Fifth inning comeback gives BVNW edge over BVSW, 6-4

The varsity baseball team improved to 3-1 on the season after a 6-4 win over Blue Valley Southwest April 5.

Ben Brown, Sports Editor

 

With the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning, senior first baseman Holden Missey stepped up to the plate. Missey- who was 0-for-2 on the day- and the Huskies trailed the Blue Valley Southwest Timberwolves in an EKL matchup Thursday afternoon, 4-2.

“I thought my first two at bats weren’t bad. I had a line drive to first base. My second at-bat he just threw really good pitches,” Missey said.  “I couldn’t do anything about that, but I just thought to myself, you know it’s gonna happen, and I’m going to need to be ready for it.”

After laying off of a first-pitch curveball, Missey roped the next pitch to the outfield scoring senior Jack Beckley and sophomore Ryan Callahan, tying the game at 4-4.

With Missey at second base and senior Jack MacGee at third base, senior catcher Clayton Leathers looked to extend the fifth inning and give the Huskies the lead. After getting down in the count, Leathers was able to make contact with the ball scoring Missey and MacGee on a 2-run single.

“[I] kinda predicted an offspeed would come,” Leathers said. “He hung it and I didn’t miss it, so thankfully I put the bat on the ball, and I tried to get a base hit, and I did.”

With two RBI singles from Missey and Leathers in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Huskies took a 6-4 lead over the Timberwolves with two innings to play.

Senior reliever Scott Duensing would finish out the game on the mound for BVNW. After coming in and getting one quick out in the top of the fifth inning, Duensing continued his dominance on the mound for the last two innings. The Huskies left-hander held the Timberwolves scoreless and recorded the last seven outs solidifying a 6-4 victory for the Huskies.

Before their fifth inning comeback, BVNW trailed early. Senior pitcher Will Dennis started in the EKL matchup. After allowing a lead-off double in the first inning, Dennis and the Huskies struggled as the Timberwolves were able to score four runs.

After getting down early, the Huskies were able to start the comeback after sophomores Matt Miller and Ryan Callahan got on base after getting singles. With one out and two runners in scoring position, senior third baseman Josh Fiene managed to drill a ball over the centerfileders head on an RBI double. The Huskies closed the gap as they trailed the Timberwolves 4-2 after the first inning.

Dennis was able to settle in the game after allowing four runs in the first. Dennis went on to pitch 4 2/3 innings and held the Timberwolves scoreless after the first inning. Duensing took the mound and finished out the game holding Southwest to four runs. The pitching, along with two RBI’s each from Fiene, Missey and Leathers carried BVNW to a 6-4 win.

With the win, Blue Valley Northwest improves to 3-1 on the season. The Huskies take on Blue Valley West which is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 6 at BVW.

“Your record sounds a lot better at 3-1 than 2-2,” Missey said. “I can tell you that.”