Friday, June 30, 2006

Legion makes short work of Runnin' Rebels

Wood River sweeps Pocatello 13-2, 16-1


By JEFF CORDES
Express Staff Writer

Wood River American Legion slugger Phil Neal keeps his eye on the ball Wednesday night in Hailey against the Pocatello Runnin' Rebels. Wood River kept the Rebels runnin' after the ball by outscoring the Pocatello 13-2 and 16-1. Photo by David N. Seelig

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.




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