The post-game message from Wood River High softball coach Dale Martin was all about the "little things" Tuesday after the darkness-shortened conference doubleheader against the Jerome Tigers in Hailey.
Hitting the cutoff, running the bases wisely and keeping the ball in front of you on defense were a few of the "little things" Martin talked about.
Wood River (6-10, 3-5 league) hasn't been doing the "little things" needed to win ball games against good teams during its current six-game losing streak. But Martin reminded his girls they were every bit the equal of Jerome. And that was true Tuesday at South Valley Sports Complex softball field.
Trailing 9-2 in the seventh and final inning of regulation, Wood River players pounded the ball about as hard as they've done all season and pieced together a five-run uprising. The Wolverines put the tying runs in scoring position and the winning run at home plate before finally falling 9-7.
It was the first time in 16 games this season that a Wood River game has been settled by four runs or fewer—since most of the games have either been lopsided Wolverine losses or lopsided Hailey victories.
That is quite a contrast to last spring's 16-12 WRHS state tournament season when Wood River played 12 close games settled by two runs or fewer.
Darkness and then pouring rain cut short the second game of the Great Basin Conference twinbill. The officiating crew suspended the nightcap after two full innings with Jerome in the lead 8-5. It will be completed only if it's necessary in the Great Basin Conference standings as the season winds down.
And the season is winding down quickly.
Wood River tackles the second-place GBC team when the Canyon Ridge Riverhawks (20-5, 9-3) arrive in Hailey today, Friday for a 4:30 p.m. game. Then Wood River travels to Canyon Ridge in Twin Falls Saturday for a 12 noon twinbill.
Wood River (2-3 home) hosts Kimberly Monday, May 3 for a 4 p.m. single game on the Hailey field, then the Wolverines have a three-game series with Burley (0-18, 0-10) May 6-7 prior to the May 10 league tourney. "Senior Night" takes place at the home finale Friday, May 7.
Tuesday's match-up with Jerome was a welcome one and the Wolverines got the tight game they were looking for.
One big difference between the two teams was another "little thing," in softball—getting the leadoff batter on base. Jerome did it in six of its seven at-bats and scored runs in three of those innings. Wood River did it only twice, but scored all its seven runs in those frames.
Wood River junior pitcher Ali Levy (108 pitches, 7 earned runs, 10 hits, 5 BB, 4 K) delivered a gutsy effort in the circle and her defense made some fine plays. The Wolverines spotted Jerome a 4-0 first-inning lead and dodged bullets for pretty much the rest of the game.
Jerome left the bases loaded twice. The Wolverines threw a runner out at the plate, courtesy of shortstop K.T. Martinez, and also got a force out at home to end a Tiger threat. First baseman Madison Gove and center fielder Haylee Thompson both made fine catches.
Meanwhile, Wood River's offense couldn't solve Jerome sophomore pitcher Colby Argyle (97 pitches, 6 ER, 12 hits, 9 K) until the seventh. Oh, there was the first-ever career homer by second baseman Josie Dawson—a two-strike blast over the center field fence in the first inning to make the score 4-2.
But the Wood River offense didn't make any noise again until Thompson led off the seventh with a crisp single and her older sister Hunter Thompson (3 hits, 2 doubles) ripped a two-bagger down the third base line. Rachel Maier put down a perfect sacrifice bunt and Martinez (2 hits, 2 runs) roped an RBI single to center field.
Other hits by Madison Gove, Dawson (2 hits, double, HR, 4 RBI) and Levy coupled with Jerome's only error of the game cut the Tiger lead to 9-7. Haylee Thompson got up again as the Wolverines had batted around and she slashed a mean grounder to shortstop with the tying runs in scoring position.
But shortstop is where Jerome (11-11, 7-4 league) is strongest. That's where slick-fielding T.J. Surrage holds the fort, and Surrage threw Thompson out to end the game.
Jerome's Shelby Bozzuto (2 hits, 3 RBI) delivered the biggest hit of the game with a two-out, three-run double in the sixth making the score 7-2 after Hailey pitcher Levy had held the Tigers scoreless for four straight frames. In the nightcap, Bozzuto had two hits and four RBI to put Jerome up 8-5.
Martinez, catcher Alex Lindbloom, Haylee Thompson (RBI double), Hunter Thompson and Sydney Tidwell all ripped hits before the officials suspended the second game. Jerome freshman pitcher Paige Jackman took a wicked line drive by Lindbloom off her left leg but somehow stayed in the game to finish her stint.
Promising Wood River freshman hitter Sydney Tidwell makes a connection during a Wood River game against the Minico Spartans earlier this spring season. Photo by David N. Seelig
