Onalaska Wildcat baseball traveled to Navasota for a doubleheader against the Boling Bulldogs in the bi-district round of the playoffs Saturday, winning both, 3-2 and 11-3.
Game 1 was a battle that went to extra innings and came down to the last play of the game. The game remained scoreless until the top of fourth. A single, hit by pitch, and error gave Boling the early 1-0 lead.
The Wildcats bounced back in the bottom of the inning, as Thad Lilley drew a leadoff walk, followed a walk by Blaine De La Cerda. Then, a double steal put runners on second and third with two outs. Lilley scored from third on a passed ball to tie the game, 1-1.
The Bulldogs regained the lead in the sixth. With two outs and a runner on base, Boling’s first baseman hit an RBI-double down the right-field line for a 2-1 Bulldog lead.
The Wildcats were down to their last three outs and trailing by one in the bottom of the seventh. Jarrett Purkerson reached base on an error, then Ty Phillips and Conner Ruiz were both hit by pitches to load the bases. Jake Gibson grounded into a fielder’s choice, allowing Purkerson to score and send the game into extra innings.
In the eighth inning, the Bulldogs got a runner on base, but couldn’t bring him in to score.
Lilley drew a walk to lead off in the bottom of the inning for Onalaska. He promptly stole second base and four pitches later, stole third. With the winning run 90 feet away, Boling’s catcher allowed a passed ball, letting Lilley slide in for the winning run. Somehow, Onalaska managed to win Game 1, 3-2, without getting a hit.
Both starting pitchers showed why they were the Game 1 starters. Brayden Topkins started on the mound for the Wildcats. He negotiated his way through the Bulldogs’ lineup and kept the Wildcats in the game. Topkins pitched six innings and threw 104 pitches, allowing two runs, only one earned, on three hits, walked one, and struck out six. Purkerson pitched two innings, gave up three hits and struck out one. Also, a tip of the cap to Boling’s starting pitcher, Jerrick Garcia. He pitched a great game for the Bulldogs with six innings, one run, no hits, five walks, and 12 strikeouts.
In Game 2, Onalaska took advantage of 12 walks, three hit batters, and three errors by Boling. De La Cerda got the Wildcats on the scoreboard in the first inning with an RBI, scoring Reyes from third.
The Bulldogs came back in the bottom half of the inning, scoring two runs on an error, a triple, and a sacrifice fly, giving them a 2-1 lead.
In the top of the third, the Wildcats scored four runs. Reyes was hit by a pitch followed by three consecutive walks, allowing Reyes to score. De La Cerda picked up another RBI on a sacrifice, scoring Gibson from third. Topkins picked up an RBI as well, scoring Patrick Roth. Lilley scored on a passed ball to give the Wildcats a 5-2 lead. The Bulldogs scored in the bottom of the third on a walk and two errors, but Boling still trailed, 5-3.
Things fell apart for the Bulldogs in the sixth inning. With runners on, Reyes hit a line drive to center bringing Purkerson in to score. An error by Boling’s left fielder allowed Phillips and Reyes to score. Gibson scored on a line drive to right by Roth, followed by a stand-up double down the left-field line by Lilley. With two outs and the bases loaded, Purkerson drew a walk, scoring Lilley, then De La Cerda scored on a passed ball, giving the Wildcats a commanding 11-3 lead over the Bulldogs.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, with one out and a runner on second, Boling’s first baseman hit a screaming line drive right back at relief pitcher, Purkerson, who snagged the liner before it got by him. He then turned and fired the ball to second, doubling up the runner on second to end the game.
The Wildcats’ Game 2 starting pitcher, Lilley, was outstanding. After catching eight innings in Game 1, he pitched six innings allowing no earned runs on five hits, four walks, and four strikeouts. Purkerson pitched good in relief again for the Wildcats, with one inning, no runs, no hits, and a strikeout. Top performers in the series were Lilley at 1-for-3 with a double, four walks, four runs, and four stolen bases; Purkerson had four walks, two runs, an RBI, and a stolen base; De La Cerda with two RBIs, a walk, a run, and a stolen base; Reyes with a hit, two walks, three runs, an RBI, and five stolen bases; Gibson had three walks, two runs, an RBI and a stolen base.
These Onalaska juniors and seniors have been a very accomplished group over the last three years. They have the most playoff appearances (three), most wins (56), the first 20-win season, most playoff wins (four), and first ever bi-district championship in school history.
“They laid the foundation for everything this program is right now,” Onalaska coach Cody Pinkert said.
The Wildcats will play the winner of the Huntington and Anahuac series in the area round of the playoffs.
