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Produced & Maintained by Idaho Mountain Express, Box 1013, Ketchum, ID 83340-1013 
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Copyright © 2003 Express Publishing Inc.
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Friday — May 14, 2004

Sports

A backdoor guest is always best

Wood River hopes opportunity knocks in playoff game


Forget what the Jackson 5 said, sometimes ABC not as easy as 1-2-3.

Needing four outs to force an "if-necessary" contest against Filer in the SCIC baseball tournament, Wood River surrendered six unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth and wound up losing 9-7 in Filer Tuesday.

It was the first-ever district championship for the Wildcats (21-4) and with the title comes an automatic berth in the 3A State tournament in Ontario, Oregon next week.

Filer coach Kent Knigge remarked, "For us to be able to play at this level is really exciting. We have a ton of respect for Lars (Hovey) and Wood River. It was a good game."

To get back to state, the defending 3A champion Wolverines (22-5) have to win a play-in game against District 6 runner-up Shelley in Pocatello Saturday. First pitch is slated for 11 a.m.

Hovey thinks winning the play-in is very doable.

"I like our chances," he remarked.

Somebody has got to go through the back door, but it did not look like it would be Wood River early in the game against Filer.

In Hovey’s words Wood River was "cruising" in the game’s opening innings.

"Tyson (Reynoso) was pitching really well and we gave him some run support," Hovey said.

The Wolverines busted loose for three runs in the second frame to take a 3-1 lead.

Billy Kramer and Dylan Fullmer roped back-to-back hits and Brady Femling scored them both with a sweet single. Femling crossed the plate on an RBI double by Steve Durkin.

Hailey pushed its advantage to 5-2 in the fifth with a leadoff single by Femling. Durkin was hit by a pitch for men on first and second and Kellen Kinghorn walked to load them up. A sac fly by Tyler Theide scored Femling and then Kramer cleared the bases with a single.

The Wolverines tacked on one more run in the top of the sixth with Durkin knocking in Femling. Kramer, Femling and Durkin all finished with two hits each.

In home sixth, Reynoso fanned the first two Filer batters and enticed a grounder from the third, which was muffed to keep Filer alive.

The Wildcats roped five hits in the frame, including three doubles.

Filer coach Kent Knigge remarked, "I thought Reynoso was getting tired. He was leaving the ball up. Usually he is down around the knees which is really tough."

Hovey disagreed. "That should have been Tyson’s quickest inning. He struck out the first two guys and got a grounder on the third. He should have been in the dugout sipping Gatorade at that point," he said.

Hovey estimates that Reynoso (6K) had thrown 72-75 pitches by that point, which he said is not unusual or excessive.

After a double by Paul Gerrish, the score was 7-4 and Filer had men on second and third. With a base open, Hovey intentionally walked David Ryan, who had hit a solo homerun in the fifth.

Dustin DeMello, who was 0-3 up to that point came to the plate and dropped in a double in right center to clear the bases and make it 7-7.

"That ball should have been caught," Hovey said. "Tyson should have been out of that inning unscathed."

With two on, Dan Ramseyer roped another double to make it 9-7. The Wolverines finally nabbed the third out to take their turn at the plate and they made the most of it, but the Filer fielders were equal to the task.

"They made a pair of great plays on our first two batters," Hovey said.

A slow roller to third by Kinghorn was grabbed for a 5-3 out and sharp hit deep in the hole was gloved by shortstop DeMello for a 6-3 putout. But Wood River was poised for a two-out rally of its own.

Tyler Theide walked and then Kramer was plunked for two on. But hopes died along with a fielder’s choice in the third baseman’s glove.

"I am glad we didn’t lose. I don’t think I could have handled another game," Knigge said.

Despite the sting of the district loss, Hovey has his eye on the big picture.

"We have ten teams going for state right now and I think we have as good a chance as anyone to be in the championship game on Saturday."


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The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.





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