The Whiteoak Wildcats hosted the Westfall Mustangs on Saturday in a double header. The Wildcats fell by a score of 5-3 in the first game, however, they won the second game by a score of 12-2.
The first game of the double header saw Traeten Hamilton on the mound for the Wildcats. Hamilton came out of the dugout slow allowing the Mustangs to jump out to a 5-1 lead through the first two innings. Starting in the third inning Hamilton reasserted himself and went on to pitch four innings of shutout baseball. Trevor Yeager was moved from second base to the pitchers mound in the seventh pitching one inning in relief and not allowing a run.
Head coach Chris Veidt, reflecting on Hamilton’s day on the mound, said, “Traeten settled down after a rocky first two innings and pitched a solid six against an above average hitting team. Trevor Yeager pitched and impressive seventh.”
On the offensive end of things the Wildcats appeared to be set for a good game when Hamilton led off the game with a single and later scored on a double by Caleb West. But, the Wildcats were unable to capitalize on the hot start and left two runners on base.
The third inning showed more promise for the Wildcats when Chase Butler led off the inning with a walk to advance to first base and then advanced to second base on a balk. Butler went on to be caught stealing third for the second out of the inning. West, and Brandon Lowe singled in consecutive at bats and both went on to score on a single by Casey Nace to bring the score to 5-3.
The Wildcats went on to record four hits in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings before falling in order in the sevent to end the game.
The second game of the day was all Wildcats as they finally found their groove. Ryan Roberts started the game for Whiteoak pitching three and two thirds innings. Roberts allowed two earned runs on three hits, while striking out one batter. Butler relieved Roberts in the fourth inning and pitched two and one third innings of one-hit scoreless baseball to record the win for the Wildcats.
Offensively Whiteoak was in peak form drilling 14 hits total, and scoring 12 runs. Yeager got things going in the first inning on a double and went on to score on a single by West to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.
After a quiet second inning, Hamilton woke up the Wildcats with a huge solo home-run from the lead off spot. Yeager singled and scored in the inning to push the lead to 3-0.
The fourth and fifth innings saw more fireworks from the Wildcats. Whiteoak scored four runs in each inning with Hamilton, Yeager, West, and Roberts scoring in each inning ballooning the lead to 11-2.
The Wildcats scored the final run of the night in the bottom of the sixth inning courtesy of single by West to drive in Hamilton.
Veidt said, “14 hits as a team will win you most games. Hamilton, T. Yeager, West, Lowe, and Brill all with multiple hits. On the day Casey Nace adds four RBI. Casey has a knack for driving in runs, a very valuable quality. Traeten Hamilton’s solo shot over the LF fence leading off the third perhaps most impressive knock of the 14. Ryan Roberts gave us a solid three innings and the Chase Butler continues to impress on the mound with two and one third innings of scoreless relief for the win.”
West was spectacular for Whiteoak in both games going a combined seven of eight and recording four RBI.
The Wildcats will be in district tournament action on Tuesday against the cross-county and league rival Lions of Fairfield.
Reach Ryan Applegate at 937-402-2572, or Twitter @RCApplegate89.
