Patience proved to be a virtue for host Sierra on Tuesday as the Timberwolves drew 11 walks in just four innings and defeated Kimball 13-3 in a mercy-rule victory in Valley Oak League baseball action before the rain rolled in.

The game ended after the top of the fifth.

“They didn’t throw a lot of strikes and that gave us a lot of opportunities,” Sierra coach Jack Thomson said. “I don’t think we played with a lot of energy early but much of that was due to the fact that we were not sure if we were going to play.

“I thought Kyle (Oden) did a good job (pitching) and we played good defense behind him.”

Oden not only did a good job on the mound, allowing just three hits, but he also went 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI.

“I just wanted to come out and throw strikes,” Oden said. “I didn’t want to do too much. I didn’t want to overthrow because sometimes that’s what I do.

“I have been working on batting a lot and I was happy to see it pay off.”

Leadoff batter Ryan Vasquez and Oden were the first two batters for the Timberwolves (2-0 VOL, 9-2 overall) and neither saw a strike, with both walking on four pitches. Those were two of four first-inning walks issued by the Jaguars (2-3, 3-7) on the way to a 4-0 Sierra lead after one inning.

Vasquez did what a leadoff batter is supposed to, getting on base four times in four trips, all via walk.

“At the beginning of the game I always try to take at least one strike,” Vasquez said. “Today I was trying to work on getting a bunt and pulling them in but I just didn’t see any good pitches.”

Dakota Conners had just one hit for Sierra but had three RBI with a single and two sacrifice flies to center.

“With runners in scoring position I am just trying to do a job,” Conners said. “You don’t always have to go up there looking for as hit.

“Sometimes you have to sacrifice your at-bat and that is what I did.”

The big inning for the Timberwolves was the fourth when they got five runs behind singles from Oden, Conners, Ian Rodriguez, Jakob Gallagher and Leo Soto along with two walks.