South O’Brien and Trinity Christian got together for Extra-Innings Friday on June 27 at Paullina. Just one week before at the same location the Wolverines had beaten George-Little Rock in 10 innings. This time only nine innings were needed for the locals to walk-off Trinity 2-1. It might also be fair to call it Walk-Off Friday as the South O’Brien softball girls also topped the Tigers in walk-off fashion. The win for the baseball boys allowed them to raise their War Eagle Conference record to 2-5 and their season mark to 3-15.
The Wolverines were at the top of the order in the bottom of the ninth. Damian Villarreal singled and stole second. Gabe Moermond hit a fly ball to center that was deep enough for Villarreal to tag up and advance to third. Austin Negus stepped up to the plate and hit a ground ball to second. As the out was recorded at first Villareal raced for home and beat the throw to score the game-winner with Negus getting the RBI.
Trinity had only four hits in the game but one of them was a home run by Carter Westra in the fourth inning to give the Tigers the lead. South O’Brien tied the game in the fifth. With one out Villarreal reached on an error. Moermond drove him in with a double. Brady Riedemann followed with a single but both he and Moermond were stranded. In the eighth inning Negus, Will Stout and Brennan Billick walked but the bases were left loaded. The Wolverines stranded a total of 12 runners. Trinity left five runners on base.
Starting pitcher Alex Griebel and reliever Villarreal each allowed only two hits. Griebel struck out five batters and hit one in pitching the first four innings. Villarreal totaled seven K’s in his five innings of work. He neither walked nor hit a batter. The defense committed just one error behind the pitchers.
At the dish Moermond was 3-for-5, Stout 2-for-3 and Riedemann 2-for-4. Villarreal and Billick each had one hit.
Trinity 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 – 1
S. O’Brien 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 – 2