Woodcreek slams Rocklin for 11-2 season-opening win

With Rocklin High and Woodcreek High baseball teams tied 2-2 going into the bottom of the third inning, the Timberwolves broke the game open with three home runs, including a grand slam. Woodcreek High went on to win the contest 11-2 last Friday in Roseville. In that third inning, lead-off batter John Handy rode it over the left-field fence, and third-up Connor Barth followed with a solo shot of his own. Four batters later Wyatt Harris cleared the bases with a towering drive over the barrier in left center. Loading the bases in front of Harris were Isaac Hawthorne (base on balls), Austin Nye (single) and Ethan Louie (single). "To be honest with you, we've seen it. We know these kids' potentials," said Woodcreek High manager Lucas Conn. "And what was special to me was that it was game one." Rocklin High pitcher Jaden Clifford had held the T'Wolves to a pair of runs in the first inning. Clifford got help in the top of the second from base hits by teammates Ian Coyne, Jack Hyde and Jack Peterson to load the bases. Troy Ueltzen then hit one into the gap in right field to score Coyne and Hyde but a big turn at third base caught Peterson out of position. Woodcreek High right fielder Ty Hennessy hustled the ball in to Hawthorne, who tagged Peterson attempting to get back to third. Rocklin High coach Matt Jones said he did not question his club's effort in the contest. Without the three pitches that got away, Jones said, it could have been a 3-2 game. "There were a couple at bats where we have to be more competitive," Jones added. "A couple plays we didn't even make and a couple pitches that could have been more competitive." Woodcreek High added three runs in the fourth inning on scores from Hawthorne, Louie, and Harris. Hawthorne was hit by a pitch to get onboard, Louie reached on a fielder's choice and Harris drew a walk. Rocklin High again loaded the bases in the fifth inning. But Woodcreek High left-handed reliever Dylan Scott retired the last batter on a swinging third strike. Shortstop Barth finished the five-inning game with a triple, home run and two runs batted in. Harris had a single to go along with his grand slam and four runs batted in. Handy scored twice, Louie, Noah Madsen and Mason Harris each had a run batted in. There were nine bases on balls in the contest and four batters were hit by pitches. In three innings pitched, Nye had four strikeouts, while giving up four hits, two base on balls and two runs. Reliever Oliver Orbita had two strikeouts and closer Scott had three. "I'm proud of them. It's special to watch, it's really special to watch. I'm just glad to be a part of it," Conn said. "They're their own biggest critic. You talk to a couple guys and they'd even be disappointed with how they played. I think that is what's really special about this group of guys." Ueltzen, Coyne and Hyde led the Thunder at the plate with a base hit each. "I don't think I said anything different than what I've said before in our practices," Jones offered as to what was discussed after the game. "Our goal is our practices are the same as the games. So our future has to be full-go all the time." Rocklin travels to Franklin for a non-league game 10 a.m., Saturday. They will then host Rodriguez of Fairfield Monday and Roseville Wednesday. Both games begin at 3:30 p.m. Woodcreek High will be off until March 11, when they travel to play De La Salle in Concord. The Timberwolves will follow with a game at Oak Ridge, starting time 4 p.m., March 14.