Tony Nathaniel struck out nine in winning Monday's second game against W-P.
Tyler Leslie threw six no-hit innings for the Cards, but it wasn't enough to keep them from falling to Oscoda 5-3.
Brent Baker
Jason Jimenez throws out a runner from third base in the second game of Monday's doubleheader.

OSCODA - April 10, 2006 - Whittemore-Prescott opened its North East Michigan Conference slate with a bang Monday, defeating Oscoda 14-2 in the opening game of a league baseball doubleheader. The Owls bounced back by doing something they didn't do all last season in winning an NEMC contest, holding on to defeat W-P 5-3 in the nightcap despite not getting a hit in the game.

In the opener, the Cards needed just four hits to score their 14 runs as Oscoda pitchers dished out 12 walks, including four of the first five batters to start out the sixth inning, when W-P finished off the game with seven runs.

Kevin Tanner drove in three runs with a single, a double and a sacrifice fly, scored twice and stole three bases, while Tom Mead added a double and Darrin Scoles added two hits and two RBIs.

Baron McBride picked up the win, pitching four innings, giving up two hits and a sacrifice fly to Torib Uchel. McBride walked three -- all in the fourth inning -- and struck out four, while Tyler Leslie pitched two shutout innings of relief to close it out.

Oscoda took a 4-0 lead in the first inning of the second game and rode a strong pitching performance by Tony Nathaniel, who carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning.

Three walks and two errors led to the Owls' first inning lead, and Oscoda added a run in the fifth on Steve Wiede's sacrifice fly that brought home Donald Crevier.

The Cards, who had only three baserunners and no hits through the first five innings, made a game of it in the sixth when Pete Jackson led off with a single, Kevin Tanner walked and Leslie drove a two-run single to right. But Nathaniel came back to pick up a strikeout and a groundout before Brett DeBoever made it 5-3 with a run-scoring single. Tom Mead, the tying run, flew out to right to end the game.

Nathaniel struck out nine and walked four while finishing with a three-hitter.

Leslie pitched six innings of no-hit relief, allowing one run on four walks while striking out eight. Mike Gusler started and took the loss.

The Cards (5-2, 1-1 NEMC) host Standish-Sterling on April 18, while the Owls (3-1, 1-1) travel to Hale on Thursday, April 13.