Two-game skid

Onalaska will try to maintain first place versus Coldspring this week. photo by Clay Lilley

By Clay Lilley
Enterprise contributor

Onalaska baseball played a pivotal series against the Tarkington Longhorns, dropping game one 9-5 Tuesday night in Onalaska.

Tarkington came out of the gate hitting against Onalaska starting pitcher Thad Lilley. They scored three runs in the top of the first inning on a walk, double, error, and two singles.

Onalaska bounced back in the bottom of the inning on a double by Lilley and RBI-single from Patrick Roth. The score was 3-1 after the first.

The Longhorns added another run in the top of the fifth, giving them a 4-1 lead. The Wildcats got things going in the bottom of the fifth inning with a two-out rally. Lilley picked up an RBI, scoring Grant Thornton from third base. Then, with Conner Ruiz on third and Lilley on second, Lucas Jackson smoked a line drive down the right-field line, scoring both baserunners, tying the game 4-4.

In the top of the sixth inning with Lilley still on the mound, the Wildcats got two quick outs, but the starter fatigued. Back-to-back walks and a single loaded the bags for the Longhorns, followed by a double to right-center, clearing the bases for a 7-4 Tarkington lead.

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In the bottom half of the inning, Onalaska added another run on an RBI-single to left field by Ruiz, making the score 7-5 after the sixth.

Wildcat coach Cody Pinkert changed pitchers, bringing in Brody Hoover to toss the seventh for Onalaska. The Longhorn bats got to him as well, scoring two more runs on a leadoff double, walk, and single to right. The Wildcats tried to rally in the bottom half of the seventh with a couple of hits, but couldn’t continue the momentum.

Patrick Roth went 2-for-4 with an RBI, Brayden Topkins was 2-for-4 and scored a run, Thad Lilley went 1-for-4 with a double, RBI, scored two runs, and stole a base. Lucas Jackson went 1-for-3 with a two-RBI double, a walk, and a stolen base.

The two teams were back at it Friday night for game two. Another disappointing loss for the Wildcats ended at 2-0. The pitching for both teams was excellent. Pinkert started Topkins for the Wildcats, who threw four innings, allowing only two runs on four hits and two walks, while striking out three. Jarrett Purkerson pitched two scoreless innings for the Wildcats, giving up only two hits and struck out two. Tarkington starter Cam Roberts threw a complete game shutout, with just four hits and a walk. He struck out 10 Wildcats.

Scoreless until the bottom of the third, the Longhorns got a bloop single to left field with two outs. Then, a walk, hit-by-pitch, and single to center field had the Wildcats trailing 2-0.

Onalaska couldn’t get things going with their bats, but did make a few great plays defensively. In the fourth, they turned a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning, and two more highlight-reel plays in the fifth. Catcher Lilley gunned down a runner attempting to steal second base, and two pitches later, Wyatt Reyes made a diving catch on a line drive hit to left field.

With the losses, there is now a three-way tie for first place in District 23-3A. Onalaska, Anderson-Shiro and Tarkington all hold a 7-2 mark with five games remaining for each. The Wildcats face the Coldspring Trojans this week, with Friday’s match in San Jacinto County.