Norse bats quiet in season-ending loss
Whitehall catcher Connor Stevens fielded a throw while Fall Creek’s Ethan Westrate
began to slide into home. Westrate was called safe on a close play for the Crickets’ first run in a 3-0 win. (Times photograph by Andrew Dannehy)
Whitehall second baseman Grayson Pronschinske awaited a throw on a stolen base during the team’s regional game in Fall Creek last week.
A week after scoring 17 runs combined in two games, the Whitehall baseball team’s season came to an end with just one hit in a 3-0 loss at Fall Creek last week Tuesday.
Whitehall’s only hit came with two outs in the top of the seventh. Connor Stevens singled, but he didn’t get past first base as Preston Schroeder struck out to end the game.
Whitehall had other chances in a game that was close throughout.
Fall Creek scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth to take the lead. The first run came on a play at the plate in which Stevens, the catcher, had the ball in a position to tag Ethan Westrate, but the Fall Creek runner was able to slide home safely. Another run came on a balk — a call that was contested by Whitehall coach Alex Eid.
Brayden Lisowski kept the Crickets quiet for the most part. He limited the team to three hits and four walks while striking out six. Fall Creek’s third run came in the bottom of the sixth when the leadoff batter walked and scored on a double.
Whitehall had two runners on after a walk and an error in the fifth, but couldn’t get a hit to score a run. Lisowski began the sixth with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, but a flyout and strikeout ended the threat.
Fall Creek lost to Mondovi, 11-3, in the regional final.
The Norse finished the season with an 11-9 record and, for the second straight season, will graduate several key players.
