Wildcats share DH with Northwest
Lead Summary
By
The Highland County Press-
Another weekend for the Whiteoak Wildcats saw them gain yet another victory on Saturday as they split an away doubleheader with Northwest High School.
WHS won game one of the two played by defeating NW 12-4 behind 14 hits and the pitching of Justin Emery. Game two saw the Wildcats fall by a 5-4 score.
The two games put the Wildcats' record at 5-2 overall with NW standing at 4-4.
In the first game, WHS saw Justin Emery gain the win. Emery (2-0) pitched five innings, allowing three runs (none earned) on four hits and four walks. The junior struck out four.
Blake Trueblood pitched the final two innings of relief as he allowed one earned run on two hits and three walks.
"Justin had another quality start," WHS head coach Chris Veidt said. "It's been nice to watch him improve each time he takes the mound."
Leading WHS at the plate was Luke Taggert at 3-for-5 with one double. He also added two runs and two RBIs.
Every starter in the Wildcat lineup earned at least one hit as they scored eight runs with two outs in the fifth inning.
"Luke Taggert and Nick Wardlow were very productive offensively," Veidt said. "We hit very well with two strikes."
Zach Docter, Tyler Williams and Nick Wardlow each collected two hits. Docter was 2-for-4 with one run, Williams finished 2-for-3 with two runs and one RBI and Wardlow was 2-for-3 with one run and two RBIs.
For the first game, the Wildcats totaled nine RBIs.
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Gage Carraher tallied a double, two runs and one RBI, while Jesse Bradds, Kyle Marler, Emery and Tyler Roberts each had one hit with Carraher hitting a double, scoring two runs and tallying one RBI. Marler and Roberts each had one run and one RBI, while Emery scored twice with one RBI.
In game two, WHS scored one run in the third, two in the fifth and one in the seventh but came up one run short in the 5-4 loss. The home team added one run in both the second and third innings, along with a two-run fifth and one-run sixth.
The Wildcats ended the game with the bases loaded, as they were loaded with two outs.
"We had a nice at-bat and hit a ball to their shortstop, who made a nice play to get force at second to end the game," Viedt said. "It's nice to play non-league games that are so close and filled with situations both offensively and defensively where you have to execute.
"Overall for the doubleheader, I was pleased with the way our less experienced pitchers continue to improve and the way we swung the bats, especially with two outs and two strikes. Our pitch selection isn't where it needs to be just yet, but you can see it coming around."
Carraher led WHS at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a double, one run and one RBI.
Williams followed at 2-for-4 with one RBI. Docter, Marler and Emery each collected one base hit, with Marler tallying an RBI and Docter scoring a run.
The loss went to Docter (0-2) as he pitched two innings of relief. Docter allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits and no walks. He struck out three.
Williams, who started the second game, pitched four innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits and seven walks and adding two strikeouts. It was Williams' first varsity pitching start.
"Once Tyler got through the first two innings and the butterflies left, he was impressive," Veidt said. "He will only continue to improve as he throws more strikes."
WHS will play again on Tuesday as they travel to face West Union in a Southern Hills Athletic Conference matchup at 5 p.m.
WHS won game one of the two played by defeating NW 12-4 behind 14 hits and the pitching of Justin Emery. Game two saw the Wildcats fall by a 5-4 score.
The two games put the Wildcats' record at 5-2 overall with NW standing at 4-4.
In the first game, WHS saw Justin Emery gain the win. Emery (2-0) pitched five innings, allowing three runs (none earned) on four hits and four walks. The junior struck out four.
Blake Trueblood pitched the final two innings of relief as he allowed one earned run on two hits and three walks.
"Justin had another quality start," WHS head coach Chris Veidt said. "It's been nice to watch him improve each time he takes the mound."
Leading WHS at the plate was Luke Taggert at 3-for-5 with one double. He also added two runs and two RBIs.
Every starter in the Wildcat lineup earned at least one hit as they scored eight runs with two outs in the fifth inning.
"Luke Taggert and Nick Wardlow were very productive offensively," Veidt said. "We hit very well with two strikes."
Zach Docter, Tyler Williams and Nick Wardlow each collected two hits. Docter was 2-for-4 with one run, Williams finished 2-for-3 with two runs and one RBI and Wardlow was 2-for-3 with one run and two RBIs.
For the first game, the Wildcats totaled nine RBIs.
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Gage Carraher tallied a double, two runs and one RBI, while Jesse Bradds, Kyle Marler, Emery and Tyler Roberts each had one hit with Carraher hitting a double, scoring two runs and tallying one RBI. Marler and Roberts each had one run and one RBI, while Emery scored twice with one RBI.
In game two, WHS scored one run in the third, two in the fifth and one in the seventh but came up one run short in the 5-4 loss. The home team added one run in both the second and third innings, along with a two-run fifth and one-run sixth.
The Wildcats ended the game with the bases loaded, as they were loaded with two outs.
"We had a nice at-bat and hit a ball to their shortstop, who made a nice play to get force at second to end the game," Viedt said. "It's nice to play non-league games that are so close and filled with situations both offensively and defensively where you have to execute.
"Overall for the doubleheader, I was pleased with the way our less experienced pitchers continue to improve and the way we swung the bats, especially with two outs and two strikes. Our pitch selection isn't where it needs to be just yet, but you can see it coming around."
Carraher led WHS at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a double, one run and one RBI.
Williams followed at 2-for-4 with one RBI. Docter, Marler and Emery each collected one base hit, with Marler tallying an RBI and Docter scoring a run.
The loss went to Docter (0-2) as he pitched two innings of relief. Docter allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits and no walks. He struck out three.
Williams, who started the second game, pitched four innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits and seven walks and adding two strikeouts. It was Williams' first varsity pitching start.
"Once Tyler got through the first two innings and the butterflies left, he was impressive," Veidt said. "He will only continue to improve as he throws more strikes."
WHS will play again on Tuesday as they travel to face West Union in a Southern Hills Athletic Conference matchup at 5 p.m.