By Kevin Cunningham
Correspondent
After losing three of four, the Whippets baseball team was able to use an early lead at Jefferson to stop the skid.
Despite being away from home, the Whippets earned an early 1-0 lead in the second inning and never gave the lead up. Jefferson got within one run, and that’s how the game would end, but Whitewater led throughout and eventually won, 4-3.
The Whippets outhit Jefferson, 8-7, and three different players recorded an RBI, but none would register two of more. Jason Curtis went five innings on the mound and struck out eight while allowing two runs.
Whitewater then played again on May 15 in another road contest, this time against Palmyra-Eagle. The Panthers’ offense put together four runs against the Whippets, but once again, having to go on the road didn’t discourage Whitewater.
The Whippets led 2-0 after one inning but in the bottom of the second – after Whitewater scored another run – the Panthers responded with four of its own to take a 4-3 lead. The Whippets would respond in the third inning, though, with nine runs, eventually pushing the team to an 18-4 victory after four innings.
Four different Whippets would knock in three runs against the Panthers, as James Dedrick, Curtis, Alex Fero and Danny Harnack each did so while combining to go 6-of-10 from the plate. Dedrick also pitched three innings, striking out three and giving up the four runs, but none of them were earned.
Whitewater was winners of two straight before playing its third and final game, against McFarland at home. This time, the pitching and defense were to be noted, as McFarland went scoreless, leading to a 6-0 victory for the Whippets.
Whitewater once again used an early lead to propel them to victory, scoring once in the first, second and third innings. Four different players recorded one RBI apiece – none more than one – and Tyler Niemuth pitched all seven innings, striking out four and earning the shutout victory while allowing just three hits.
Following those games, Whitewater improved to a 14-4 record on the season.
