The Wood River Gold (12-and-under) All-Star Baseball teams competed in the Cal Ripken Idaho State baseball tournaments this past weekend in east Boise and Idaho Falls.
The 12-U Major team went 4-2 and captured third place in its first-ever trip to a state tournament. The 10-U Minors came away with two tournament victories over in Idaho Falls.
WR Gold showed in the Majors why it's important never to give up. The local boys opened "pool play" Thursday in Boise with a 13-3 loss to Meridian, and then battled back like champions with 11-1, 9-8 and 10-1 wins over Twin Falls Americans, Caldwell and Elmore County (Mountain Home).
Getting the early 3-0 lead and relying on terrific relief pitching and defense, Wood River held off Kuna's rally to prevail 3-2 and make it into the state semi-finals as the Pool B #2 seed against the Pool A #1 seed Jerome Northside squad.
In one of the best youth baseball games spectators said they'd ever seen, Jerome Northside slipped past WR Gold 5-4 in the semi-final. Jerome went on to beat East Boise 16-6 for the championship Saturday and earn a berth in the Pacific Northwest regional tournament in Portland, Ore.
Players taking part in the state tournament included Hagan Barsch, Brandon Benson, Cameron Benson, Dylan Broman, Anders Fortuin, Tripp Hutchinson, Finn Isaacson, Gage Jorgensen, Jake Jorgensen, Dustin Morgan, Austin Savaria, Nic Tidwell and Reide Whitehead.
Meanwhile, in the Minors at Idaho Falls, the WR Gold 10-U squad went 2-2 finishing with a 14-0 victory over Idaho Falls North. Wood River also nipped Idaho Falls South 3-2 while dropping games to the Nampa All-Stars 6-4 and East Boise All-Stars by a 14-2 score.
Leading the way were Gunner Gibson, Cade Schott, Owen Gifford, Zach Nelson, Kyle Nelson, Nate Jones, Colby Whitehead, Christian Hovey and Jens Blackman. Other Wood River players included Alex Venslauskas, Tor Dalzell, Keaton Wall, and Jeron Peavey.
Check the full coaches' reports from the tournaments on today's Express Web site.
Here are the coaches' reports from last weekend's tournaments.
Majors
The local boys opened "pool play" Thursday with a 13-3 loss to the Meridian 60s.
After scoring two runs in the top of the first, Wood River saw its lead evaporate on a Meridian three-run homer in the bottom of the inning. From there, the Meridian club took control of the game and the "mercy rule" was in effect.
Wood River bounced back in the nightcap with an 11-1 win over the Twin Falls Americans. The Hailey boys jumped all over Twin Falls pitching early, scoring six runs in the home half of the first en route to its own "mercy rule" win.
Friday brought more of the same good baseball as Wood River battled through three tough games and came away with victories in each.
In Game 3 of the
tourney, Wood River scored in each of the first four innings to take a 9-2 lead, then held off a tough Caldwell team for the 9-8 victory.
Game 4 provided another offensive outburst from the local boys as they routed Elmore County (Mountain Home) by a score of 10-1. Cameron Benson and Finn Isaacson got things rolling with back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the first inning. From there, the boys kept the pedal to the metal with aggressive baserunning and cruised home with their third win.
In Friday's nightcap, Wood River had its fate in its hands. They knew they'd need to win and they'd make it into Saturday's semi-finals.
Wood River's opponent was Kuna. Both teams boasted 3-1 records. Both teams team knew what they had to do to advance and the 100-plus degree heat only served to intensify the atmosphere.
The local boys scored one run in each of the first three innings to take a 3-0 lead. Kuna kept battling and finally broke through for two runs in the fourth. With the tension mounting, Wood River settled in to its routine and got some fantastic relief pitching and outstanding defensive plays.
When the final fly ball was caught in center field, Wood River players sprinted off the field in celebration. They had a hard-fought 3-2 win and they had secured their place in the state semi-final game.
As the #2 seed in Pool B, Wood River had to face the #1 seed in Pool A. That was its rival from Northside (Jerome). The local boys had won just one of three games from Northside this summer and were looking for a huge upset. Their neighbors to the south were last year's runner-up in the state Cal Ripken tournament.
Wood River jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first when Cameron Benson hit a 3-0 pitch over the right-center field fence. That lead held up until the bottom of the fourth when Northside capitalized on a rare throwing error resulting in two runs.
Down a run in the top of the fifth and with one out, Wood River tied the game with a couple of hits and a walk. With runners at second and third and momentum on Wood River's side, a slow roller to third and a quick throw to
first resulted in the second out of the inning. As the throw was being made, pinch runner Nic Tidwell broke for home and slid safely under the high tag from the Northside catcher. However, the umpire didn't see it that way and called Tidwell out, much to the dismay of the Wood River contingent.
