Photos by Scott DeCamp | CatchMark
WHITEHALL — On a picture-perfect day for baseball, Whitehall opened its 2023 season Thursday with a pair of strong pitching performances in a sweep of visiting Mason County Central.
Whitehall defeated MCC 6-2 in the first game and 12-2 in five innings in the second game during the West Michigan Conference nondivisional doubleheader.
Here are more details and notables from the day:
- In Game 1, Whitehall’s Ryne Christensen allowed two runs in the second inning as Mason County Central took the early lead, but then he shut down the Spartans. The junior right-hander allowed only one hit in the game and struck out seven to go with three walks.
- Isaac VanAmberg, Landon Howe and Jack McDowell had two hits apiece for Whitehall in the first game. Howe had two doubles and drove in three runs. VanAmberg scored two runs.
- The Vikings’ Kyle Stratton doubled and had two RBIs in Game 1.
- Will Chye took the loss in the first game for Mason County Central. The senior right-hander allowed six runs (five earned) on eight hits with eight strikeouts and four walks.
- Tyler Thurow had the Spartans’ lone hit in Game 1.
- VanAmberg picked up the Game 2 pitching win for Whitehall. The junior right-hander allowed two runs on three hits with eight strikeouts and one walk in five innings of work.
- Jaden Brinkert paced Whitehall offensively in the second game, going 4-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored.
- VanAmberg and McDowell had two hits apiece for the Vikings in Game 2. VanAmberg doubled and drove in four runs.
- Stratton scored three runs for Whitehall in Game 2, while McDowell scored two.
- Whitehall scored six runs in the second inning to take a commanding 8-2 lead during the second game.
- Braylin Thurow took the Game 2 loss for Mason County Central. he allowed eight runs (only two earned) on five hits with no strikeouts and three walks in 1 2/3 innings.
- Chye had a hit and scored a run for Mason County Central in the second game.
- Mason County Central had eight errors in the nightcap.
- Mason County Central’s record is now 2-2 overall (2-0 WMC Rivers Division).
