by Scott Chrisman
After squandering chances to win the game in the previous three innings, South O’Brien was finally able to convert. Damian Villarreal’s tenth-inning double drove in Brody Van Beek with the winning run in the Wolverines’ 3-2 War Eagle Conference victory over George-Little Rock June 20 at Paullina. It was the first conference win after five losses for the Wolverines who are 2-13 on the season.
There were two outs in the tenth when Van Beek drew a walk and then stole second. Villarreal’s double was lined to center. South O’Brien left the bases loaded in the seventh and stranded two in the ninth. The Wolverines left a total of 15 runners on base.
The pitching combo of Alex Griebel and Gabe Moermond limited the Mustangs to seven hits. Greibel went 6-1/3 innings allowing the two runs (both unearned) on six hits. He struck out five and walked one. Moermond recorded eight strikeouts and allowed just one hit in blanking George-Little Rock over the final 3-2/3 innings to keep giving the Wolverines chances to win it. South O’Brien committed five errors and both of the Mustang runners who ended up scoring were on base because of errors.
The Wolverines tied game in the third as the top of the order came up to bat. Villarreal singled and stole second. Gabe Moermond knocked him in with a double. Brady Riedemann drew a walk and both runners advanced on a ground ball to first off the bat of Austin Negus. Moermond came home on a wild pitch.
Villarreal and Moermond each had three hits in the game. Negus contributed two hits and Riedemann, Van Beek and Brennan Billick one each.
GLR 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 2
SO’ 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 – 3