SOUTH WHITLEY - The Whitko High School baseball team's early-season dominance continued Saturday in a home doubleheader with the Argos Dragons.
The Wildcats improved to 6-0 Saturday, claiming a 12-2, five-inning, victory in Game 1, followed by a 12-9 score in Game 2."It gives us some momentum going into the tougher part of our schedule," Whitko coach Erik Hisner said. "We have a strong Wawasee team (Tuesday), then a traditionally tough Churubusco team on Wednesday. This gives us good momentum, but we have to play even better, starting Tuesday."
Whitko has reached the 6-0 mark by defeating sixth-ranked New Haven in the season opener, then wins over Fort Wayne Harding, and doubleheader conquests over Lakewood Park and Argos.
In its last five victories, Whitko has won by a combined score of 94-12.
"We put in a lot of work in the offseason to get better, but next week will be a good test for us," Hisner said. " I told our guys they can't be content. We have a lot of things to work on."
In Game 1 Saturday, Hisner had to have a pretty critical eye to find things to work on, as his Wildcats scored 12 runs in the first three innings. But even with those numbers, he did find flaws, including a lack of hitting with runners at third base.
"For the most part, I thought we played pretty decent," he said. "We had a couple lapses there mentally. I thought we struggled with our approach in the second and third innings, at the plate. Outside of that, I can't complain."
In the opening-game win, Kurt Boggs picked up the win on the mound, pitching three innings and allowing only one earned run.
Offensively, Nathan Sherrard and Trevor Sleighter got the team going, as Sherrard hit an RBI-double in the first inning, followed by a solo home run from Sleighter.
"We had good at-bats and swung it well," Hisner said.
Sherrard finished the game going 2 for 2 with two RBIs and three runs, while Sleighter went 2 for 3 with four RBIs and two runs.
In Game 2, Whitko overcame a 7-6 deficit by scoring six runs in the bottom of the sixth, with only one of those runs coming off a hit.
In the horrific inning for the Dragons, Whitko first scored on a wild pitch, then on a walk before Sherrard and Sleighter each scored on an RBI-single by Austin Mort. Following those runs, Whitko scored on a wild pitch and a safety squeeze bunt.
Sleighter continued his hot hitting in the second game, going 2 for 3 with three runs, an RBI, a triple and a stolen base.
"I was not happy with our focus in the early innings of Game 2," Hisner said. "We did not put Argos away in the early innings and we let them back into the game. However, give our kids credit. We battled back."
