The Whitney varsity baseball team earned its fourth consecutive bi-district championship after winning in a best-of-three game series two games to one against the Mildred High School Eagles last week.
Whitney took game one, beating the Eagles 2-0 in Whitney Thursday, May 2.
With the bases loaded in the first inning, the Whitney dugout almost went quiet, but a voice from the team broke the silence with “Don’t get quiet now,” and the players felt the message. The Wildcats got loud and got out of the inning unscathed with no runners making it home. Both teams would manage to load the bases in the first inning. The game still remained scoreless until the bottom of the fourth inning.
Pitcher Mason Seely found his rhythm on the mound for the Wildcats as the junior pitcher found ways to retire batters and keep his team in the game.
Cooper Haygood led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a double base hit to left center.
A sacrifice bunt ended up not being a sacrifice at all, and the Wildcats had runners at the corners with no outs. Another bunt scored Cooper Haygood to make it 1-0. A sacrifice fly to right field put a runner at third with one out. The inning would end with a strikeout, but damage was done and Whitney took a one-run lead.
The Wildcat defense held up in the top of the fifth inning, throwing two runners out at first, and Seely striking out a third.
In the bottom of the inning, Seely reached first base. A sacrifice bunt moved him to second. The Eagles walked Anderson Franklin, and the Wildcats had runners at first and second. Haygood put a ball on the ground to the third baseman. The out was made at second, and the Wildcats had runners at the corners with two outs. Haygood stole second as Mildred proceeded to walk another.
With bases loaded and two outs, the Wildcats got a rip from Cade Haygood on an RBI single that got past the third baseman and the score was 2-0 Whitney. The Wildcats would ground out to end the inning to go to the top of the sixth.
Seely hit some turbulence to start the inning. After walking the lead-off batter, the senior pitcher plunked the second. Another walk loaded the bases as the Wildcats put a pitcher in the bullpen. With one out and the bases loaded, the Wildcats went to freshman Jacob Lessman on the hill. A pop fly put the second out on the board, and no runs crossed the plate. With two balls and two strikes, Lessmen sat the batter down swinging.
In the top of the seventh inning, Mildred led off with a base hit to center field. Lessmen remained calm and struck out the next batter. An attempted pickoff at first got past the first baseman, advancing the runner to second. A ground out advanced the runner to third. With two outs, the tying run was at the plate. Lessmen brought the count full and then walked the runner.
With runners at the corners and two outs, Lessmen delivered a pitch that was hit to the third baseman and the out was made at second, giving the ‘Cats a victory.
Seely pitched five and a third innings with 13 strikeouts. Lessman delivered two strikeouts in one and two-thirds innings pitched. Cooper Haygood was two-of-three at the plate with a double. Cade Haygood was two-of-three from the batter’s box with an RBI.
The Wildcats dropped game two to Mildred with a 2-1 loss in Axtell Friday, May 3. The loss set the stage for a game three back in Whitney.
The Wildcats went back to the freshman on the hill for the deciding game three. Lessman took the nod in stride, and Whitney powered past the Eagles 6-1 Saturday, May 4.
Many local residents often ask, “What was that loud boom in Whitney?” and the answer Saturday afternoon was the Wildcats’ bats.
The ‘Cats took an early lead when Lessman used his bat to score a two-run double.
In the fifth inning, Franklin ripped a hit down the third-base line that scored on an RBI-double that made it 3-1 Whitney. Cooper Haygood followed with an RBI-triple over the center fielder’s head. Dalton Negel added to the total on an RBI-single.
Lessman pitched a complete seven innings, gave up seven hits, one run, struck out three and walked none.
The Wildcats (14-16) will face Troy (27-2) in the area round this week. Game one will be played Thursday at 7 p.m. in Whitney, with game two to follow at 7 p.m. Friday in Troy. If needed, game three will be played Saturday.
The Lakelander 