An early 6-1 lead for the Southwest Valley Timberwolves was the cushion they needed for an 8-5 victory over the Griswold Tigers on Wednesday night. It was a 5-hit, 5-run third inning for the Timberwolves that had them off and running. That 6-1 lead was just 6-5 in the 5th inning, but two late runs by Southwest Valley put the game away. Caleb Owen pitched in relief beginning in the 5th inning and did not allow a hit on his way to a win on Wednesday.
Callen Keiser got Griswold on the board first in the 2nd inning, making it 1-0 with an infield single. That lead, however, would not stand for very long. 5 hits and 5-runs later and Southwest Valley found themselves in control. They hit around the order and the first five batters scored. Caleb Owen, who reached base four times in 5 PA’s, collected his first hit with an RBI single and would later score on a double from Griffin Wetzel.
Griswold responded nicely in the fourth inning, scoring three and making it a two run ballgame after Southwest Valley tallied another on in the top half on the inning. Callen Keiser recorded his second hit of the ball game with a single and would score the third run of the inning a little later on. A Calden Turner double in the 5th inning made it a one run ball game. The Timberwolves took starter Brayden Truman out of the game and brough in Caleb Owen to finish the 5th with two outs.
Caleb Owen served to be the right choice of Southwest Valley. He would not allow a hit the rest of the ball game and went the the rest of the final 2.1 innings. In the 7th, both Gavin Wetzel and Brody Crozier came around to score to make it an 8-5 ball game. With how well Owen pitched, that three run lead was all they needed as he got the final three outs to seal a victory and a winning season for the Southwest Valley Timberwolves in Griswold. Head Coach Keegan Longabaugh credits his pitching and defense for the win.
Caleb Owen had a fantastic night on the mound and at the plate. He allowed no hits through 2 and a third innings and reached base 4 times including two singles:
Coach Longabaugh says the team has bounced back well following a tough loss a few games ago:
Offensively the Timberwolves were able to create up and down the lineup, but it was the top of the lineup that delivered the final blow in the 7th inning:
The Southwest Valley Timberwolves finish the regular season with a record of 10-9 and will travel to Mount Ayr High School for their first round district tournament game against Bedford on Friday night at 5 pm.
