March 28, 2024

Error hurts Timberwolves, Eagles pull away late

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AFTON – The sixth inning swung everything East Union’s way Friday night, with the Eagles coming out on top against Southwest Valley 16-9.

With the Eagles and Timberwolves tied up in the bottom of the sixth, a short flyball to second baseman Brendan Knapp was dropped to keep the inning going.

What was supposed to be the final out, ending any potential danger, resulted in putting the go-ahead run on-base.

A single from Wyatt Carlson put runners on the corners, and a walk loaded the bases. A walk drove in the go-ahead run, and a clean steal of home from Carlson made the game 10-8.

Another walk, a throwing error and a passed ball led to the score being 16-8 entering the seventh inning. The Timberwolves’ Kade Hutchings drove in a run to close the difference to 16-9, but that was all SWV did do to create a comeback.

Seeing the dropped ball to continue the inning that spurned a comeback, East Union head coach Nate McCollough felt there was an opportunity to get a run or two, and that it’s refreshing to see something fall in East Union’s favor.

“Stay alive and maybe get one or two and hope we can go play defense,” said McCollough on what he was thinking that inning. “... We put the ball in play, put some pressure on them on the bases and they had a few plays get away from them to go in our favor. It’s nice to finally have one go in our favor instead of against us.”

Carlson’s steal of home to put EU up 10-8 was the game-winning run, and was one that ignited the team in the dugout.

“I think it was huge. The dugout had been loud before that, the last few innings, but after that it was really loud,” said McCollough. “He was almost begging to do it two pitches prior. He’s quick, gets good jumps and luckily for us their pitcher had a slow move. That was a big momentum shifter and turned out to be the exclamation point.”

Playing down early is not a strange thing for the Eagles. Trailing 5-0 after the first inning, and remaining down until tying it at 8-8 in the bottom of the fifth, McCollough saw the determination to get back into the game by his guys.

“Unfortunately, we’re not unfamiliar with putting ourselves in a hole early. ... We put ourselves in a big hole in the first inning just about every game,” said McCollough. “The last few games, we’ve been able to dig out and make it close, but we haven’t been able to overcome it and get on top. Today we didn’t change our focus, and I’m very happy and proud. They never hung their head or got down on themselves.”

The Eagles had multi-hit nights from Wyatt Carlson and Ethan Mitchell. Mitchell had three RBIs while Levi Exline, Alex Carrigan and Gus McNeill each had two RBIs.

On the mound, EU had Mitchell pitch 6 1/3 innings with nine strikeouts. He walked two.

Southwest Valley head coach Josh Lucken was unavailable for comment.

UP NEXT – Southwest Valley plays today (Monday) at 7:30 p.m. on the road against Stanton. East Union plays Tuesday, taking on Class 1A No. 1 Martensdale-St Marys on the road at 7:30 p.m.

East Union 16, Southwest Valley 9

R  H  E

SW  501  110 1— 9 13 3

EU  032  128 0 — 16 8 5

SW: Dalton Calkins 4 1/3 IP 3K 4BB, Mat Johnston 1 1/3 IP 1K 3BB, Brendan Knapp 1/3 IP 1K 2BB and Kade Hutchings. EU: Ethan Mitchell 6 1/3IP 9K 2BB, Levi Exline 2/3 IP 1BB and Milo Staver. W - Mitchell. L - Johnston. HR — None. 3B — SW: Robbie Barnes. 2B – SW: Gage Barton (2), Johnston. EU: Levi Exline. RBI — SW: Barton (3), Barnes (1), Tristan Cline (1), Brendan Pearson (1), Blake Thomas (1), Hutchings (1). EU: Ethan Mitchell (3), Levi Exline (2), Alex Carrigan (1), Gus McNeill (2), Kiefer Welch (1), Kael Seales (1). Multiple hits — SW: Johnston (3), Hutchings (2), Barton (2), Barnes (2). EU: Carlson (2), Mitchell (2).