OHS baseball team sweeps Central Lake; still perfect in SVC
The Onaway High School baseball team remained undefeated in the Ski Valley Conference when it swept visiting Central Lake in a Monday doubleheader at Maxon Field.
The Cardinals won the opener, 3-2, before taking the nightcap, 11-1. The sweep improved the Cards’ SVC record to 9-0 going into yesterday’s (Thursday’s) twinbill at Mancelona. Onaway is 13-4 overall.
In game one, OHS scored a run in the bottom of the third to break a 2-2 tie. Andrew Prow earned the win, scattering seven hits, walking one, and fanning nine in six innings.
The Cardinals made just one error and collected six hits, with Justin Gedda smacking a double, scoring a run, and driving one in.
Onaway scored six first-inning runs in game two and never looked back, providing plenty of support for winning hurler Matt Tollini, who allowed just two hits, walked three, and fanned 10 in five frames.
OHS again made just one error and again had six hits (in addition to a dozen walks issued by Trojan pitchers). Chris Cleaver had a double and three RBI, Prow had a double and two runs scored, and Ray Self stole three bases.
Two days earlier, the Cardinals were swept in a doubleheader at Atlanta. Onaway was shutout by Garrett Badgero in the opener, 7-0, and gave up four runs in the bottom of the final inning to lose the nightcap, 4-3.
Chae Whitsitt suffered the defeat in game one. He allowed seven ones, just one earned, on five hits, walking three and fanning four in six innings of work. The defense made five errors behind him.
The offense managed just three hits – singles by Tollini, Cleaver, and Gedda.
The Huskies scored three of their four sixth-inning runs with two outs against game-two Cardinal hurler Tyler Welklin, who allowed four hits, walked two, and fanned six in five and two-thirds innings.
The defense made a pair of errors and the offense collected six hits, with Chae Whitsitt going 2-for-3 with three stolen bases and two runs scored. Cody Whitsitt added a triple.
Two days before that, the Red Birds swept host Bellaire, winning the opener, 4-1, before taking the nightcap, 12-0. Prow earned the win in game one, allowing just five hits, walking none, and fanning four in six innings.
The defense made just one error, while the offense collected nine hits and scored three runs in the fifth to break a 1-1 tie. Cody Whitsitt went 3-for-3 with a double and two runs scored, while Tommy Auger and Andrew Perry e
In game two, 10 straight Cardinal hitters reached base to open the fifth inning, with eight of them crossing the plate, turning a 4-0 lead into a mercy-rule blowout.
Tollini earned the win, allowing just one hit, walking four, and fanning five. The defense played error-free ball, while the offense exploded for 13 hits.
Tollini helped his own cause, going 2-for-4 with a double and four RBI. Prow and Perry both recorded two hits and both scored a pair of runs.
The Cardinals will travel to Pellston on Tuesday and host Inland Lakes next Friday.