Friday, July 2, 2004

Double dip for Wood River American Legion squad

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By JAMES CORDES
MOUNTAIN EXPRESS CORRESPONDENT

It was the end of a four-day, six game stretch for the Wood River American Legion baseball squad. And it showed.

Hurt by walks, errors, and the bats of a heavy foe, the Wolverines dropped a 10-4, 11-2 double-header to Upper Valley at Founders Field in Hailey Tuesday.

Comprised in part by State 3A high school champion South Fremont, Upper Valley and its bats were too much for the tattered Wood River pitching.

"They can flat out hit the ball," Wood River Coach Eli Lloyd said of their counterparts.

With Upper Valley taking the second game handily, it was the first contest that saw the home team with a chance to steal a game.

Down 3-1 in the third inning, Wood River used a collision in the top half of the inning to gain momentum.

On a play at the plate, Wood River veteran catcher Billy Kramer held on to the ball as an Upper Valley base runner crashed into him. The runner was out and ejected from the game.

"The guys really responded to that and came back well," Lloyd said.

With the help of two walks to Jon Dittmer (single, run scored) and Derek Abbott (double, two runs), Wood River evened the score, 3-3, in the bottom half of the third.

The lead didn’t last, as Upper Valley responded with four of their own runs in the top of the fifth.

Wood River managed another run in the seventh inning, when Abbott led off with a double and came around to score on a Ben Molyneux single. That made it 10-where the game ended.

Wood River pitcher Steve Hansen got the loss, with Ted Dankanyin coming in relief.

In game two, the Upper Valley bats picked up where they left off, scoring seven quick runs in the first two innings.

Wood River second baseman Dylan Fullmer had an RBI single in the second and Tyson Reynoso contributed with an RBI ground out in the sixth.

The Wolverine defense flashed some leather in the second game with a nice running catch by Fullmer in shallow right field in the second inning and two nice catches by third baseman Huston Brashears.

Lloyd has been encouraged with his young third baseman. "Huston has really been playing a great third base for us lately. We just never put any pressure on them offensively today."

Hurlers Dankanyin, Kenny Cardona, and Jimmy Pierson all split time on the mound in the second game.

The Wranglers move to 12-8 overall, with Tuesday’s games being only their second and third home loses this season.

Wood River will compete in

Boise at the Boise Pepsi "AA" Tournament from July 8 –11. Their next home contest is July 14, at Founder’s Field, against Twin Falls at 4:00.

 

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