Whitetails aim to end losing streak
The defending Wisconsin Baseball Association Class B state champions got off to a fast start this season, but are looking to end a long losing streak.
The Whitetails won their first six games, but have since lost five straight, including three last week. Whitehall began the season with wins over the Eau Claire Cavaliers, Bloomer Fightin Woodticks (twice), Beef River Bullfrogs, Eau Claire Bears, and Augusta Athletics. Since then, however, the team was swept in doubleheaders against Cadott and Chippewa Falls, and lost to Osseo last Friday.
The team began this week with a 6-5 record before a Wednesday night rematch at home against Osseo. Whitehall will host the Eau Claire Cavaliers on Saturday, but that is their last scheduled game until July 8.
Osseo 4 Whitehall 3
Whitehall came back from a three-run deficit, but Osseo answered with the decisive run.
Osseo scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning and another in the fourth to take a 3-0 lead. Whitehall got on the board in the top of the fifth when Devon McCune hit an RBI single. Another run scored on a groundout later that inning.
Whitehall tied the game on a Connor Weltzien single with two outs in the top of the seventh. Osseo regained the lead in the bottom half of that inning when former Whitehall Wolves star Scott Hovell drove in the go-ahead run with a groundout.
The Whitetails went down in order in the eighth and ninth innings.
McCune had two of Whitehall’s four hits in the game.
Tyler Webb took the loss on the mound, allowing seven hits and one walk in five innings while striking out five. McCune pitched two innings and Logan Scow threw one.
Whitehall Elementary School Principal Luke Eide was the winning pitcher, tossing five innings with four strikeouts and three walks. Former Wolves all-star Alex Byom threw four innings for the Merchants, striking out four while allowing one hit and no walks.
C. Falls 5 Whitehall 3
The Whitetails had the lead late, but the Lumberjacks scored three in the bottom of the sixth.
Whitehall took the lead on an RBI single by Connor Weltzien in the top of the sixth inning, making the score 3-2. But the team’s defense struggled in the sixth, committing three errors that helped Chippewa Falls score three runs and go ahead by the final score.
The Whitetails went down in order in the seventh.
Weltzien had two RBIs in the game as he hit a sacrifice fly to get the team on the board in the fourth. Brock Sluga tied the game with an RBI single later in the fourth.
Brandon Sylla took the loss, pitching three innings, allowing two walks and two hits while striking out two. McCune also pitched three innings, allowing two hits while striking out two without a walk.
C. Falls 6 Whitehall 3
The Whitetails rallied late, but it wasn’t enough.
The Lumberjacks took an early lead with one run in the first inning before putting up four in the second. Another run in the third made the score 6-0.
Whitehall got on the board in the fifth when Jake Bjerke drew a walk with the bases loaded. Two batters later, Chris Killian walked in another run before Kyle Steien scored on a passed ball.
Steien got Whitehall’s only hit in the game as the team struggled to make contact, striking out 12 times.
Alex Sartor took the loss, splitting pitching duties with McCune. Sartor struck out two batters while allowing three hits and four walks. McCune was perfect in the three innings he pitched while striking out four.
