Local Sports Journal
Whitehall was able to score early in both ends of Friday’s doubleheader with ‘across-the-bridge’ rival Montague, but only was able to come away with a split.
“What a great day for baseball for these rivalry teams,” said Montague head coach Kevin Buchberger, “ Both teams played well with good pitching and defense and it was fitting to come out with a split.”
In game one, Montague faced a 3-0 deficit after the first inning, but battled back with multiple runs in the third and fifth innings, and added the critical winning run in the sixth to escape with the 7-6 West Michigan Conference victory.
Ben Rupert led the Wildcats’ winning effort with two-for-four batting and three RBIs, while Chris Carroll had two RBIs on three hits, and Cameron Brayman added two hits in the win.
Chance Lohman added two runs for Montague.
Whitehall got three hits from Noah Robart, two hits and two runs from Jake Gillhespy, and an RBI triple from Cheston Manns.
Lohman pitched the win, allowing eight hits and five earned runs, and striking out five, for the Wildcats.
Ian Zweigle allowed 10 hits and five earned runs in the loss.
Gillhespy helped Whitehall rebound with a strong pitching performance, holding the Wildcat offense to just two hits and striking out nine across seven innings.
Whitehall’s offense, on the other hand, again scored three first-inning runs , adding single runs in the second and the sixth to proved the final result.
Gillhespy finished with three hits and scored twice, while Robart and Noah Trombley had two hits apiece in the victory.
Brayman scored Montague’s lone run, while Rupert and Lohman had the Wildcats’ two hits in the loss.
Jacob Buchberger allowed 10 hits and four earned runs in four-and-two-thirds innings of work.
For Coach Buchberger, it all come down to good pitching.
“Chayce Lohman was good in Game 1,” he said, “and Jake Gillhespy was very good in Game 2.”
