For the week of July 3 - 9, 2002

Legion wins three at Marsh Falls meet

Swinging the bats a little better

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Better watch out for the Wood River American Legion baseball team in another month when the state-qualifying district tournament begins.

Wood River, young and willing, is also finding out what it takes to win on the road in a tournament setting. Last weekend’s Marsh Falls meet in American Falls was a good example.

The Wolverines (15-14 overall, 4-5 league) completed a challenging stretch of 29 games in 28 days by winning three games and losing twice in the three-day, 12-team tournament.

Coach Lars Hovey, bringing only 11 players, said, "We played pretty well, especially swinging the bat."

At the metal bat tourney Wood River scored 48 runs in five games—four more runs than the Wolverines tallied going 1-3 and 1-3 at the Pocatello and Twin Falls wood bat tournaments June 14-16 and 20-22.

Hovey was encouraged by the return to form of ace Ryne Reynoso (arm injury). Reynoso (4-3) won his first start in two weeks. His bat was on fire, too. He was 9-for-15 with two doubles, four homers (two grand slams) and 17 RBI in five games.

Two-time defending Marsh Falls champion Wood River opened its quest Friday with a solid 2-0 victory over Idaho Falls. Dylan McIlhenny (3-1) pitched five strong innings and Reynoso earned the save. Together, they limited Idaho Falls to four hits.

Wood River, playing errorless baseball on defense, got all its runs in the home first when leadoff batter Matt Conover singled, Drew Detwiler was plunked and Reynoso delivered both runners with a two-run double.

Pocatello’s bats exploded later Friday for a 16-9 victory over Wood River. Detwiler had three hits and Paul Tinker added a pair of safeties.

Saturday was a very good day for Wood River. The Hailey squad run-ruled two opponents, beating Roy (Utah) 15-5 and Twin Falls 12-1.

Jeff Hunter (2-1) threw all five frames against Roy and was helped by his team’s five-run third and seven-run fourth. Catcher Kellen Chatterton drilled two hits including a three-run homer, his first. Tinker (double) went 3-for-4 while Reynoso (HR) and Tinker had 2-for-3 games.

Against Twin Falls Reynoso (9 Ks) tossed a one-hitter, giving up a solo homer to a Cowboy pinch hitter with one out in the fifth and final inning. Hovey said, "Ryno threw two good innings against Idaho Falls the first day and with this one, he seemed to get his confidence back."

Wood River hitters went 13-for-27 against Twin Falls led by Conover and Reynoso (grand slam HR) with two hits apiece.

Having finished its preliminary games with a 3-1 record, Wood River was tied with five other teams with the same mark, Shelley atop the heap at 4-0. When the dust of tiebreakers finally settled, Wood River ended up playing North Ridge (Utah) Sunday.

North Ridge pounded four homers in the first three frames for a quick 13-3 lead, but Wood River rallied with a seven-run fifth and trailed only 13-10 when the game was called on time after six. Reynoso clouted two homers, one his second grand slam.

Host Marsh Falls defeated Shelley for the tournament title.

Last Wednesday, Wood River snapped a five-game losing skid and improved its Founders Field record to 10-2 with a doubleheader sweep of Pocatello—by scores of 8-3 and 10-0.

Righthander Steve Hansen (5-3) scattered 12 hits and walked only two in the 8-3 league victory. He benefited from two inning-ending twin killings through the keystone combination of shortstop Detwiler and second sacker Conover.

Conover (2 runs) delivered a two-run double. Detwiler and Chatterton added two hits apiece in the nine-hit attack and Tinker contributed an RBI double and sacrifice fly for Hailey.

In the nightcap, rookie righty Hunter earned his first Legion victory with a two-hitter in the 10-0 run-rule triumph. Hunter (4 Ks, 1 BB) allowed singles in the first two frames and then shut Pocatello down.

Wood River extended its lead to 3-0 with a two-run fourth. Steve Durkin singled, Kellen Kinghorn doubled and Matt Job hit an RBI grounder. Conover (3-for-3, 2 runs) made it 3-0 with an RBI single.

The home fifth featured a seven-run outburst that ended the game early. Joe Paisley belted an RBI triple, Job added a run-scoring single and Detwiler ripped a two-run single. Wood River finished with eight hits.

Wood River wraps up its pre-Fourth of July schedule this week against two teams at the top and bottom of the Area C "A" heap.

Tuesday night, Wood River traveled to Jerome (14-7, 10-1 league) for a doubleheader. Today the Wolverines visit a team going the other direction when they travel to Kimberly (3-12, 1-9). Kimberly lost nine games in seven days last week, the last seven by a 107-39 margin.

 

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