Brock Netter, Staff Writer
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
CHILLICOTHE — Whiteoak started Monday’s district championship game with very little energy. But by the time the end of the night rolled around, the Wildcats were energetically celebrating a victory.
CREDIT: Brock Netter/SOSA
The Wildcats (21-9) chipped away at a deficit and scored seven unanswered runs to win a Division IV district championship by a 7-3 final over South Webster at VA Memorial Stadium.
South Webster (13-12) wasted no time getting early run support. After a leadoff double from Connor Bender, Riley Cook ripped an RBI single for a 1-0 lead. Then Robert Martin took the next at-bat and launched an RBI double to right field, pushing the lead to 2-0.
Lower added to his cause in the top of the third as he lined an RBI double into shallow left field, extending the Jeeps’ lead to 3-0.
However, the Wildcats began to slowly battle back in the bottom half of the frame and seized momentum.
Carson Emery notched a sacrifice fly, and two batters later, Ian Griffith ripped an RBI single that cut the deficit to 3-2. Two innings later, Emery came up again with runners on second and third, and registered a two-run single to put the Wildcats ahead 4-3.
That trend continued on as Nate Price laced an RBI double to shallow right field before a South Webster throwing error allowed another run to score, pushing the tally to 6-3.
Whiteoak added an insurance run in the sixth by scoring on a passed ball, and that was all the Wildcats needed before they recorded the final three outs to advance.
Whiteoak’s Sweet 16 opponent will be determined on Wednesday. The Wildcats’ regional semifinal matchup will be played at 2 p.m. on June 2 at Lancaster’s Beavers Field.
NOTE: SOSA will have additional details from Whiteoak’s win this morning.
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