5A high school baseball: Timpanogos wakes up to survive

OREM — It could have been the pressure of being a pre-tournament favorite and finding itself in the one-loss bracket. Or perhaps it was the fact that the reigning 5A MVP, Rhett Nelson, was on the mound and already had one loss in the playoffs. Whatever the reason, Timpanogos looked like a team playing not to lose instead of a team trying to win in its playoff game against Bingham on Monday morning at Utah Valley University.

"They can't hit with their hands around their throat," said coach Kim Nelson of some apparent chocking. "We were swinging at things we shouldn't swing at, and letting pitches go by that we shouldn't let go by. It just wasn't how we have been hitting. We just had to relax. We were tight or something."

Luckily for the Timberwolves, at some point they found some comfort and began to play their brand of baseball. The batters began to hit and Nelson calmed down from a shaky start as Timpanogos ended Bingham's season with a 4-1 victory.

"Baseball is a seven-inning game," said Rhett Nelson. "It is a long game and a lot can happen over the course of the game. If things don't go the way you want right away, there are a lot of things that can change during the game. You just try to do what you can to keep your composure and keep your head about you so you can do things right and get things back on track."

Things couldn't have begun much better for Bingham. Leadoff hitter Braden Anderson smashed a double off Nelson. After a perfectly laid down bunt from Colton Yack, and a ball thrown away trying to get him at first, the Miners had an early 1-0 lead. After that, however, it was all Nelson. The big righty went the distance scattering five hits and striking out eight while walking only two.

"He's a competitor. He just competes and competes," said coach Kim Nelson of his pitcher. "He stayed with it, and he threw a great game."

To be fair to the T-Wolves' hitters, Bingham starter Blake Krahenbuhl threw a great game as well. He went six innings, striking out nine and walking two. He kept Timpanogos in check until the fifth inning.

The Timberwolves loaded the bases with one out. Tanner Wolfe had the big hit, as he singled down the right-field line to bring home two runs. Kellen McWhorter added an RBI with a fielder's choice, and Rhett Nelson had all the run support he needed.

"I was spotting my fastball a lot more," he said of his late-inning dominance. "I think the first inning I was a little bit all over with it, but toward the middle and later innings I was hitting my spots a little bit better."

The win moves Timpanogos on to face Lone Peak Tuesday at 1:30 at Brent Brown Ballpark.

"All you can do is win one game and then move on to the next," added Kim Nelson. "You can't think of six or seven games — whatever it is (necessary to win a state championship) — those other games don't matter if you don't win the one in front of you."

E-MAIL: mblack@desnews.com