Fielding issues on the baseball diamond plagued Marmaton Valley High in a pair of losses Monday.
The Wildcats dropped 19-3 and 9-5 decisions to Uniontown High.
“We really have to clean up the fielding if we want to stay in ball games,” Wildcat head coach Derek Scharff said.
Marmaton Valley committed seven errors in the opener and five in the nightcap.
Uniontown led 10-0 after half an inning in game 1 to take control.
Colton Alexander lasted a third of an inning, allowing three walks and three hits.
Greg Neria came on in relief, giving up four hits and three walks in 3 2/3 innings. Mike Beggs pitched a hitless inning. He hit two batters and struck out two.
“Colton struggled with his command,” Scharff said.
“When he did throw strikes, we didn’t field the ball behind him. We struggled badly that first inning. Greg came in and pitched pretty well.
“We struggled at the plate also. We had several walks, but couldn’t get any hits to get runners in.”
Jake Kress led Marmaton Valley’s hitters with a pair of singles. Sage Hall also had a single.
GAME 2 was a bit more competitive. Hall pitched a complete game for Marmaton Valley, allowing four hits and eight walks in seven innings. Only two of the Eagles’ runs were earned.
“He struggled at times with walks, but worked his way through,” Scharff said. “He kept the game close for us and gave us an opportunity to win. We did a much better job at the plate.”
Twice Marmaton Valley left the bases loaded.
The key sequence came when Marmaton Valley loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the sixth, but could only score one to trail 7-5. Uniontown tacked on two in the top of the seventh for insurance.
Gage Adams had a double for the Wildcats, while Kress, Hall, Neria and Jake Kale had singles.
Marmaton Valley hosts St. Paul Thursday.
