Hewitt's Hit Lifts Wildcats Over Eagles
April 26, 2017 at 4:29 p.m.
By Dale [email protected]
With one out and the scored tied 5-5 in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Whitko High School senior ripped a bases-loaded single off Columbia City relief pitcher Dillon Reed.
Hewitt’s hit scored teammates Landen Golf and Alex Bechtold, and was the game-winning hit as the Class 2A No. 5 Wildcats scored seven runs in the inning and went on to beat their county rivals 12-5 at Parkview Field, home of the Midwest League’s Fort Wayne TinCaps.
With their fifth-straight win, the Wildcats improved to 13-1, while the Eagles fell to 0-10.
“Great job by Zach. Our first guy grounded out, and then we drew three walks to load the bases,” said Whitko head coach Erik Hisner. “Zach had a great at-bat. (Reed) threw some pitches that Zach chased earlier in the game, and he did a good job of waiting for a good pitch, barrelled one up and came through like a senior should.”
Hewitt, Whitko’s standout catcher, finished the game with two hits, two RBIs, a stolen base and a run.
Drew Bradford and Bailey Platt also had two hits for the Wildcats.
Bradford scored three times, while Platt hit a double, drove in two runs, scored a run and had two stolen bases.
Austin Hollowell hit a double for the winners.
Whitko scored three times in the first inning and plated two more runs in the second to take a 5-1 lead.
The Eagles battled back with three runs in the fourth inning and another in the top of the fifth to tie the game.
“I don’t know what the deal was tonight. We’re playing our county rival, and we’re playing on the nicest field we’ll play on all year, and we just didn’t have intensity,” said Hisner. “I can’t figure it out. I kind of jumped on the guys about getting on and off the field, and just some effort things.
“We’ll talk about it and we’ll figure it out, but give the guys credit they came through when they had to. Obviously we would have liked to get a few more guys across in the middle innings, but a win is a win and we’ll take it.”
Tanner Clark started the game on the mound for Columbia City and gave up five hits and five runs in five innings of work. He walked five and struck out three.
Zach Platt was charged with the loss after giving up three runs in just a 1/3 of an inning. He got Bailey Platt to ground out to start the sixth inning, but then walked Landen Goff, Bechtold and Bradford.
Dillon Reed then took the ball for Columbia City and gave up the single to Hewitt, the first batter he faced.
Reed recorded the final two outs, but gave up three hits, four runs and two walks.
Reed led the Eagles at the plate with three hits and three RBIs. Teammates Frank Planchon and Jake Elkins had two hits each, with Planchon hitting a double.
River West was the winning pitcher for Whitko, giving up three hits and one run in four innings of work. He struck out five and walked one.
Zach Morris pitched the first three innings and gave up five hits, four runs and two walks.
The Wildcats are in action again today when they host Three Rivers Conference opponent Southwood at 5 p.m.
WHITKO 12, COLUMBIA CITY 5
CC 010 310 0 – 5 8 5
W 320 007 X – 12 8 3
Col. City – Tanner Clark (5IP, 5R, 5H, 5BB, 3K), Zach Platt (L, .1IP, 3R, 0H, 3BB, 0K), Dillon Reed (.2IP, 4R, 3H, 2B, 0K)
Whitko – Zach Morris (3IP, 4R, 5H, 2BB, 1K), River West (W, 4IP, 1R, 3H, 1BB, 5K)
2B – Frank Planchon (CC), Bailey Platt (W), Austin Hollowell (W)
Records: Columbia City 0-10, Whitko 13-1
With one out and the scored tied 5-5 in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Whitko High School senior ripped a bases-loaded single off Columbia City relief pitcher Dillon Reed.
Hewitt’s hit scored teammates Landen Golf and Alex Bechtold, and was the game-winning hit as the Class 2A No. 5 Wildcats scored seven runs in the inning and went on to beat their county rivals 12-5 at Parkview Field, home of the Midwest League’s Fort Wayne TinCaps.
With their fifth-straight win, the Wildcats improved to 13-1, while the Eagles fell to 0-10.
“Great job by Zach. Our first guy grounded out, and then we drew three walks to load the bases,” said Whitko head coach Erik Hisner. “Zach had a great at-bat. (Reed) threw some pitches that Zach chased earlier in the game, and he did a good job of waiting for a good pitch, barrelled one up and came through like a senior should.”
Hewitt, Whitko’s standout catcher, finished the game with two hits, two RBIs, a stolen base and a run.
Drew Bradford and Bailey Platt also had two hits for the Wildcats.
Bradford scored three times, while Platt hit a double, drove in two runs, scored a run and had two stolen bases.
Austin Hollowell hit a double for the winners.
Whitko scored three times in the first inning and plated two more runs in the second to take a 5-1 lead.
The Eagles battled back with three runs in the fourth inning and another in the top of the fifth to tie the game.
“I don’t know what the deal was tonight. We’re playing our county rival, and we’re playing on the nicest field we’ll play on all year, and we just didn’t have intensity,” said Hisner. “I can’t figure it out. I kind of jumped on the guys about getting on and off the field, and just some effort things.
“We’ll talk about it and we’ll figure it out, but give the guys credit they came through when they had to. Obviously we would have liked to get a few more guys across in the middle innings, but a win is a win and we’ll take it.”
Tanner Clark started the game on the mound for Columbia City and gave up five hits and five runs in five innings of work. He walked five and struck out three.
Zach Platt was charged with the loss after giving up three runs in just a 1/3 of an inning. He got Bailey Platt to ground out to start the sixth inning, but then walked Landen Goff, Bechtold and Bradford.
Dillon Reed then took the ball for Columbia City and gave up the single to Hewitt, the first batter he faced.
Reed recorded the final two outs, but gave up three hits, four runs and two walks.
Reed led the Eagles at the plate with three hits and three RBIs. Teammates Frank Planchon and Jake Elkins had two hits each, with Planchon hitting a double.
River West was the winning pitcher for Whitko, giving up three hits and one run in four innings of work. He struck out five and walked one.
Zach Morris pitched the first three innings and gave up five hits, four runs and two walks.
The Wildcats are in action again today when they host Three Rivers Conference opponent Southwood at 5 p.m.
WHITKO 12, COLUMBIA CITY 5
CC 010 310 0 – 5 8 5
W 320 007 X – 12 8 3
Col. City – Tanner Clark (5IP, 5R, 5H, 5BB, 3K), Zach Platt (L, .1IP, 3R, 0H, 3BB, 0K), Dillon Reed (.2IP, 4R, 3H, 2B, 0K)
Whitko – Zach Morris (3IP, 4R, 5H, 2BB, 1K), River West (W, 4IP, 1R, 3H, 1BB, 5K)
2B – Frank Planchon (CC), Bailey Platt (W), Austin Hollowell (W)
Records: Columbia City 0-10, Whitko 13-1
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