Timpanogos keeps hopes alive with win

OREM — Timpanogos' softball team lived to play another day after its victory over Brighton Thursday afternoon, though the win came with an effort the Timberwolves' coach thought was far from perfect.

In consolation-bracket play, an up-and-down contest saw Timpanogos storm back with a monster sixth inning, claiming the 5-3 victory and ending the Bengals' season.

"In a lot of ways I'm happy with the victory," said T-wolves coach Frank Brammal. "We've just got to be more consistent. If we're going to continue to move on, we've got to come through in the clutch."

Luckily for Brammal, his side came through when it mattered Thursday.

Trailing 3-2 heading into the bottom of the sixth, the T-wolves finally got their bats unchecked, knocking out four hits and three runs to take the lead. The biggest hit came from left fielder Kalee Gonzalez, who had struggled to get good contact to that point.

With runners on second and third and the score tied at 3-3, Gonzalez hit a high ball toward short left field, which looked to be an easy out for Brighton. Instead, the ball dropped short, allowing Gonzalez a single and sending two runners across the plate, providing Timpanogos with the final margin.

"She (Gonzalez) had a couple of good hits, but they all went straight to them," Brammal said. "And then the blooper's the one that came through for her."

Not a bad ending for the T-wolves, who were forced to work from behind early, as Bengal catcher Emily Larsen knocked out an RBI single in the first, bringing home McKenna Helm for the early 1-0 lead.

Good Bengal fielding kept Timpanogos off the boards through the next two innings, thanks in large part to the Bengal infield. Brighton turned three double plays on the afternoon, including a key stop in the second when Timpanogos had the bases loaded.

The T-wolves fought back, however, as an RBI single by Chelsie Laird tied the game in the third, with a sacrifice bunt by Kalee Gonzalez driving home Whitney Rode, giving Timpanogos a 2-1 lead.

The score stayed that way until the fifth, when Brighton stole back the momentum with a two-run power shot by pitcher Kyrstie Terry, a homer over the left-field wall giving the Bengals the lead at 3-2.

Timpanogos pitcher Shiri Stevens then collected a handful of her five strikeouts on the day to retire the side, setting the stage for the sixth-inning heroics.

Timpanogos will play the Bingham-Fremont winner Tuesday at 1 p.m.

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E-mail: davidr@desnews.com