After we got that run, I knew I just needed to stay calm and do my job. The 6-2 Cummings yielded just three hits, striking out seven and issuing no walks. But for my heart's sake, 12-0 would have been fine. The Grizzlies chased Wolves starter Brandon Gainey in the first inning, and held on despite a 13-strikeout barrage by Basic reliever Matt Elliott. We hoped to get a few innings out of our starter and bring Matt in later.
Innings are the name of the game.
You have to have some left for that last game. Freshman pitcher Garrett Banks also played a key role for the victors, limiting Basic to five hits and retiring the game's final eight batters for the complete-game win in his first state tournament appearance. He's just a very composed young man. Read our policy on privacy and cookies.