Wildcats nipped in regional finale
A year after finishing the spring baseball season as the Class A state runner-up, Wister was unable to find clutch offense in its Class 2A regional finale at home, losing 3-1 to Calera two days after taking a one-run loss to the Bulldogs in the first final-round game.
Calera, the 13th-ranked team in Class 2A, struck first with no outs in the top of the first inning on its third hit of the inning.
Wister (26-7), the fourth-ranked Class 2A team, took advantage of a pair of errors in the third inning to score C.J. Halford.
The Wildcats loaded the bases in the fifth inning with one out via two walks and a hit by pitch, but did not score.
Calera took the lead in the top of the sixth on a passed ball after a walk. After catcher Tucker Wooten caught a runner stealing second base, Calera added a run on a single.
Landon Thornburg led off the bottom of the seventh by being hit by a pitch, but Wister was stunned after Halford grounded into a double play.
A flyout to deep left field ended the Wildcats’ season.
Riley Crane went 2-for4. Dartyn Meeks threw four strikeouts while pitching into the sixth inning.
Connar Hall is the only senior on the team.