Orioles playing best ball of the season

The Glenns Ferry Orioles enter this week's Class A Area B American Legion Baseball Tournament playing some of the best ball of the season.

With wins last week over the Boise Gems and Seminoles, the Orioles won for the 11th time in their last 16 games. Glenns Ferry has won eight of their last 11 league games, and Orioles head coach Denis Uhl believes his team can play with anyone.

"We've had two or three games when we've been flat and I've been frustrated and discouraged sometimes on those circumstances, but for the most part, we've played pretty solid and I've been real pleased. If we can come out and play like we have the last half for most the games, we'll be all right."

Glenns Ferry 8

Boise Senators 1

The Orioles got timely hitting and great pitching against the Senators on July 17 at Borah's Wigle Field. Jeff Hernandez had three hits and a triple away from hitting for the cycle, driving in three runs, more than enough for Jason Simons, who struck out eight while limiting the Senators to just two hits.

Michael DesPres had three hits and an RBI, Brian Fields and Aaron Swartz both had two hits and drove in a run, Bubba Johnson had a hit and RBI, and Scott Arellano and Jason Simons also had hits.

"They're a real good team," said Orioles coach Denis Uhl of the Senators. "Jason Simons pitched a solid game and we played really good defense and had some big hits. Jeff Hernandez had a home run and drove in three runs. It was a good team effort."

Glenns Ferry 11

Boise Capitals 2

The Orioles pounded out 15 hits against the Boise Capitals on July 19 at Glenns Ferry. The Capitals got two runs off Orioles pitcher Brian Fields in the first inning, but Fields shut them out the rest of the way, striking out six and walking six, giving up just two hits. Scott Arellano had four hits and drove in a run. Jason Simons had three hits and two RBIs, Jeff Hernandez and Aaron Swartz both had two hits and two RBIs. Brian Fields had a hit and drove in two runs, Brett Young and Bubba Johnson had hits, and Shey Titus had an RBI.

"We really pounded the ball!" said Coach Uhl. "It was one of those games where everyone was pounding the ball -- 15 hits -- we like to see games like that, and then we had a great pitching performance from Brian Fields."

Boise Barons 20

Glenns Ferry 8

The Boise Barons erupted for 10 runs in the fourth inning on their way to a 20-8 win over the Orioles on July 20 at Glenns Ferry.

The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the first, and rolled double plays in each of the first two innings to keep Boise off the scoreboard.

The Barons scored four in the top of the third, but Glenns Ferry plated four in the bottom half to retake the lead 5-4.

Then came the fourth inning, when the Barons tallied 10 runs on seven hits, four walks and a hit batter against four different Glenns Ferry pitchers. Michael Despres was relieved by Jason Simons with two on and nobody out in the fourth.

Simons faced six batters without recording an out. In came Aaron Swartz, and he faced three batters. David Zito came in and stopped the bleeding to end the inning, but the damage was done, and the Barons led 14-5.

Glenns Ferry added a run in the bottom of the fourth to make it 14-6, and each team scored two in the sixth to make it 16-8. The Barons added four in the top of the seventh, and shut down Glenns Ferry in the seventh for the 20-8 win.

"I tell you what, that Bishop Kelly team really pounded the ball!" said Coach Uhl after the game. We went through four pitchers tonight and no one could control them, they just pounded the ball, and it didn't matter what the pitch was I would have liked to have a better performance from our pitchers tonight, they looked pretty flat out there on the hill, we just couldn't get them out."

Brian Fields had two hits and two RBIs for the Orioles. Justin Case had an RBI double, Michael DesPres had an RBI single, Brett Young had a double, and Scott Arellano, David Zito and Jason Simons also had hits.

Glenns Ferry 6

Boise Gems 2

The Orioles once again got some timely hitting and good pitching against the Boise Gems in Glenns Ferry on July 22.

Jason Simons had a two-run home run, Scott Arellano had a two-run triple and Jeff Hernandez had a two-run double.

Arellano struck out six, walked two and scattered eight hits in going the distance for the win.

Coach Uhl liked what he saw from his team against the Gems.

"We had some guys pounding the ball with guys on base, and Scott Arellano pitched a great game, and our infield -- we've had five double plays in the last two games -- and man alive, I'll put those numbers up against any team.

"We're playing good ball, it's just sometimes we show up and are kind of flat at the plate, we don't hit the ball, and are not aggressive, but today, man we came up there ready to hit!"

Besides the runs producing hits by Simons, Arellano and Hernandez, Brian Fields had two hits, Michael DesPres had a double, and Aaron Swartz and Justin Case also had hits.

Glenns Ferry 10

Boise Seminoles 6

Glenns Ferry took advantage of a wild streak by Seminoles pitcher Kasey Gardner to score seven runs in the first inning, and hung on for a 10-6 victory at Glenns Ferry Saturday (July 24).

Gardner walked five, hit two and gave up two hits in the first inning, with the Orioles getting to him for seven runs. The Orioles only had five more hits off Gardner after the first inning, but they were timely hits that helped produce runs.

Jeff Hernandez had two doubles and two RBIs to lead the Orioles at the plate. Scott Arellano and David Zito both had RBI doubles, Justin Case had an RBI single, and Jason Simons and Mike Anderson also had hits. Simons got the win, pitching four innings, giving up five runs on five hits, striking out three, walking four and hitting one batter.

Michael DesPres pitched the final three innings, allowing just one run on three hits, while striking out four.

"It was a nice win," said Uhl after the game. "We took advantage of their pitcher's wildness there in the first, but after that he settled down and pitched a pretty good game. Our pitching was pretty consistent all the way through.

"Jason Simons did a good job, and Michael DesPres came in and finished off the game, so both of them were pretty solid."

The win improved the Orioles to 21-12 overall, and 15-12 in league. They closed out their regular season schedule with a league game at Meridian on Monday (July 26). The District Tournament starts today (Wednesday). The seeding meeting for the district tourney was Monday night after their Meridian game. The tournament will be played at the Capital High and Borah High fields.