Michael Wilcox

Just a couple of weeks remain in the 2014 high school baseball season and the Tyler Consolidated Knights and Paden City Wildcats are both scrambling to get as many games as possible in on their schedule, be they regularly scheduled games, conference games, or make-up games. Both the Knights and ‘Cats look to do well in the post-season, but much will depend on these next few games, health of the team, strength of young arms, and the play-off schedules handed them.

Wildcats

The ‘Cats started off last week on a winning note with a game at Valley on April 21, taking the win in five innings, 16-1. Junior Kyle Postlewait got the win as Paden City’s pitcher, walking one, and striking out three.

At the plate, junior Zach Heasley came out of his slump with a long home run and two singles to collect five RBI’s. Sophomore, Luke Cooper had a good day with the bat as well, clobbering a home run and three doubles for two RBIs. Isaac Hall topped all batters with two home runs and a single to score six runs for Paden City. Hayden Hizer singled for an RBI, and Michael Wilcox singled and had one RBI.

On April 23 the ‘Cats took the loss on the chin, 12-2, as they traveled to Wheeling Central for a game with the Maroon Knights. Seven errors on behalf of the ‘Cats played a large role in the loss.

Colby Lash

Isaac Hall took the loss on the mound, issuing one strike out and a walk. Levi Meadows came on for the last three and-a-third innings, walking two and sitting two batters down with Ks.

Heasley tripled for an RBI and Cooper singled to drive home the other run.

Hosting the Cee-Bees of Clay-Battelle on April 24, the ‘Cats pocketed their second win of the week, 3-2, in a defensive battle between the two.

Hizer worked the mound for the Green and White for the entire game, throwing seven strike outs and walking two.

Hizer doubled to help his cause; Wilcox hit two singles to score two runs; Hall doubled and had one RBI.

On Saturday the third seeded Wildcats took on an excellent Bishop Donahue team in the OVAC tournament at Donahue, falling to the Bishops, 6-0.

Postlewait got the loss with the complete game, walking two batters and striking out seven.

Hizer had the only hit attributed to the ‘Cats, with a single.

Paden City was scheduled to play at Tyler Consolidated on Monday and will host St. Marys at home on Wednesday.

Silver Knights

The Tyler Consolidated Silver Knight baseball team is hoping to dodge raindrops as best they can this week in order to get a game in every night on the calendar. The team, now standing at 6-8 on the year, is poised to pocket some wins and get on with the season.

Last week, the Knights went 2-2 with wins over Hundred and losses to Ritchie and St. Marys.

On April 18, the Silver fell to Ritchie, 11-1, at Ritchie County. Logan Moffitt took the loss on the mound for Consolidated.

Offensively, Evan Davis, Tyler Stackpole, and Moffitt each singled for the team.

At home on April 19, the Silver hosted the Hundred Hornets in a double header, taking both wins, 20-0 and 13-2.

In game one, Davis took the win on the mound with the shut-outs, striking out six and walking two.

In game two, Colby Lash was credited with the win as the pitcher, striking out seven.

Austin Thompson had quite the day at the plate for the Silver Knights, hitting for “the cycle” with a home run, a double, triple, and single in game one to put the home team on track. Thompson also tripled in the second game, giving him six RBIs on the day.

Also making the highlights at the plate against the Hornets were Davis, who went 7-7 (one home run) to collect three RBIs; Lash who went 6-6 to bring home five runners; and Jordan Baker had four RBIs connecting on five of six trips to the plate.

The St. Marys Blue Devils took the win over the Knights, 11-4 on April 21, with the loss going to Moffitt on the mound.

Lash and Thompson both collected two hits in the contest; Baker hit a single; and Stackpole tripled.

“The team is working extremely hard and we are improving in all aspects of the game,” said head coach of the Silver Knights, Robby Jones. “The goal is to keep getting better everyday and be firing on all cylinders when postseason play rolls around.”

The Silver Knights have games scheduled every night this week, depending on the weather. On April 30 the team will play at Doddridge and on May 2, a game at Frontier is scheduled.