PLEASANT GROVE — Timpanogos opened the week on the wrong end of one of the season's most surprising results.

The Timberwolves lost to Lehi on Monday to drop out of a first-place tie with Spanish Fork in loaded Region 4, and the defeat could have sent Timpanogos reeling. But the Timberwolves rebounded nicely, recording a two-game sweep over always-tough Pleasant Grove with the second of the victories coming in a 6-2 result on Thursday afternoon.

Timpanogos' Tanner Wolfe, who threw 62?3 quality innings on Thursday, said the team's loss to Lehi was a reminder that it can't just show up and win in Region 4.

"There are no easy ones here," Wolfe said. "It's going to be tough all the way down to it (region title). It's pressure every time we get on the field. You just got to put one behind you and go on to the next (team)."

Wolfe did his part in making sure the Timberwolves got past the Vikings. He allowed just four hits and recorded six strikeouts. The two runs he allowed were scored because of throwing errors by his defense.

That's not to say that Wolfe's defense let him down much in the Timberwolves' win, as they turned two double plays. The biggest one came in the sixth when Wolfe walked the first two batters he faced. Wolfe then got Pleasant Grove's Nate Hardman to hit a ground ball, and shortstop Trevor Thomas turned the double play.

"I was really happy with how Tanner battled," said Timpanogos coach Kim Nelson. "There were a couple of innings where they had something going and he was able to get a double play one time, a big strikeout the next time. He's done that very well for us."

As Nelson put it, nothing comes easy for the Timberwolves despite their 5-1 region record and 14-3 overall mark, and they faced some trouble late in the game. Wolfe got tired in the seventh and Pleasant Grove loaded the bases on an infield hit, a walk and an error. Thomas relieved Wolfe with two outs, and got Pleasant Grove cleanup hitter Sean Stevenson to fly out to end the game.

"We find a way (to make things difficult)," Nelson said.

Although that may be true, the Timberwolves were in complete control throughout Thursday's game. Reigning 5A MVP Rhett Nelson hit a solo home run in the first, and Kellen McWhorter added an RBI single to give the Timberwolves a quick 2-0 lead.

Jeff Gassman added an RBI single in the fourth and Thomas scored on an error to put Timpanogos up 4-0 in the fourth. The Timberwolves added two insurance runs in the seventh when J.D. Ashman had an RBI single and Gassman scored on a wild pitch.

Timpanogos was able to remain a half game behind Spanish Fork in Region 4, while Pleasant Grove stayed tied with Lehi for third in the league standings. The Timberwolves also earned the tiebreaker advantage over the Vikings with the sweep.

"To sweep somebody it's almost like a third game with the tiebreaker," Nelson said. "It's a cliche, but we're just taking it one game at a time, trying to stay out in front and making sure we get that third spot."

E-mail: aaragon@desnews.com