The Onalaska Wildcats (0-2) took on a former district rival Shepherd (3-3) in their first game of the Cleveland Rotary Tournament Thursday night. The shorthanded Wildcats fought, but needed a final run in a wild slugfest, 12-11.
Shepherd came out hot in the top of the first inning ,hitting two doubles and scoring a run on the first two pitches of the game. The Pirates added two more runs on three walks, a wild pitch, and a passed ball. The Wildcats went three up and three down, and after the first inning were behind, 3-0.
Things didn’t get any better for the Wildcats and their starting pitcher, Thad Lilley, in the second inning. The Pirates scored three more runs on a walk, and another double from Shepherd’s Kyler Syracuse, a fielder’s choice, and a single. After two innings, the Wildcats were chasing the Pirates, 6-0.
Onalaska did not give up, and in the bottom of the third, evened the score. Hayden Galyen started things off with a walk and Colin Vann reached base on error. A balk scored Galyen from third base and moved Vann to second. A wild pitch got Vann to third. Conner Ruiz drew a walk then stole second, putting runners on second and third. Blaine DeLaCerda hit a double to center field, scoring Vann and Ruiz. Ty Phillips drew a walk, loading the bags for Jake Gibson. Gibson smashed a double in the gap, scoring DeLaCerda and Phillips. On the very next pitch, Carson Davies hit a double, scoring Gibson and tying it, 6-6.
In the top of the fourth, Shepherd fought back, scoring a run on three consecutive hits and a bases-loaded walk put the Pirates up 8-6. In the bottom half of the inning, the Wildcats were relentless and continued battling. Vann drew a walk and Lilley reached base on an error, moving Vann to third. DeLaCerda picked up two more RBIs on a liner to left, tying the game. Gibson came up with a big hit, scoring DeLaCerda and putting Onalaska ahead of the Pirates, 9-8.
Shepherd started the fifth inning with a hit by pitch and single. The runners moved to second and third on a wild pitch, then a double to left-center tied the game 9-9. The Wildcats had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the fifth, but couldn’t capitalize.
Time expired during the fifth inning, so the sixth was considered extra innings. Tournament extra inning rules dictated that the bases begin loaded with the last three batters from the previous inning, and the defense is given an out. In the top of sixth, the Pirates’ first batter was hit by a pitch, giving Shepherd a one-run lead. After the next batter struck out, the Pirates scored two runs on a line drive just past the pitcher into center field. That gave the Pirates a 12-9 lead with two outs.
Onalaska’s bottom of the sixth ended with Phillips hitting a deep fly ball to right field. Two runs scored on the play, but a runner was tagged out, ending the game.
Lilley went 3.2 innings, giving up eight earned runs on seven hits, seven walks, and nine strikeouts. Phillips threw two innings, allowing an earned run on three hits and three strikeouts. DeLaCerda was 2-for-4 with four RBIs and scored two runs. Phillips had two RBIs, a run, and a walk.
The Wildcats played Alief Elsik Friday morning, winning 12-3. Purkerson pitched four innings, allowing no earned runs on two hits, three walks, and struck out three. Lilley was 1-for-2 with two walks, two RBIs, and two runs. Jake Gibson went 1-for-2 with a triple, two RBIs, and a run.
Friday afternoon, the Wildcats lost to the Cleveland Indians, 4-2. Vann pitched six innings, allowing an earned run on seven hits, five walks, and five strikeouts. Gibson went 3-for-3 with two triples and an RBI. DeLaCerda was 2-for-3 and scored a run.
Friday night, they took on Alief Elsik again, blowing out the Rams 18-1. Lilley went 2-for-3 with a triple and a double, five RBIs and scoring a run, Davies went 3-for-3 with a double, four RBIs and scored three runs.
The Wildcats finished the tournament with two wins and two losses. Onalaska will play in the Weimar tournament Thursday through Saturday.
