Whisman, Griffith lead Arcola baseball over Marshall

By Editor | April 1, 2026 |

By Mike Monahan

ARCOLA – After suffering two heartbreaking losses, 8-7 to Central A&M in 10 innings on March 24 and 4-3 to WSS (Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg) the Arcola baseball team, which had scored 18 runs in four games, exploded for 14 runs in a 14-7 non-conference win over Marshall Monday at Kelly Moore Memorial Park.

The Purple Riders improved to 2-3 ahead of Thursday’s home game against Georgetown-Ridge Farm.

Marshall at Arcola, Monday

Arcola trailed 4-1 when they pushed three runs across to tie the game after three innings. The Purple Riders took the lead for good with a four-run fourth. The Lions made it 8-6 when Arcola pulled away with a five run fifth, making it 13-6.

In the fourth there was one out when Ronnie Vega walked and went to second on a passed ball. Brody Phillips walked and Brevyn Whisman, who was 4-for-5 with three doubles and three runs batted, smacked a double to left, scoring Vega. Jackson ‘Tank’ Griffith followed with a double driving in two runs. Griffith was perfect in two at-bats with a home run and three RBIs.

With two outs Grififth scored on an error.

Only three of the seven Marshall runs were earned as the Lions fell to 3-3.

WSS at Arcola, March 25

Arcola trailed 2-1 after two and a half innings when they took a 3-2 advantage with a two run third. Phillips reached on an error to start the inning and Whisman walked after Phillips stole second. Phillips stole third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Griffith. Hunter Drake drove in Whisman with a single for the lead.

However, the Hatchets tied the game on an unearned run in the fourth. The game remained tied at three until the top of the seventh when WSS scored on another error.

Arcola was retired in order in the seventh. The Hatchets turned a double play to erase a base runner in the sixth and turned another in the fifth with runners at first and second and no one out.

“We take pride in our defense,” said WSS coach Clayton Brandt who is in his second season. “We have not been very good early on; committing six errors in a game earlier. We are making strides. I have got some guys in positions that they have not played before. They are making adjustments and stepping up to the challenge.”

Arcola coach Mike Phillips said, “They (WSS) throw well. They have the luxury of playing fall ball (that is when they play their National Trail Conference games). They are able to work a lot of those kinks out where we get two weeks to work things out and get guys healthy and prepared and ready for baseball. The important thing is to stay healthy and ready for the long haul.”

Arcola was held to four hits as Phillips, Whisman, Hunter Drake and Jordan Gingerich had one hit each.

WSS sophomore Mason Manhart made his first ever varsity appearance on the mound and did not disappoint.

I just asked him if he was nervous and he said ‘Yes, a little”. I told him he had nothing to lose and to go out there and have fun” said Brandt, a former minor league player in the Washington Nationals organization. “He went out there and did better than what he thought he was going to do. I am just so proud of him coming out in a big moment.”

Manhart came in for relief of Branson Tingley and threw two hitless innings with two strikeouts and a walk.

Arcola’s last hit was a one-out single in the third by Hunter Drake. After that the only baserunners were due to two walks in the fifth and one in the sixth.

We have to understand the game of baseball and when to do things and when not to do things,” said Phillips. “We struck out nine times and only had four hits. That has kind of been the norm. We left 16 runners on against Central A&M. We have got to hit the ball in play. It is not that we are not getting runners on base because we are. We just can’t do anything once they get on. Our pitchers are doing a good job. We only allowed one earned run.”

Central A&M at Arcola, March 24

Arcola led 4-0 after one inning, but Central A&M scored two in the second, one in the third and two in the fifth to lead 5-4. Another two runs made it 7-4 when the Purple Riders tied the game with three runs in the sixth.

Neither team scored until the 10th when the Raiders had runners on first and second with no outs. Arcola retried the next two batters, but Rhett McLain hit a single to score what turned out to be the winning run.

The Purple Riders threatened in their half of the 10th when Griffth and Hunter Drake walked. Griffith advanced to second on a wild pitch and third also. Arcola had runners on second and third with no outs when Central A&M got a strikeout and a flyout. The bases were loaded after Kaden Hohlbauch was hit by a pitch. However the three-hour game ended with a strikeout.

Arcola 14,

Marshall 7

Marshall 220 020 1–7-8-2

Arcola 103 451 x–14-13-4

Winning pitcher: Brody Drake 3 innings, 4 hits, 3 runs, 1 earned, 6 strikeouts, 6 walks; Starter: Brevyn Whisman 3 innings, 3 hits, 4 runs, 2 earned, 6 strikeouts, 4 walks; relief: Brody Phillips 1 inning, 1 hit, 0 runs, 1 strikeout, 1 walk

ARCOLA: Phillips 2-for-3, double, 2 stolen bases, 4 runs, RBI; Whisman 4-for-5, 3 doubles, stolen base, 3 runs, 4 RBIs; Jackson Griffith 2-for-2, double, home run, 4 runs, 3 RBIs; Hunter Drake 1-for-5, RBI; Brody Drake 1-for-3, double, stolen base,RBI; Jordan Giingerich 1-for-3, 2 RBIs; Kaden Hohlbauch 2-for-3, run, RBI; Ronnie Vega 2 runs

WSS 4, Arcola 3

WSS 002 100 1–4-6-1

Arcola 102 000 0–3-4-6

Losing pitcher: Whisman 3 ⅔ innings, 1 hit, 1 run, 0 earned, 9 strikeouts, 2 walks; starter: Phillips 3 ⅓ innings, 5 hits, 3 runs, 1 earned, 3 strikeouts, 2 walks

ARCOLA: Philips 1-for-3, double, 2 stolen bases, 2 runs; Whisman 1-for-1, run, RBI; Griffith sacrifice, RBI; Hunter Drake 1-for-3, RBI; Gingerich 1-for-3

Central A&M 8, Arcola 7

C’ A&M 021 022 000 1–8-11-5

Arcola 400 003 000 0–7-6-3

Losing pitcher: Hunter Drake 3 innings, 2 hits, 1 run, 0 earned, 2 strikeouts, 1 walk; Starter: Brody Drake 3 ⅔ innings, 4 hits, 3 runs, 2 earned, 5 strikeouts, 2 walks; relief: Gingerich 3 ½ innings, 5 hits, 4 runs, 2 earned, 4 strikeouts, 2 walks

ARCOLA: Phillips 1-for-5, stolen base, run; Whisman run, RBI; Griffith 1-for-3, run; Hunter Drake 1-for-4, stolen base, run; Brody Drake run; Gingerich 1-for-4; Canton Wesch 1-for-6, run; Vega 1-for-3, run, stolen base

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