The Yates Center Wildcats hope to build a bit of momentum ahead of the postseason Thursday against Marmaton Valley following a tough sweep by the Neodesha Blue Streaks.
The Blue Streaks defeated the Wildcats 13-1 and 17-1 Monday night, opening a busy week with doubleheaders for Yates Center against Three Rivers League foes Southeast Tuesday and Marmaton Thursday.
Yates Center senior Garrett Audiss connects with a pitch Monday against Neodesha.
“We shot ourselves in the foot. Blake Morrison started us off in that game pitching well (in the finale) and finding the strike zone,” Yates Center coach Jarrod McVey said. “He was pitching for contact, and we made a couple of plays. Then, we didn’t make a couple of plays and to Neodesha’s credit, they were aggressive on the basepaths. After misplaying a ball or two it compounds.”
Yates Center jumped out to an early lead after junior shortstop Kage Beck opened the first frame with a lead-off single, then reached home on a passed ball. That was as close to victory as Yates Center would get as Neodesha scored 13-unanswered runs for the victory.
Beck tied freshman pitcher Evan McVey for the team lead in hits. Beck hit in 1 of 3 appearances while McVey hit in 1 of 2 appearances, limited due to a run-rule stoppage in the fifth inning. McVey also had a pair of strikeouts getting the start.
In the finale, the Wildcats were on the wrong end of a two-pitcher, three-inning no-hitter. A myriad of infield errors compounded by several walks allowed the Blue Streaks to circle the bases with little regard. Junior pitcher Blake Morrison and senior Kaden Rutherford did what they could on the mound, tallying a pair of strikeouts each, but the game was out of reach before the end of the first frame.
“We battled, and that’s what I’m always proud of,” Jarrod McVey said. “Tuesday we make up a doubleheader against Southeast and Thursday we go to Marmaton. I have 11 guys and we were only able to pitch to a minimum. The guys who had success, I couldn’t leave in there.”
With the loss, the Wildcats fall to 2-14, but jump into Three Rivers League play against Marmaton Valley, who seems red hot after splitting a doubleheader with perennial powerhouse Crest last Thursday. Coach McVey said he can see potential in his team, even the potential of a regional title. However, his players must pile up enough small successes for that potential to come out in big moments.
“We’re taking it one game at a time. It may feel like the season only has a few weeks or a month left, that’s an eternity in a baseball season,” Coach McVey said. “There are a lot of innings to be played, and I’m excited to get back onto the field. We’re just trying to compete every game and at our regional come away with a title.”
First pitches for Thursday’s doubleheader are 4:30 p.m. and 6:45 p.m.