Tied again.
Northside retook the lead with two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, only to have the boys from Wood River battle back in the top of the sixth. The first three batters reached safely on a walk and two singles. With the bases loaded and one out, Austin Savaria hit a two-strike pitch to right-center field plating two runs. Northside then got out of the jam and the game was once again tied.
It went to the bottom of the sixth and the game tied 4-4, the first two Northside batters were able to reach safely. Pitcher Finn Isaacson then struck out the next two. The fifth batter reached base on a walk. Bases loaded, two out, bottom of the sixth.
The next batter was barely able to get his bat on a ball, topping a slow roller about 20 feet up the third base line. Isaacson sprinted to the ball and attempted to flip it to catcher Jake Jorgensen. But, the runner from third had crossed the plate giving Northside the victory.
After the game, many in attendance commented that it was one of the best baseball games they had seen played at this level. And, without a doubt, it was the best game this Wood River team had ever played.
Congratulations to the boys that made this first-ever Wood River All-Star appearance in the Cal Ripken state tournament a memorable one!
Wood River All-Star Baseball hosts the Ray Nelson Invitational baseball tournament in Hailey this Friday and Saturday, July 24-25. Teams from all over the state of Idaho will compete in two age divisions (10-U and 12-U).
Games will be held at the Nelson Fields, adjacent to the Rodeo Grounds and Hailey Elementary, as well as the High School softball field.
Minors
In its inaugural trip to a state tournament, the 10-U Minors got off to a great start by beating Idaho Falls South 3-2.
Gunner Gibson (1 run, 2 hits, 6 k's) and Cade Schott (1 run, 1 hit, 4 k's) each threw three strong innings and Owen Gifford provided the RBI's with a two-run, two-out double in the first that scored Zach Nelson and Cade Schott.
The Gold team sealed the victory with a "strike 'em out, throw 'em out" from Kyle Nelson to Nate Jones.
Game 2 saw the boys dig themselves into a 6-0 hole against the Nampa All-stars, only to battle back and lose 6-4 after scoring two runs in both the fifth and sixth innings.
Cade Schott was 4-for-4 and Colby Whitehead had a huge double. Christian Hovey threw three strong innings on the hill.
Game 3 pitted the Gold against the always-strong East Boise All-stars. Owen Gifford threw four strong frames but a huge nine-run inning for the Boiseans was too much and Wood River fell 14-2.
Bouncing back from that defeat, the Wood River boys captured their second victory with a 14-0 decision against the Idaho Falls North squad.
Gunner Gibson and Cade Schott combined for a one-hitter on the mound RBI doubles by Schott and Jens Blackman provided the firepower.
The 10-U Gold team begins Nelson Tournament action on Friday morning, July 24 at 8:30 a.m. against the Gooding Mustangs, at Nelson Field.
Play ball at the Nelson!
Twenty fine Idaho youth baseball teams will be pitching their tents and pitching some high hard ones Friday and Saturday, July 24-25 during the 38th annual Ray Nelson Invitational tournament in Hailey.
The Wood River Baseball and Softball Association is staging the tournament named for Ray Nelson. He was a baseball booster from Hailey who bequeathed a love of the game to family members and friends before passing away in 1970.
In the eight-team Majors (ages 11-12) are Wood River Gold, East Boise Thunder, West Boise, Meridian Bulls, the Mini-Cassia Braves from Burley/Rupert, Twin Falls Americans, Filer Wildcats and Middleton All-Stars.
Wood River Gold opens Friday at 8:30 a.m. against the Filer Wildcats. Games continue until 7 p.m. and pick up again Saturday at 10:15 a.m. The championship game is Saturday at 2:30 p.m. preceded by the third-place game at 12 noon.
Last year's Majors winners were the Mini-Cassia Braves 13-8 over Wood River.
In the 12-team Minors (9-10) are Wood River Minors, WR Gold, Fruitland Cubs, Burley Cubs, Meridian Thunder, Idaho Falls All-Stars, Middleton All-Stars, Twin Falls Cowboys, Twin Falls Pioneers, Nampa All-Stars, Gooding Mustangs and Jerome Northside.
WR Minors plays Northside on Friday at 10:15 a.m. and Middleton at 1:45 p.m. on the high school softball field. WR Gold goes against Gooding at 8:30 a.m. and Meridian at 12 noon on Nelson Field #3. Both local teams also have 8:30 a.m. games Saturday morning. Championship and third-place games are Saturday at 6 p.m.
Last year the Fruitland Cubs defeated Wood River South 16-8 in the Minors championship.
Other events include Friday evening's Donnelley Sports Skills Challenge at 7 p.m. along with the Atkinsons' Market and Splash N' Dash- sponsored barbecue, also on Friday.
Among the skills challenges are fastest around the bases, relay throw, around the horn and home run contest.
