Loss to Phillips costs Tharptown control of Wildcats' playoff chances

By Staff
Scot Beard
THARPTOWN -Tharptown’s chances of reaching the state baseball playoffs took a hit Wednesday with the Wildcats’ 13-7 loss to Phillips.
The Wildcats were 2-0 in area play heading into this week, but lost to the Bears Tuesday and the loss Wednesday drops them to 2-2 in the area.
Phillips improved to 2-2 also, with both losses against Vina, and earned a tiebreaker against Tharptown in the event of a tie in the final area standings.
“We’ve got to keep our heads up,” said Tharptown coach Derek Ergle. “We cant’ give up, we’ve got a lot of games left.”
The Wildcats took the lead in the bottom of the first inning when Jacob Parker hit a solo home run.
They added to the lead in the third.
Tristen Smith drew a walk to open the inning and moved to second on a single by Kelby Hallmark. Trevor Hallmark then reached to load the bases for Tharptown.
Timothy Bryant singled to score Smith. Kelby Hallmark then scored on an odd play.
With Wade Berryman batting, the Phillips pitcher threw a ball. Berryman, who thought it was ball four, headed to first base.
The umpire said the count was 3-2, but never called time. Kelby Hallmark, who had headed towards home as Berryman walked towards first, raced to the plate to score and give the Wildcats a 3-0 advantage.
Phillips scored eight runs in the fourth inning to take control of the game.
Tharptown answered in the bottom of the fourth as Justin Britnell singled and Kelby Hallmark reached on an error. With two outs, Trevor Hallmark hit a three-run homer to cut the deficit to 8-6.
The Bears and Wildcats each scored one run in the fifth, but Phillips put the game away with three runs in the sixth and another run in the seventh.
“We tried to make a comeback, but we fell short,” Ergle said. “Most of the season we’ve been able to comeback, but we couldn’t do it today.”
Vina sweeps Belgreen
Vina moved within one win of clinching the Class 1A, Area 15 title this week by sweeping Belgreen 14-0 and 18-0.
Morgan McCarley picked up the win in the first game, pitching four-inning no-hitter while striking out 10.
Channing Haithcock doubled and had three RBIs to lead the Red Devils while Brent Townsend and Nick Schmittou both had two hits and two RBIs.
Townsend earned the win in the second game, pitching four innings while allowing three hits and striking out nine.
Patrick White was 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles and four RBIs to lead Vina.
Adam Pharr and Haithcock were both 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles. Pharr hit a solo home run.
Keith Hester and Brody Roberts each singled with Roberts recording an RBI. Ethan Pharr and Andrew Hester both doubled.
Trent Edwards had two singles for Belgreen.
With the wins, Vina improved to 13-5 overall and 4-0 in area play.
Playoff picture dim
Tharptown completes its area schedule Monday and Tuesday against ninth-ranked Vina – 4-0 in area play – while Phillips will conclude its area schedule against Belgreen, which is 0-4 in area play.
The chances of Tharptown reaching the postseason are not good. The scenarios are not in their favor.
The Wildcats do not control their own destiny and need help from Belgreen to make the postseason.
The easiest way to get in the playoffs would be to sweep Vina next week and for Phillips to split with Belgreen. Tharptown and Vina would get the playoff berths with 4-2 records – a tiebreaker would determine the area champion – while Phillips would finish third with a 3-3 record in area play and Belgreen would be fourth with a 1-5 record.
“Vina has a good team,” Ergle said. “We have to play hard to beat them.”
Another way for Tharptown to get in would be for the Wildcats to sweep or split with Vina and for Belgreen to sweep Phillips.
If Tharptown sweeps Vina – and Belgreen sweeps Phillips – the Wildcats would be area champions because they would be tied with Vina at the top of the standings with identical 4-2 records, but Tharptown would hold the head-to-head tiebreaker. Belgreen would finish third and Phillips would be fourth.
If the Wildcats split with Vina and Belgreen sweeps Phillips, Vina would be area champs with a 5-1 record and Tharptown would be second with a 3-3 record. Belgreen would be third and Phillips would be fourth.
Those scenarios are unlikely because Belgreen has struggled in baseball this season and has been outscored 62-1 in area play.
The other scenario for Tharptown to get a playoff berth is to sweep Vina and for Phillips to sweep Belgreen. That would create a three-way tie between Phillips, Tharptown and Vina for the area title since each team would have a 4-2 record in area play.
Tharptown would have to have the tiebreakers go its way to earn a berth under that scenario.
The Wildcats would be eliminated from postseason contention if Phillips sweeps Belgreen Tharptown does not sweep Vina.
Vina needs only one win to clinch the area title.