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Orem • The cliché is to focus on the task at hand, but Orem understood the significance of its series against Class 4A's second-ranked Timpanogos this week.
The Timberwolves, who entered with an undefeated record, have long been atop Region 7. The Tigers have been deprived of sustained success on the diamond until recently.
Wednesday was an opportunity for Orem to announce it belongs in a highly-anticipated clash of top-five programs featuring two unbeaten pitchers.
Statement registered, Tigers.
Behind Paxton Schultz on the mound, the Tigers scored runs in each of the final two innings to upend Timpanogos, 2-1, in the first game of a doubleheader after the first game, scheduled for Tuesday, was postponed from inclement weather.
"I'm trying to come down from that," said Orem coach Carl Hermansen. "It's a big, emotional win. Last year we came here in the same spot, and we didn't play very well. They came out and kicked our cans. We had this series circled for a long time. Everybody says you're not supposed to do that, but we knew it was going to come down between our two teams. Getting that first win is big for us."
Schultz improved to 7-0 on the season with a complete-game performance, in which he allowed four hits and struck out seven batters and walked five. His counterpart, Timpanogos' Tyler Cornish, lost for the first time this year, dropping his record to 5-1, as he scattered seven hits with seven strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.
"I've been preparing for this game ever since we lost last year's game," Schultz said. "That's been motivating me. Preparing for this week has been huge."
Timpanogos (15-1, 9-1) entered the game advertising one of the top offensive units in 4A with an average of 10.3 runs per game, correlating with its average margin of victory of 7.5, which illustrates Schultz's effectiveness.
It was the 14th consecutive victory for the No. 5-ranked Tigers (15-2, 13-0), who struck first in the sixth inning. After an error on a pickoff attempt at first base, Keven Balser ripped an RBI single to put the Tigers up 1-0.
However, Timpanogos countered in the bottom half of the inning when DJ Martinez's standup double brought home Conner Halford, who beat out the throw on an infield single on the preceding at-bat.
Yet the resiliency continued for Orem. There were several moments where the Tigers could have folded after squandering chances. In the fourth inning, Orem was looking at having players at first and second with one down, but a pinch runner lost track of his surroundings and was caught between third and second.
The Timberwolves loaded the bases in the same inning, including runners at second and third with no outs after a throwing error after Brayden Millet placed a perfect bunt down the third-base line. Schultz retired three of the next four batters to escape the jam unscathed.
"They don't care," said Hermansen. "We don't know how to play a clean game. I wouldn't know what to do if we didn't make an error in a big situation and then somebody's got to make a play right behind them. They never give up. They keep fighting."
The Tigers refused to panic. In the top of the seventh, Parker Wollaston delivered a leadoff double, which Jake Stayner followed with what proved to be the winning RBI single.
Orem yearned to face the Timberwolves, and after following up the emotional win with another victory in the second game later Wednesday evening, the Tigers claimed sole custody of first place in Region 7.
"It feels good. We've known we've could have done it this whole time," Schultz said. "It's the mentality of realizing if we play our ballgame — we can win."
Twitter: @trevorphibbs —
Storylines
• No. 5 Orem wins its 14th straight games with one run in each of the final two innings.
• Second-ranked Timpanogos loses for the first time this season.
• Orem pitcher Paxton Schultz improves to 7-0 with a complete-game performance.