The tension in the field was palpable as pitcher senior Spencer Collins-Williams came on in relief. From the Northwood dugout, cheers erupted from the varsity boys baseball team as they chanted his name. Hopes for a miraculous comeback were high after Collins-Williams immediately struck out an Irvine High School player.
The miracle never materialized. Though the team fought hard in their first home league game against the Vaqueros, they ultimately succumbed to a 4-1 loss. In the face of defeat, the Timberwolves demonstrated camaraderie and resilience.
“We always support each other and scream loudly, even if people mess up or make errors,” junior Kai Tsuneshige said. “We also have a good sense of community because we’re all really close friends.”
With their friendship on display, captain senior Carter Liu took the mound to start the game. Shaking off a rough first inning where the Vaqueros plated three runs, Liu pitched six more frames and struck out four, holding Irvine’s offense in check.
In the bottom of the second, senior Colin Carlson singled, and senior Roman Suarez and Tsuneshige each walked, loading the bases. With the pressure mounting, Irvine’s pitcher gave up a third walk to senior Paul Grossman, bringing in Northwood’s first run.
The Timberwolf infield allowed Irvine no runs for the next three innings. Shortstop senior Koji Yoshimizu and first baseman sophomore Bert Chubb recorded several assists a piece, stopping Irvine’s momentum.
In the bottom of the 7th, Tsuneshige reached base after the Irvine shortstop dropped the ball. The error gave the Timberwolves hope that a comeback was possible.
“I was super excited because I was able to get on first,” Tsuneshige said. “Since we were down, it was good for our team and we were able to get back in there with me helping out to achieve that.”
Those hopes were dashed when Grossman struck out to end the game, snapping a three-win streak. Amidst the defeat, the team’s spirit never faltered. As the announcer called the lineup, each batter received an uproar of support from both the Northwood stands and the dugout.
Determined to bounce back from the loss, the Timberwolves face off in an away game today at 3:30 p.m. against Woodbridge.
“It was a hard loss,” Yoshimizu said, “but it brought us closer together and helped propel us to do better at the next game.”
