White House High sophomore rightfielder Kevin James fields a first-inning ground ball during Monday’s first game.
WHITE HOUSE The White House High baseball team ended its season with back-to-back losses to visiting White House Heritage in District 9-AA Tournament action on Monday evening.
The two teams split their regular-season contests.
After dropping their tournament opener to Harpeth on Friday, the third-seeded Patriots then eliminated Harpeth with a 6-5 victory on Saturday afternoon. Then, White House Heritage reached Tuesday’s 9-AA championship game – facing Sycamore (a 7-5 winner over Greenbrier on Monday) – with the back-to-back wins over White House.
The second-seeded Blue Devils managed just two hits off of Graysen Sherman in Monday’s first game, a 2-0 win.
White House High senior shortstop Brian Mullins throws to first base during the fourth inning of Monday’s first game.
Sherman struck out 11 hitters.
Noah Burden’s triple and Jake Jarvis’ single were the only White House hits. Jarvis also drew two base on balls.
White House High senior third baseman Jake Jarvis throws to first base for a third-inning putout.
White House Heritage (20-12) scored both runs in the first inning, on a single by Austin Wood and thanks to a fielding error.
White House senior Ethan Escue (5-3) pitched a complete game, allowing one earned run on six hits. The Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) College signee issued two base on balls and struck out six hitters.
The Blue Devils had their rally fall short in game two, a 5-4 loss.
Burden scored on Jarvis’ first-inning groundout, but the Patriots scored the next five runs.
Junior Hunter Neumair and sophomore Kevin James singled in fifth-inning runs, and junior Dillon Draper drew a bases-loaded walk to force in a run.
White House High senior shortstop Brian Mullins throws to first base during the fourth inning of Monday’s first game.
However, White House (15-12) left the bases loaded in the fifth and seventh innings and left two runners in scoring position in the sixth.
Brandon Searcy pitched 4 and 1/3 innings to earn the win, before Tyler Leding tossed 2 and 1/3 innings.
Sherman came on to retire the game’s final hitter on an infield ground ball that resulted in a game-ending forceout.
Blue Devil senior Luke Hopkins went the distance on the mound, scattering six hits. The left-hander issued five base on balls and struck out four hitters.
Both Hopkins and classmate Brian Mullins had two hits.
Patriot leadoff hitter Cody Baker singled, tripled, drew two walks, stole two bases, scored a run and drove in two runs.
Reach Craig Harris at charris@mtcngroup.com or at 615-575-7138. Follow him on Twitter @HarrisGNESports.