Adam Harper of Northwood waits for a pitch Saturday. The University catcher is Alex Zive. (Photos: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).
Northwood and University baseball teams were back in action Saturday with a makeup Pacific Coast League doubleheader after a week off caused by the heavy rains.
Northwood won an exciting opener 3-2 in eight innings and captured the nightcap 3-0 on a sunny day at Northwood.
Coach Doug Euper’s Timberwolves (10-2, 9-1) is battling Woodbridge (13-3, 12-2) which has played more games, for the top spot in the PCL.
In the opener, University (6-6-1, 3-5-1) battled back to tie the game 2-2 in the seventh inning on an RBI double by Luke Weston which drove in Atticus Oh, who had singled.
But in the bottom of the eighth, Jordan Kim was hit by a pitch with two outs. Rylan Littlejohn then grounded a ball to third base. But the third baseman’s throw to second base went past the second baseman into right field allowing Kim to score the winning run.
To see the slide show, click on the first photo:
Senior reliever Logan Rome was effective for Uni after coming on in relief of starter Michael Dougherty, suffered the loss. Rome, allowed two hits over 3 2/3 innings with a strikeout and no earned runs.
Bobby Bangs, who came on in relief of starter Paul Grossman in the sixth inning, got the win for Northwood, striking out five.
“They played great, they’ve been playing great all year,” said Euper, referring to University’s play.
“It just came down to getting a break and we got a break, that’s all it really was. What you want when you prepare your team to play baseball is being prepared to play in that type of a game. I thought our guys did a really good job of staying in there.”
Bangs also delivered offensively, going 2 for 4 with an RBI in the second inning that drove in Ahmad Khazi to even the score 1-1.
“We played a great team, they really played hard,” Bangs said. “I was really worried at the end but I was confident in my stuff and I was confident I was going to get these guys out and compete and help my team out. It was tough, they have a lot of good hitters but I just gave them what I have and it worked out in the end.”
University put up a fight and looked like it might move ahead in the seventh after tying the game. The Trojans had the bases loaded and one out, but Bangs was able to work out of trouble.
University had other opportunities to score and wound up stranding 10 runners.
“We needed to win that to stay in the hunt,” said University Coach Wesley Shaw. “We’re not out of it, but it just puts our back up against the wall even more …. These kids know, they saw the same game that I saw, that they have to make adjustments and stay competitive and postive, it’s just the game of baseball.
“They know they can play with anybody; we’re in every game. We need to catch a break.”
Catcher Alex Zive and the other RBI for Uni. Zive, Weston, who scored the Trojans first run, and Riven Ruhanage each had two hits for the Trojans, who were ranked sixth in the CIF Division 6 poll this week.
Shaw was pleased with the effort of Rome, who was cheered on by his parents Janet and Jim Rome. Jim Rome is the well-known national television and radio broacaster.
“Logan threw very, very well,” Shaw said. “He had 41 pitches and 34 strikes. They scored off of one ball in four innings, that wasn’t even a hit, it was an out. He’s done really well for us, I’m really pleased with his development.”
University was without ace pitcher Cooper Berger, who was out sick and not suited up, Shaw said.
“Next man up, no excuses, we’ve got capable guys and we showed it, they didn’t run away with anything,” Shaw said.
Shaw added:
“We need to get one of these, that’s all there is too it.”
“I thought both teams did a really good job today,” Northwood’s Euper added after the first game.
NORTHWOOD 3, UNIVERSITY 0: Casey Euper, son of the head coach, pitched a 2-hit shutout, striking out 10 in the second game. Adam Harper went 2 for 3 with a double and two RBI. Littlejohn and Bangs each went 2 for 3, Coach Euper said.
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—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
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