Series sweep

Onalaska took two games from Trinity this week. Photo by clay Lilley

By Clay Lilley
Sports Contributor

The Onalaska Wildcats were back at it Tuesday night on the road against the Trinity Tigers, and packed the big bats in a blowout win, 23-3.

The game didn’t start as well for the Wildcats, going three up and three down in the top of the first. In the bottom of the inning things almost got out of hand. Trinity came out swinging with a double, two singles, and a walk, but with the bases loaded and one out, they weren’t able to score. The Wildcats took the lead in the second with help from a two-RBI double by Conner Ruiz. Onalaska exploded in the third inning, scoring 10 runs on two doubles, a single, six walks, and two batters hit by pitch. They added four more runs in the fourth and six in the fifth. Trinity was not able to keep up with Onalaska’s hot bats.

Thad Lilley got the start against the Tigers, struggling early, but remained focused and fought his way through three innings. Brayden Topkins and Brody Hoover both pitched an inning apiece to close out the big win. Topkins went 2-for-3 with two doubles, two walks, three RBIs, and three runs. Ruiz went 2-for-3 with a double, one run, and three RBIs. Senior Grant Thornton went 2-for-2 with two hits, two runs, two walks and two RBIs.

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Game two of the district series was played Thursday. It was another lopsided outcome for the Wildcats, beating the Tigers 15-0. Starter Topkins and reliever Jarrett Puckerson threw a combined no-hitter, allowing no runs or walks. Topkins threw three innings, striking out six and Puckerson went two innings striking out four. The Wildcats scored five runs in the first inning, adding eight in the third and two more in the fourth. Jackson went 3-for-3 with two RBIs, two runs, two walks and four stolen bases, Lilley went 1-for-3 with a triple, walk, three runs, two RBIs and two stolen bases, Roth went 1-for-2 with a double, two walks, three runs, and two RBIs.

With the series sweep of the Tigers, the Wildcats are 3-0 in district and in a three-way tie for first. Next week’s series will pit two of those first-place teams, as the ‘Cats take on the No. 14 Anderson-Shiro Fighting Owls.

“Anderson has been so good in this district for years,” Onalaska coach Cody Pinkert said of the upcoming games. “So, every time we play them is a huge game. I think the boys are playing with confidence and they are starting to believe in one another.”

The Wildcats and the Owls battle for first place in District 23-3A, with Tuesday in Anderson at 7 p.m. and Friday in Onalaska at the same start time.