Friday — April 23, 2004

Wolverines
split with Filer

SCIC baseball

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Wood River and Filer paired up in an SCIC showdown on Tuesday and both gave as good as they got.

Filer (14-3, 2-2 SCIC) snapped Wood River’s six-game win streak, winning the opener 7-2. Turn about was fair play, as the Wolverines (12-3, 3-1 SCIC) put the brakes on the Wildcats 12-game streak, claiming the nightcap 22-4 in five frames.

In the opener, Filer ace Paul Gerrish (4K) sent the Wolverines down in order in the third, fourth and fifth frames, and got out of a sticky bases-loaded no-out situation in the second. But it was not the Wildcats as much as the Wolverines who played a hand in their own defeat.

"You try and make the other team beat you instead of beating yourself. This game we beat ourselves," coach Lars Hovey remarked.

Filer had only one hit in a five-run first, aided by two hit batsmen and two walks.

Wood River base-runners were also picked off twice and the defense committed five errors.

Pitcher Steve Hansen (3-2) allowed only four hits and fanned seven, but issued four walks and hit three batters.

"He did get stronger as the game went on (no walks after two) and I guess the upside is Filer did not swing it as well as they were reported to do," Hovey said.

Wolverine runs were scored by Steve Durkin and Kellen Kinghorn. In his first at-bat, Durkin took a first-pitch knuckleball out of the park.

The Wolverines regrouped and trounced the Wildcats in the nightcap. Filer tossed four pitchers who gave up 14 hits, walked nine and hit six.

Hailey’s Tyson Reynoso (3-0) was in command with 10 strikeouts and seven hits.

"Tyson has been throwing well. He doesn’t beat himself," Hovey said.

Steve Durkin belted his second homerun of the day, and went 4-for-5 with a pair of doubles and five RBI. Hansen was 3-for-3 with a two-base knock and four RBI. Both Joe Paisley and Ted Dankanyin went 3-for-4.

Hovey summed up the day with, "Although we played horribly the first game, we came back and won the game that will probably decide the league championship and allow us homefield advantage throughout the playoffs."

Hailey’s two remaining league matchups are against winless Kimberly (0-12, 0-3 SCIC).

The Wolverines have two home games slated for this Saturday, April 24 at Founder’s Field in Hailey.

Wood River opens up against Kuna at 11 a.m. and will play Teton of Driggs at 4 p.m. Teton and Kuna duel at 2 p.m. Junior varsity games will be played at Nelson Field.

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