would have asked me if we could finish this week with three wins, I'd say 'heck yes, I'll take it,' but it would have been nice to get this win," Veidt said. "The double play in the fifth was a killer, but mistakes happen. It was something to learn from, and a lesson was learned."
The win lifts the Indians, who hadn't played in almost two weeks, to 5-3 overall and 5-2 in the SHL.
WHS has a busy week starting on Saturday, as they have a doubleheader scheduled against Portsmouth Notre Dame at WHS. On Monday, the Wildcats will play Eastern Brown in a non-league game, and on Thursday, they will play Manchester in their sectional tournament game, also at WHS at 5 p.m.
"We have really turned the corner this week, and this was a good week for us to do that," Veidt said.
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Though both teams played an overall quality game, it was the Indians who took advantage of various miscues by the Wildcats, who were the away team on their own home field, to gain the Southern Hills League victory.
Even another one-hitter by sophomore Gage Carraher wasn't enough for the Wildcats to gain their fourth win of the week.
Carraher was charged with the loss on the mound, as he didn't allow a hit until the fifth inning, which came with two outs, and proved to be the game-winning RBI swing. Friday was the third one-hitter by Carraher this season, all resulting in losses. Against PHS, he threw 104 pitches, struck out 12 and walked five, while allowing two runs, both earned.
"Gage deserved a much better fate," WHS head coach Chris Veidt said. "The one hit that Peebles got was a clutch hit."
The Wildcats (10-9) were first to score in the top of the third inning when Luke Taggert hit a ground ball to the second baseman to bring home Michael Carraher from third for the only WHS run. Carraher led off the inning with walk and took second on a single, through the gap at second base and short, hit by Ryan Emery.
Peebles pressured the Wildcats in the bottom of the fourth, tying the score at one.
In the fourth, Andy Countryman forced a one-out walk, eventually scoring on a wild pitch as he sprinted down the third base line for the game-tying run.
Whiteoak staged a rally in the top of the fifth with David Deer beginning the inning with a hard-hit single to centerfield. With one out, Emery and Taggert were hit by a pitch on consecutive trips to the plate, loading the bases.
Peebles pitcher Brandon Leedy worked out of the jam, with help from his defense, as the Indians caught the Wildcats off-guard with a 9-4-5 double play to end the inning.
"That was the play of the game for us," Peebles head coach Judd Johnson said. "Our guys just took advantage of their mistake, and we just made a good play."
Peebles took the lead for the first and last time in the bottom of the fifth, starting when Jonathan Pryor forced a one-out walk. After another out was recorded by a Gage Carraher strikeout, his second of the inning, Leedy helped his own cause with a base hit past a diving shortstop, scoring Pryor for what turned out to be the game-winning run.
The Wildcats had opportunities to score runs, but out of six runners who reached third base on Friday, only one crossed home plate.
"What we failed at today was the fact we left too many runners at third base with less than two outs. We had no contact with runners on third, and that hurts.
"Defensively, we were solid, but when you have no contact with runners on base, that's a credit to Peebles, and hats off to them. Leedy pitched excellent against us."
Leedy was the winning pitcher, throwing six innings. Leedy threw 103 pitches, striking out five and walking three while allowing four hits and one earned run. Leedy hit two batters.
Freshman Brady Johnson pitched the final inning for the Indians, earning the save. He struck out one and allowed no hits retiring three straight batters.
Michael Smith also had a bunt single for the Wildcats in the sixth inning with one out.
Jesse Bradds walked in the second, as the Wildcats left two runners on base that inning.
WHS ends the week with three wins and one loss. They now stand at 10-9 overall and are 4-8 in the SHL.
"If you would have asked me if we could finish this week with three wins, I'd say 'heck yes, I'll take it,' but it would have been nice to get this win," Veidt said. "The double play in the fifth was a killer, but mistakes happen. It was something to learn from, and a lesson was learned."
The win lifts the Indians, who hadn't played in almost two weeks, to 5-3 overall and 5-2 in the SHL.
WHS has a busy week starting on Saturday, as they have a doubleheader scheduled against Portsmouth Notre Dame at WHS. On Monday, the Wildcats will play Eastern Brown in a non-league game, and on Thursday, they will play Manchester in their sectional tournament game, also at WHS at 5 p.m.
"We have really turned the corner this week, and this was a good week for us to do that," Veidt said.
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