Prep baseball: Fremont’s clutch plays edge Syracuse 5-4 to take Region 1 series
-
- Fremont’s Kobe Nance pitches against Syracuse on Friday, May 3, 2024, in Plain City.
-
- Syracuse’s Easton Hamblin slides in to score a run against Fremont on Friday, May 3, 2024, in Plain City.
-
- Fremont’s Maximus Johnson swings at a Syracuse pitch on Friday, May 3, 2024, in Plain City.
-
- Syracuse’s Easton Hamblin tracks a fly ball in a game against Fremont on Friday, May 3, 2024, in Plain City.
-
- Fremont’s Maximus Johnson dives into second base in a game against Syracuse on Friday, May 3, 2024, in Plain City.
-
- Syracuse’s Austin Burton runs toward third base in a game against Fremont on Friday, May 3, 2024, in Plain City.
-
- Fremont’s Jace Hadley connects with a Syracuse pitch on Friday, May 3, 2024, in Plain City.
-
- Syracuse’s Jake Hopkins throws a pitch against Fremont on Friday, May 3, 2024, in Plain City.
-
- Fremont’s Owen Simkins runs to first base in a game against Syracuse on Friday, May 3, 2024, in Plain City.
-
- Syracuse players Easton Hamblin (3) and Tatum Martin (1) celebrate scoring against Fremont on Friday, May 3, 2024, in Plain City.
-
- Syracuse’s Taggart Hamblin reaches low to swing at a Fremont pitch on Friday, May 3, 2024, in Plain City.
PLAIN CITY — Fremont High right fielder Logan Penland knows he is going on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after he graduates later this month, but it was teammate Brigg Grange who had a vision of what was to be Friday against Syracuse.
Grange lined a two-out, two-run, opposite-field double in the bottom of the sixth inning and the Silverwolves held on for a come-from-behind, 5-4 victory in the Region 1 rubber match against the Titans.
“I was thinking in the dugout, and I knew something was going to happen from the start of the inning. As soon as I came in from defense, I put my helmet on, I put my gloves on. I was ready. I knew it was going to come down to me,” Grange said. “A few weeks ago, I didn’t pull through against Davis, but this time I was able to accomplish what I was trying to do.”
Syracuse (9-11-2, 5-6-1 Region 1) was clinging to a 4-3 lead with Fremont runners on first and second with two outs, and stuck with pitcher Jake Hopkins who was winding his way through the lineup for the fourth time.
“He’d been working outside all day long, so I knew what was going to come,” Grange said. “He gave me an elevated outside pitch and I was able to put the barrel on it. I was definitely feeling it; I was excited to be up there.”
The resulting double gave Fremont (15-7, 8-4) a 5-4 lead, but here’s the rest of the story:
Penland had two doubles and a triple in his first three at-bats, and the Titans opted to intentionally walk him with first base open rather than try their luck again. Grange then followed with his clutch hit and Penland scored what proved to be the winning run.
“I feel like they wanted me up there. I’d struggled a little bit in this series early on and wasn’t doing my best,” Grange said. “I’m glad I could perform when I needed to.”
There is more to Penland’s story, too, as he played his last game for the Silverwolves. He’s facing back surgery Monday, which will end his season.
“I’m going on a mission to Ghana in July, so that’s most important to me right now. I need to get surgery to be able to go on time,” Penland said. “I wanted to have fun. I’ve been playing with these boys all my life. I didn’t want to let them down.
“I wanted to prove I could still play even when I’m hurt. My back does hurt when I swing, so I was just hoping to put the ball in play. I had total confidence I could play a great game today.”
Penland finished the game 3 for 3, with three runs scored and an RBI.
“I love my Savior and glad he was there for me,” Penland said.
Grange had two hits and drove in three runs for the Silverwolves.
The Titans chased Fremont starter Hayden Hudman with three runs in the second inning with RBIs by Hopkins, Bronx Manning and Austin Burton for an early 3-1 lead, which brought on Fremont reliever Kobe Nance.
Nance then pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing one run, while striking out two and walking one, keeping the Silverwolves in the game until they mounted their comeback.
“I know if I can throw strikes, our defense will help back me up,” Nance said. “I had confidence we were going to come back and win that game.”
Penland’s triple closed the gap to 4-3 in the fifth inning, setting the stage for Grange in the sixth.
Easton Hamblin had two hits for Syracuse and Dawson Raymond went 2 for 3 with a run scored and an RBI.
“We’re glad to take the series. We knew it was going to be a dogfight and it was for sure,” Grange said. “I’m glad we could come out with a win. We played together as a team.”