The Wood River American Legion baseball club continued playing .500 baseball with splits in two double-headers played in eastern Idaho this past weekend.
The Wolverines (3-3, all games on the road) exploded for 13 runs in the second game against Blackfoot on Friday, winning 13-4 on the combined pitching of Jimmy Pierson and Kenny Cardona (7 K in 4 frames).
The next day, sophomore Pat Patterson went the distance on the mound as Wood River captured the first game against Bear Lake 8-4.
"We are .500 right now but could easily be 6-0," head coach Eli Lloyd said. "We've been in every game and everyone has been contributing, but walks and untimely errors have definitely hurt us."
With 13 runs against Blackfoot, Wood River gave itself plenty of cushion for any defensive lapses.
Led by Danny Kramer's four RBI and three hits, and Casey Hawkes' three RBI and three hits, Wood River scored 11 runs in the final three frames to ice it. Tyler Thiede (3 hits, 3 runs) chipped in, too.
Game One of Saturday's doubleheader at Bear Lake was another offensive and pitching showcase for Wood River.
While Patterson didn't have hit best stuff on the hill, he battled through seven walks and only two strikeouts for the complete game.
"He was behind a lot of hitters and was definitely struggling on the hill, but he battled the whole time, got a lot of ground balls," Lloyd said. "I was proud of Pat out there."
Giving Patterson eight runs to work with, the Wolverine offense went to small-ball for a lift.
Sophomore Trent Seamons collected two key RBI groundballs that gave Wood River the lead in both the sixth and seventh innings.
Thiede (7-for-13 in the first 3 games last weekend) also collected two hits and scored two runs in the opener against Bear Lake.
In Friday's opening game loss to Blackfoot, Wood River got down 6-0 in the first and never recovered, losing 10-9. Thiede had two more hits. Derek Abbott (2 RBI) added two hits and Cardona contributed two RBI.
The weekend nightcap against Bear Lake saw Wood River fall 8-6. Tyler Israel and Thiede split time on the hill. Israel helped himself at the dish with a two-run single in the fourth. Pierson (double) had two hits.
Wood River, playing its first 10 games on the road, travels to Twin Falls Thursday to begin play in the American Legion Tournament held at Twin Falls high school.
Game times have changed from the original season schedule. Now the schedule is: Thursday, 10 a.m. vs. Twin Falls; Friday at 3 p.m. vs. Mountain View, no games Saturday; and Sunday 10 a.m. vs. Capital and 12:30 p.m. vs. Idaho Falls. Then Jerome visits Tuesday to finally open the Founders Field season.
