In their last six games of the season, the Oxford Wildcats baseball team has shown they will be no easy pushovers in district playoffs.
Winning all of their games against Holly, Birch Run and Lapeer East, the Wildcats proved they are ready to take on the big boys. With four league victories, the team improved its league record to 6-6, an even .500 for the 2004 campaign. Although it is not the record the Wildcats wanted coming into the season, they can’t be upset with their play going into districts.
In game one against Holly on May 24, starting pitcher Kyle Oliver put on a clinic, posting a shutout in his best outing of the season, for the 14-0 win. Oliver gave up one hit and recorded six strikeouts in the victory, and only allowed the Bronchos to reach base three times.
Uncharacteristically, the Wildcats did not score in the first inning, but definitely made up for that fact with an eight-run explosion in the top of the third. Oxford secondbaseman Jim Carrier hit his fourth homerun of the season, and both Steve Flores and Oliver hit triples in the third inning.
In game two, the Cats dominated in similar fashion, winning this time by a score of 16-0, with senior Ryan Stull getting the victory and the shutout on the mound.
On May 26, the Wildcats faced Birch Run, and for the first time this season, freshman Jeremy Bukoski started game one on the mound. Bukoski only gave up four hits in five innings pitched, as Oxford went on to win the game 9-7.
In game two, the Cats continued to catch fire at the plate, stomping Birch Run with sixteen runs in a 16-5 victory. Brett Brammer was an offensive force for the Cats, hitting two triples and driving in six RBIs.
On May 27, the Wildcats played their make up games against the Lapeer East Eagles, winning 4-1 and 12-1, respectively. Although the first game was not very offensive by either team, Oxford’s Dave Reile did manage a homerun in the top of the second, and Carrier added to his totals going two-for-three with a single and a double. Oxford senior Bryan Mattack got credit for the win on the hill for the second straight game.
In game two, Mattack was again the star, going two-for-two with a grand slam homerun in the top of the second, and hitting an RBI single in the fourth.
The admirable team effort that powered Oxford to six win streak could give the Wildcats all the momentum they need going into next week’s districts.
Mike Stechschulte is a junior at Oxford High School who plans to major in the field of journalism.