Big inning propels team to 13-3 win over Griffin
The Lumberjacks erupted for seven runs in the third inning and added another four in the fifth to run-rule Griffin Insurance, 13-3, and win the tournament title Friday at Phillips Park.
“The boys just started to time their pitcher up (the second time through the lineup). They felt more comfortable in there,” said Brenneman Lumber coach Kyle Theibert. “I think, at the beginning of the game, it’s a championship game, and we were nervous. I think they settled into their game and started hitting the ball like they were capable of.”
The game was tied at 2 when Brenneman came to bat in the bottom of the third. When they finally got three outs, the Lumberjacks were fully in charge.
With one out, Brenneman smacked seven straight hits to blow the game wide open. After Collin McFarlane reached on a fielder’s choice, Hayden Higgins got the hit parade going with a single. Zac Clow then ripped a liner over the left-fielder’s head for a two-run triple and the rout was on.
“They just hit the ball well,” said Griffin coach Craig Meyer. “It’s not like we had a bunch of errors, they hit the ball great. We just couldn’t hit with them tonight.”
Isaac McGraw tried to single-handedly get the Insurance Salesmen back in the game, belting a long home run to left field that dented the vehicle of Theibert’s wife.
But, Caden Theibert, who pitched the first 4 2/3 innings, slammed the door on any thoughts Griffin had of making a comeback by getting two quick outs.
The bottom half of the Brenneman lineup came through in the fifth, scoring four times to invoke the mercy rule.
Lawrence and Byrnes both singled to start off the inning. After Kreager reached on an error, Grady Pope and Luka Hicks followed up with RBI singles to end the game.
“This is pretty cool. As a kid I lost two championship games. My son (Caden) is 12 years old and it’s really nice to see him go out with a bang,” said coach Theibert.
Griffin got a run in the first inning as Payton Hempfield singled to open the game, then stole his way around the bases before scoring on a throwing error.
Brenneman came back with two of its own on singles by Higgins, Clow, Theibert and Byrnes.
Theibert struggled a bit with control in the second, allowing two walks and hitting a batter as Griffin tied the game at two.
But, that’s when the Brenneman bats took over.
Clow led the Lumberjacks with a triple, double and a single, while driving in two runs. Pope added a single, double and three RBIs, while Theibert had two singles and two RBIs and Higgins and Lawrence had two singles each. Kreager chipped in with a double, and Byrnes drove in three with a single. Hicks added an RBI single and Noah Crowthers drove in a run.
Theibert allowed just three hits while striking out 10 in his 4 2/3 innings of work on the mound for Brenneman. Higgins and Byrnes combined to get the final out.
McGraw led Griffin Insurance with his solo shot in the fourth. Hempfield added two singles, while Azland Mason scored the other run.
Coen Armstrong threw the first 2 1/3 innings for Griffin, striking out five, while allowing nine hits and one walk. Gage Stull worked the final two innings, allowing five hits and one walk while fanning three.
“The kids didn’t quit. They tried hard all game and that’s all you can ask of them,” Meyer said.
