Wolverines rally to beat rival Eagles
MABEN – East Webster pitcher Walker Johnson could have been disappointed about giving up three runs and five hits in three-plus innings to the Eupora Eagles and let that get him down the rest of the game. He did not do that. Johnson remained in the game and drove in two runs as a hitter to help the Wolverines rally to beat the rival Eagles 6-3 Saturday afternoon in Cumberland.
“When you are not having the best day, it's a representation of how you are going to do later in the season,” Johnson said about his mental approach to the game. “When it's not going your way, what's going to happen? We were able to scratch out a win on a day where there are not a lot of hits, not a lot of runs and not the best pitching. You keep fighting and if you win those, you can do well in the postseason.”
With the victory East Webster improved its records to 10-5 overall and 3-1 in Class 2A, Region 2. Eupora fell to 5-10 and 1-3.
The game started out well for the Eagles as they produced a pair of runs in the first inning off Johnson with two hits. Brett May singled and Tanner Knight, then both came home on Johnson wild pitches.
In the third frame, Knight was hit by a pitch and scored on a hit by Ian Garrard.
That was all that Johnson and Wolverine relief pitchers Kainan Reed and Jon Austin Roberts gave up.
After throwing 105 pitches on Tuesday, East Webster coach Wes Johnson believes he got what was needed from his senior hurler and son.
“He came back and showed a pretty gutty performance,” coach Johnson said. “I was proud that he came in there, battled and gave us a chance to win.”
Walker Johnson struck out six during his 3.1-inning stint, while Reed worked 1.2 innings to get the win and Roberts pitched the final two frames to earn the save.
The Wolverines began their come back in the fourth inning.
Art Thompson led off the frame with a double, then Wes Silver singled. After Dalton Perrigin walked to load the bases, Roberts was issued a bases-loaded free pass to score Thompson. Silver came home on a fielder's choice to Walker Johnson to cut the Eupora lead to 3-2.
East Webster scored four more times in the fifth without the benefit of a base hit.
J.T. Slay walked and scored on a passed ball to tie the game, then Silver walked, Perrigin was hit by a pitch and Roberts walked to load the bases. Walker Johnson drove in his second run of the outing when he was hit around the head area with a pitch to give the Wolverines a 4-3 advantage.
East Webster scored two more times in the inning when Perrigin came home on a walk to Conner Shurden and Roberts crossed the dish on a walk to Cameron Pilgrim.
Even though he would have liked to have seen his Wolverines get off to a better start in the game, Wes Johnson was pleased to see the fight in his team.
“We got in their bullpen,” the coach said. “We got down, but those guys kept fighting, found a way to score some runs late in the game and put us right where we need to be.”
Both teams left 10 runners on base each, but East Webster produced runs when it mattered.
Eupora coach Clayton Dodd said his team just didn't get the key hit late, but has noticed the improvement over the last several weeks. The Eagles defeated the Wolverines 5-4 in 10 innings on Tuesday, which was encouraging.
“When you get runners in scoring position and strike out four times in clutch situations, you can't win very many ball games,” Dodd said. “We've got to do a better job of battling at the plate late in the game and need to learn how to finish.
“I told them there are only two things you can do. You can either pack it up, fold the tent and go to the house, or you can get better. Our kids do a good job. They work hard. We've just got to do a better job at finishing ball games.”
Eupora did out-hit East Webster 6-5. Brett May had a single and a double, while Knight had the only other extra base hit with his double.
For the Wolverines, Silver had two singles and Thompson had the only extra base hit with his fourthinning double.