NOBLE — Western Heights reached the Class 5A Regional 1 title with a 7-1 win over Altus but fell, 15-0, to host Noble Friday (May 9). The Jets finished 17-15 for the best record in 20 plus years.
“I’m proud of what this team and this group of seniors!” Western Height coach Stephen Smitherman said via text. “They played hard. This is something that can be built on moving forward.”
WESTERN HEIGHTS 7, ALTUS 1
The Jets scored seven runs on three hits to beat Altus for second day in a row.
Western Heights took advantage of eight walks and three Altus errors.
On the mound senior Caden Wiebusch scattered six hits in a complete game win. He didn’t walk a batter and struck out two.
“Caden pitched a great game against Altus,” Smitherman said. “The team continued to have good at bats to break out and score three in the sixth to give us a big enough lead to allow Caden to just finish the complete game.”
Wiebusch’s triple to right field in the sixth inning highlighted the three-run inning. He scored two runs and drove in two runs.
The Jets also took advantage of Altus passed balls in the win.
Junior Akin Aguillard went 1-for-2 with a run scored, two stolen bases and an RBI. Senior Ami Avelar finished 1-for-3 with two stolen bases.
Seniors Jacob Bohnstedt, Kole Schrock, Kipp Davis and junior Keziah Howell each scored a run.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altus (13-16) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 |
| Western Heights (17-14) | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | X | 7 | 3 | 2 |
ALTUS – HBP: Ray Guzman. SB: Kashton Lamb. E: Kashton Lamb, Ray Guzman.
WESTERN HEIGHTS – 3B: Caden Wiebusch. HBP: Keziah Howell, Kole Schrock. SB: Akin Aguilard 2, Ami Avelar 2, Jacob Bohnstedt, Kipp Davis.
NOBLE 15, WESTERN HEIGHTS 0
Host Noble jumped on the Jets early scoring six runs in the first inning and seven runs in the second sending Western Heights out of the playoffs.
“Akin (Aguillard) had a hard task to contain Noble,” Smitherman said. “With that being said Noble didn’t miss when it came to hitting the ball.”
The Bears racked up 14 hits and took advantage of three Jet errors.
“I tip my cap the Coach Hughes and Noble, really good ball club,” Smitherman said.
Avelar had Western Heights’ only hit of the game, a fourth inning single. Bohnstedt walked once and Howell was hit by a pitch twice.
Noble junior Weston Randolph struck out 10 Jets in the five-inning run-rule contest.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Heights (17-15) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Noble (25-11) | 6 | 7 | 2 | 0 | X | 15 | 14 | 0 |
WESTERN HEIGHTS – HBP: Keziah Howell 2. E: Kipp Davis, Keziah Howell, Kole Schrock.
NOBLE – 2B: Bryson Carey 2, Liam Patrick, Seth Wilson, Trent Shortes. HBP: Jackson Steely, Weston Randolph. SB: Bryson Carey, Dierks Wente, Hayden Clement, Jackson Steely, Seth Wilson.
BIG TURNAROUND AT THE HEIGHTS
Smitherman said the playoff regional playoff experience was important for his program.
“Next season starts now for us! Hopefully they remember the feeling of defeat and allow it fuel the fire that to out work all to be the best version of themselves and the team.”
The 17-15 record was the first season above .500 in over a decade and possibly two decades. Smitherman said the season was important for baseball – and sports in general – for the Jets.
“Western Heights has had a tough go at it through the years as a whole. We still have a lot to do but it shows there is fight and want. Now, the players, students have something to hang their hat on! Still, work to do!”
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