by nathan oster
It was the same team, but you wouldn’t have known it by the results.
Showing dual personalities, the Greybull Grizzlies split a doubleheader last Wednesday in Worland, playing like Dr. Jekyll to salvage the nightcap 13-7 after a Mr. Hyde-like performance cost them the opener 10-4.
The Grizzlies had their roughest outing of the season in game one. Matt Grovenstein, who sparkled in his first outing, was not as on in his second. He surrendered only two hits, but gave up seven walks and plunked three batters.
“The big key, though, was our eight errors,” said manager Dave Coronado, who said his fielders, particularly around the infield, struggled with judging the ball and getting into fielding position.
Grovenstein had the team’s only extra-base hit, a double, while Dillon Thornberry contributed a single.
A different Greybull team showed up for the nightcap.
Thornberry had it working on the mound, pitching effectively into the fourth inning. He gave three hits and “spaced out his walks” while fanning four.
Luke Zeller relieved, and after an initial bout with wildness, struck out the last two batters to preserve the 13-7 win.
Equally important, the Grizzlies settled down in the field, playing flawless, error-free baseball.
The Grizzlies had only two hits — a two-run single by Payton Gonzalez to go along with a base rap by Paul Stewart — but showed good patience at the plate, drawing a number of walks.
“We’ve scored 45 runs this season on only 10 hits,” laughed Coronado. “If we start hitting, look out.”
The manager had high praise for Gonzalez, who made some key plays behind the plate after being pressed into duty due to injury and a short roster.
The Grizzlies are scheduled to play a 4 p.m. game in Otto Friday. The next home game is a matchup with the Cowley A’s on Tuesday.