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Wolverines claim Northern championship

The defending Class 3A state champion Truckee baseball team clinched a berth into this weekend’s four-team state tournament, and for the first time since 2012, took home the Northern League championship.

The Wolverines traveled to Elko last week for the six-team Northern League tournament and won a trio of games to capture this year’s regional title.

“It was a stressful, hard-fought weekend,” said Head Coach Jeff Murphy. “But it’s always good to come out on top.”



Truckee opened the tournament on Thursday with an 11-9 win against host Elko. Senior Shane Poe led the Truckee attack with a 4-for-4 performance from the plate. Poe and senior Spencer Edmondson each had three RBIs in the game.

The Wolverines then faced Churchill County on Friday with a berth into the state tournament on the line and captured a 3-2 victory.



After giving up a two-run home run to open the game Edmondson settled in to shut out the Greenwave the rest of the way, striking out six batters and giving up nine hits in 6 1/3 innings of work.

Churchill County fought back through the losers’ bracket to face Truckee again during Saturday’s championship round.

Truckee built a 4-2 lead during the first four innings, but Churchill County managed to even the game in the top of the fifth, before pushing across the game-winning run in the top of the seventh to hand the Wolverines their first loss of the double-elimination tournament.

“We kind of came out flat that day,” said Murphy. “We had already gotten a berth into state the day before with the win over them. And so I think we just came out a little flat. We basically told them, ‘What you guys set out to do is not done. We’re going to turn the page on this game, and go get after it next game.’”

In the championship deciding game, the Wolverines gave up a trio of runs in the first, but plated seven runs of their own.

From there, sophomore pitcher Timmy Reeve slammed the door, shutting out the Greenwave the rest of the way as the Wolverines captured the Northern League championship, 14-3, after five innings of play due to the 10-run mercy rule.

Reeve allowed three hits and struck out six batters during the game.

From the plate, Edmondson drove in a trio of runs and had a pair of hits, including a double. Senior Marcus Bellon had a pair of doubles and drove in a pair of runs. Senior Sawyer Thompson and senior Derek LaFerriere each drove in two runs.

“I felt like there was room for improvement, so we’ve been hammering down on the guys about staying humble, and trying to really motivate them to get back to where we were at the beginning of the season,” said Murphy on the tournament. “We’ll continue to work hard in practice.”

ON TO STATE TOURNEY

Truckee will now head to Mesquite, Nevada for the first round of the four-team, double-elimination state tournament.

The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association Class 3A Nevada State High School Baseball Championship Tournament will begin Thursday afternoon at Virgin Valley High School. Truckee will take on Southern League runners-up Moapa Valley to open the tournament. On the other side of the bracket, Churchill County will face Southern League champions Boulder City.

“We’re just really excited, somewhat anxious to get out there and play ball and do what we’ve been doing all year,” said Murphy. “The kids are excited and we’re really looking forward to having another good run at it.”

Justin Scacco is a reporter for the Sierra Sun. Contact him at jscacco@sierrasun.com.


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