Gaff Pitches Wildcats To Conference Win
Whitko sophomore standout tosses 3-hitter against Tippecanoe Valley
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Dale [email protected]
All the 6-foot-3 Gaff did Monday evening was toss a complete-game three-hitter against Three Rivers Conference rival Tippecanoe Valley, helping the Wildcats to a 2-0 win.
Gaff’s seven-strikeout, two-walk performance lifted Whitko to its first win over the Vikings since 2008.
The Wildats have won their last three games and are now 12-6 on the season overall and 1-1 in conference play, while Valley fell to 9-7 and 0-2.
“I thought Gaff threw well,” said Hisner. “I think his .ERA is under 1. We lost three of our top four pitchers (from last year’s team) and Tanner Gaff has stepped up and is filling that hole.”
Valley sophomore Gavin Bussard hit a pair of singles off Gaff, while senior Tanner Andrews had the Vikings’ third hit, a double.
Gaff, who issued a walk in the first inning, retired six of the first seven batters he faced, four of them by strikeout.
“Tanner’s tough,” Valley coach Brandon Cody said of Gaff. “I didn’t think he was over-powering, but he had good control. We had plenty of opportunities and just didn’t take advantage. We lacked execution tonight.”
Cody also started his stud pitcher named Tanner.
The Purdue University-bound Andrews worked six innings, giving up six hits and three walks, while striking out six.
A radar gun behind home plate showed Andrews throwing 91 mph in the sixth inning.
During their five-year reign over Whitko, the Vikings have had some standout pitchers in James Hackworth, Clayton Adamson and Andrews.
Hisner said that motivates his team.
“Facing a good pitcher like that gives you extra motivation,” said Hisner. “We hadn’t beat Valley since 2008. It was also nice to get back to .500 in the conference.”
En route to the win, the Wildcats scored one run in the second inning on an RBI-single by senior Avery Robbins, and added another run in the sixth via sophomore Garrett Smiley’s RBI-single.
Both Robbins and Smiley finshed the game 2 for 3 at the plate.
Senior Ethan Nicodemus had Whitko’s only extra-base hit, a double, while Gaff rouned out the Wildcats’ offensive production with a single.
Whitko is in action again Wednesday when it battles TRC rival Manchester in a game that will be played at Parkview Field in Fort Wayne.
Valley is at Bethany Christian today and hosts league foe North Miami Wednesday.
WHITKO 2, TIPPECANOE VALLEY 0
TV 000 000 0 – 0 3 0
W 010 001 X – 2 6 0
Valley – Tanner Andrews (L, 6IP, 2R, 2ER, 6H, 3BB, 6K).
Whitko – Tanner Gaff (W, 7IP, 0R, 3H, 2BB, 7K).
2B – Andrews (TV), Ethan Nicodemus (W)
Records: Valley 9-7 (0-2 TRC), Whitko 12-6 (1-1 TRC)[[In-content Ad]]
Latest News
E-Editions
All the 6-foot-3 Gaff did Monday evening was toss a complete-game three-hitter against Three Rivers Conference rival Tippecanoe Valley, helping the Wildcats to a 2-0 win.
Gaff’s seven-strikeout, two-walk performance lifted Whitko to its first win over the Vikings since 2008.
The Wildats have won their last three games and are now 12-6 on the season overall and 1-1 in conference play, while Valley fell to 9-7 and 0-2.
“I thought Gaff threw well,” said Hisner. “I think his .ERA is under 1. We lost three of our top four pitchers (from last year’s team) and Tanner Gaff has stepped up and is filling that hole.”
Valley sophomore Gavin Bussard hit a pair of singles off Gaff, while senior Tanner Andrews had the Vikings’ third hit, a double.
Gaff, who issued a walk in the first inning, retired six of the first seven batters he faced, four of them by strikeout.
“Tanner’s tough,” Valley coach Brandon Cody said of Gaff. “I didn’t think he was over-powering, but he had good control. We had plenty of opportunities and just didn’t take advantage. We lacked execution tonight.”
Cody also started his stud pitcher named Tanner.
The Purdue University-bound Andrews worked six innings, giving up six hits and three walks, while striking out six.
A radar gun behind home plate showed Andrews throwing 91 mph in the sixth inning.
During their five-year reign over Whitko, the Vikings have had some standout pitchers in James Hackworth, Clayton Adamson and Andrews.
Hisner said that motivates his team.
“Facing a good pitcher like that gives you extra motivation,” said Hisner. “We hadn’t beat Valley since 2008. It was also nice to get back to .500 in the conference.”
En route to the win, the Wildcats scored one run in the second inning on an RBI-single by senior Avery Robbins, and added another run in the sixth via sophomore Garrett Smiley’s RBI-single.
Both Robbins and Smiley finshed the game 2 for 3 at the plate.
Senior Ethan Nicodemus had Whitko’s only extra-base hit, a double, while Gaff rouned out the Wildcats’ offensive production with a single.
Whitko is in action again Wednesday when it battles TRC rival Manchester in a game that will be played at Parkview Field in Fort Wayne.
Valley is at Bethany Christian today and hosts league foe North Miami Wednesday.
WHITKO 2, TIPPECANOE VALLEY 0
TV 000 000 0 – 0 3 0
W 010 001 X – 2 6 0
Valley – Tanner Andrews (L, 6IP, 2R, 2ER, 6H, 3BB, 6K).
Whitko – Tanner Gaff (W, 7IP, 0R, 3H, 2BB, 7K).
2B – Andrews (TV), Ethan Nicodemus (W)
Records: Valley 9-7 (0-2 TRC), Whitko 12-6 (1-1 TRC)[[In-content Ad]]
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092