By Adam Knoll
The Whitewater High School baseball team suffered two tough losses in a home-at-home double-header against conference leading Jefferson this past week. In both contests, the Whippets failed to score, and as a result, the team is now playing catch up in a tough Rock Valley North Conference.
Jefferson is no joke as they are one of the state’s top ranked baseball teams right now.
In the first game, played in Jefferson, Whitewater’s Scott Gorsuch got the nod on the mound, and pitched fairly well in keeping Jefferson close through the first three innings. However, a few walks and a few errors put the whole game on ice and allowed the Eagles to put the game away once they gained control, winning 10-0.
Jefferson only had six hits during the game, yet Whitewater was a no-hit outing by Heath Renz, who struck out 13 Whippets. Gorsuch struck out two Eagles, while walking six.
Similar tune in game two
In game two, Whitewater’s Tyler Hill got the call and battled well for five innings of baseball before, again, the walks and errors showed up. Hill gave up five hits and five runs (four earned) over five innings with four strikeouts and seven walks allowed.
The Whitewater bats were silent yet again, going hitless for the second game, though this time it was at home. Jacob Nelson pitched seven innings for the Eagles, striking out eight while walking five. Unfortunately, none of his mistakes ended up crossing the plate in what turned out to be a 6-0 loss for the Whippets.
“Jefferson is a very good baseball team. They have good pitching, they play solid defense, and are an excellent hitting team,” Whitewater coach Robert Lauersdorf said after the twin bill. “You just can’t give a team like this extra opportunities like we did tonight.”
The Whippets have a chance to get back on track against Big Foot and Evansville this week.
