Cats defeat Tribe

Photo/Jim Jackson Heath Mayo tags a Jacksonville runner out on second base.

Less than 24 hours after a tough road loss at Kilgore, the varsity Whitehouse Wildcats were back in action in their home opener last Friday night against Jacksonville.

Grant Brandon would take the mound for the Wildcats and would hold the Indian bats down early.

The Wildcats would take a 1- 0 lead as Heath Mayo would open the frame with a walk and would steal second.

Grant Brandon would then hit a come-backer to the pitcher who would overthrow third in an attempt to get Mayo allowing him to score and Brandon to get to second base. Brady Attaway would then double to right giving the 'Cats second and third with no outs, but they would fail to push either runner across.

The Wildcats would get another run in the bottom of the second as Ryan Miner would single and steal second and would then score on a double by Seth Cashion. The Indians would tie things up with two runs of their own in the top half of the fourth before the Wildcats would go up 4-2 in the bottom half of the fifth.

Miner would again get things going with a lead off walk and would later score on a single by Mayo who would follow him home on a single by Grant Brandon.

Chase West would come in to pitch during the top of the sixth in relief of Brandon and would inherit a first and third situation with no outs. The Indians would try to steal second, but the runner would get thrown out by Cashion for out one holding the runner at third.

West would strike out the next batter and would then get the third out on a grounder to Attaway at third who would make the throw to Evan Beaton at first.

The 'Cats would tack on two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth as Banks Brandon would lead off with a triple to seep right-center. He would cross the plate on a single by Cody Brown. Brown would steal his way around to third and score on a passed ball to finish the scoring at 6-2.

"We played good defense tonight even though we didn't swing the bats as well," stated Coach Danny Robey.

"Grant and Chase did a good job on the mound tonight as well. This was a good win especially after the tough loss last night," said Coach Robey.

With the win the Wildcats pushed their district record to 1-1. The Wildcats will travel to Hallsville tomorrow night to take on the Bobcats at 6 p.m.