Kyle Moth and East River catcher Edwin Suarez await the pitch.
Scott Grove knew it was only a matter of time before his team found its footing this season.
A series of injuries held Timber Creek baseball back early in the season with six straight losses. But the Wolves have come back and realized a 10-game winning streak with an 11-1 rout of University on April 19. Ben Link was the Wolves’ winning pitcher. The team will head into the District 4-Class 6A tournament hoping to start a strong postseason run.
“We are peaking at the right time,” Grove said. “With our injuries, we had lost six in a row early in the season. We were competitive with a lot of one-run and extra-inning games. I knew then we would be OK once we got healthy.”
Senior Spencer Angelis is one of the formerly injured players that is back for the Wolves. The catcher and pitcher earned a win on April 9 over powerhouse Palm Beach Center. Angelis, who has committed to play for High Point University next year, helped the Wolves with a three-run homer against University.
“He (Angelis) hasn’t missed a beat despite missing five weeks,” Grove said. “He’s a hard working kid, a great kid. He was our leader even without being on the field. He is very vocal and he is always encouraging the other kids.”
In addition to the right-handed Angelis, Grove will also be using left-hander Eugene Vasquez in the tournament. The sophomore also plays centerfield. Right-hander Tyler Kouzen will also see action on the mound apart from his spot in the infield.
Additional senior leadership will be coming from Treavor Ewald, and hopefully Jonathan Rivera. Rivera has been out since March 14 but could be cleared for action soon.
The top-seeded Wolves will open the tournament on Tuesday, April 26 at Cypress Creek at 4 p.m. A Timber Creek victory in the opening game would advance them to face the winner of Boone and Colonial. That game was played Thursday, April 28 at Boone High School, after press time. The championship game will be at Boone on Friday, April 29 at 7 p.m.
“We have a good chance to do a repeat of last year in the district tournament,” sophomore Ian Linares said. “We’re getting healthy. Last year in the postseason, you could feel the team getting closer. You could see people taking on leadership. I’m starting to see that this year.”
Grove said his team has the capacity to take the tournament.
“We are confident,” Grove said. “We feel that we are the best team as long as we play the way we are capable of playing.”