Wednesday was a good day for the Wood River American Legion baseball team, which swept its first Area C "A" doubleheader of the season 13-2 and 16-1 over the visiting Pocatello Runnin' Rebels in Hailey.
Erik Jacobson (2-0) tossed a four-hitter and whiffed eight Rebels in the 13-2 opening-game victory that was shortened to five innings because of the 10-run mercy rule. Jacobson needed only 72 pitches to do the job.
Starting pitcher Tyler Israel (1-1), Michale Brunker and Pat Patterson teamed on the mound in the five-inning 16-1 nightcap. Trent Seamons (2 hits, 5 RBI) led the 16-hit attack.
Coach Matt Nelson's Wood River nine (6-8) outscored Pocatello 29-3 and out-hit the very young Rebels 26-7. The outcome on the home Founders Field diamond stretched Wood River's season-best winning streak to three games.
First-year coach Nelson said about the sweep, "It does a ton for our confidence.
"We're coming together as a team and becoming one unit functioning on the baseball field. We're learning more about baseball, and about me as a coach, and we don't get our heads down if we make a mistake. When you get a good group of kids playing together it's contagious."
Third baseman Patterson (3 hits, 3 RBI) got the 10-hit attack off and running in the opener with a first-inning RBI double, and Seamons (2 hits, 2 RBI) drilled a two-out RBI triple for a 3-2 Wood River lead
Hailey broke it wide open with a seven-run fourth, the big hit a long double by Israel. Shortstop Brunker added two hits and scored twice. Kyle Rose had a RBI single and Bryan Bray scored twice on walks.
The hit parade continued in Wednesday's nightcap as Wood River sent 13 batters to the plate in a 10-run first. Seamons delivered a three-run triple in the first and added a two-run double in the four-run second inning.
Other contributors at the plate were: Israel (3-for-3, double, 4 runs); Jacobson (2 hits, double, 3 runs); Phil Neal (2-run double); Patterson (2 hits, 2 runs); Brunker (2 hits); and Chris Coupe (2-run double).
Wood River, having hosted Bear Lake Thursday, continues its busy schedule of eight games in four days with a twinbill against Marsh Falls at American Falls today, Friday, and a doubleheader at Shelley Saturday.