The Whitney High School varsity baseball team advanced to the University Interscholastic League Regional Semifinals after beating Fairfield in a best-of-three game series played Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 8, 9 and 10, in Ennis.
The Wildcats lost 6-4 in game one Thursday. Kobe Haynes started the game off with a homer over the left field fence. The Wildcat offense finished off the opening inning scoring two more runs to make the score 3-0 Whitney.
Mason Pelham got the start on the mound for the Wildcats and sat the Fairfield bats down one, two, three with two plays at first and a strikeout by Pelham.
Whitney added a run in the top of the second to make it 4-0. Fairfield got on the board with a play at home plate to make the score 4-1.
The top of the third inning was short for the ‘Cats as Fairfield generated three quick outs. Fairfield come out hot in the bottom of the inning plating four runs to take the lead.
As hot as the Wildcats were on offense to start the game, the bats seemed to cool off for the rest of the evening. Fairfield added an insurance run to make it 6-4, and Whitney would have to win two in a row to advance.
“We came out and jumped on them like we wanted to, and Fairfield was resilient,” said Head Coach David Sheppard. “I told our team that there’s no panic over here and they still have to beat our two best arms.”
Whitney came roaring back in game two to win 6-2. Cooper Haygood scored two runs on a homer that put the ‘Cats up early. Haynes put one over the fence for a second straight game that scored two runs.
On the mound, Haygood brought it home for Whitney. The pitcher went seven innings, allowed no earned runs, struck out seven and walked none. The win set up a deciding game three that was played Saturday afternoon.
Whitney claimed the area championship by a score of 10-0. The Wildcats scored two runs in the first, one in the sixth and seven in the seventh inning.
Anderson Franklin and Cade Haygood led the team in RBIs in game three with three each. Mason Seely was two-of-four at the plate and two RBIs.
Whitney (14-9) will face Orangefield (25-6) in the Regional Semifinals. The series begins Thursday, May 15, at 7 p.m. at Rusk High School.
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