Wood River American Legion baseball players took the Founders Field cure Monday afternoon and piled up runs with a 22-3 and 21-11 Area C "A" doubleheader sweep of the Shelley Russets in Hailey.
Coach Matt Nelson's Wood River boys (16-12, 8-4 home, 11-12 league) had been roughed up before the Fourth of July holiday with 9-1 and 10-0 league losses to Upper Valley June 30 in St. Anthony, and a 12-2 setback at Blackfoot July 2.
But Wood River (32 hits and 43 runs in 9 innings) got well in a hurry against a shorthanded and youthful Shelley team. The big bats belonged to Jimmy Hague and Tyler Peters, but everybody got into the hitting act on a beautiful Monday afternoon at Founders Field.
Ripping three doubles and a triple with Wood River players on base, #6 hitter Hague went 4-for-4 with 8 RBI in the 22-3 opening-game victory that was shortened to four innings by the mercy rule. Catcher Peters (3 hits, double, 3 RBI) batted behind Hague and reached base four times, picking Hague up.
Zach Israel (2-0), a promising righty, earned the win with a four-hitter. He whiffed three and walked one. Israel also reached base four times. Other hitters were Keven Abbott (2 hits, 2 RBI), Michale Brunker (double, 2 runs), Greg Wakefield (3 runs), Nicholaus Brunker (2-run single) and Alex Padilla (2 hits, 2 runs).
Starting some of its younger players, Wood River fell behind 9-0 in the second inning of the nightcap. Once the starters returned, the Hailey nine went on a batting spree—scoring four runs in the second, seven runs in the third, six runs in the fourth and four in the fifth.
Hague (3-0) earned the pitching win in relief. Hitters were Hague (2 hits, triple), Israel (2 hits, 3 runs), Shane Friesen (2 hits, 3 RBI), Peters (3 RBI), Juan Martinez (3 hits, 3 RBI), Wakefield (3 hits, 2 runs), Michale Brunker (2 doubles, 3 RBI), Bryan Bray (3 runs) and Abbott (double, 2 runs).
Wood River has the rest of the week off and resumes Monday, July 13 at noon with a home doubleheader against the Skyline Grizzlies from Idaho Falls. Nelson's squad then visits Bonneville and Hillcrest in Idaho Falls July 14-15.
