THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Whitney High School Athletics

The Whitney High baseball team won nine of its last Capital Valley Conference games to catch Oakmont and join the Vikings in entering the winner’s circle for the league championship. Completing their sweep of Antelope, the Wildcats defeated the Titans 8-3 Friday to lock up a portion of the CVC title. That same day, Oakmont scored seven runs in the seventh inning at Roseville to earn their banner with a 16-4 victory. Although the Vikings took a 2-1 decision over the ‘Cats in their head-to-head series, Max Preps put Whitney ahead of Oakmont in the Sac-Joaquin Section’s Division II rankings. Wildcats head coach Lyell Marks said after the game that sharing the title with the Roseville-based club was fine with him. “We’re happy sharing it and going to the playoffs as the No. 2 seed from our league. We can only control what we can control,” Marks said. “We didn’t play any slouches; there are no slouches in this league, but the boys got hot at the right time.” Although the Titans did finished in the CVC cellar with a 3-18 record, Antelope battled down to the last man in Friday’s game. Whitney took an early 2-0 lead assisted by two opening walks by pitcher Jake Slates. Slates however got out of the inning leaving the bases loaded. Both teams picked up a couple runs over the next three and a half innings, but in the bottom of the fifth the Wildcats dropped the hammer. With two outs, Auston Popp got a base hit and scored on a single by Jake Remington. Remington then came home on Hayden Erickson’s hit and Lane Field delivered a hit to score Erickson. Antelope scored a run in the top of the six, but that was answered by Alex Rose’s score off the bat of Popp’s. In the bottom of the seventh, pitcher Zack Dunkase finished his complete came by getting two batters to fly out to right field and he struck out the final batter swinging. Marks said his team seemed to be motivated by losing a couple of close games in the early part of the season. He said the team really picked up their play following those setbacks. “ … [F]orged by fire,” Marks said, harkening back to something he had said earlier in the season. “Having all of that adversity early has really built kind of strong character through it and now they’re the team I wanted them to be going forward.” No better time than on the eve of the playoffs. A tip of the hat also has to be given to the seniors who were honored on Senior Day, Friday: Aaron Snell, Rose, Andrew Williams, Popp, Drake Speed, Jack Crouse, Remington, Kkyle McGrath, Field, Max Arregey, Ryan Tipton and Dunkase. Marks not only praised the play and leadership of his seniors, but applauded his juniors was well. He said the blend is what has helped the ‘Cats to come as far as they have to win their first CVC baseball title. “So it’s been a nice thing. We’re predominantly juniors and seniors, but we could count on the young guys when we needed to,” Marks said. “I’m really proud of these guys; they never gave up. A lot of credit to these guys; they made me really proud and it’s been a pleasure coaching them.”

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Whitney High School Athletics

WILDCATS ADD ANOTHER LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP

JIM LINSDAU

Placer Herald | 5/10/2017

PHOTO CREDIT: Whitney High School Athletivs