Royals open season with two crushing wins

Rain halted play in the first game, and played havoc in the second game, but it was not enough to stop the Mountain Home Royals Friday night as they clubbed out a doubleheader sweep of a young Boise Senators team in the Class A American Legion baseball opener for both clubs at Borah's Wigle Field.

Mountain Home pounded out 19 hits in the first game against four Senator pitchers in a 21-2 win in five, and took the nightcap 23-2, also in five innings.

"It was a great night," said Royals head coach Mark Cotton after the sweep. "The kids just swung the bat really well -- all the way through -- guys came off the bench and swung the bat really well, and the pitching was there also. (Michael) DesPres shut everybody down-- I don't think we had anybody really struggle all day.

"I think we had like 42 runs in two games. I don't care who you're playing, that's impressive."

The Royals pounded out six doubles in the first game by six different batters. Chris Rau had four hits, and knocked in three runs. Joe Poseley and Jake Hiler both had three hits. Poseley knocked in five runs, while Hiler had two RBIs.

Aaron Swartz and John Murdorf both had two hits, Swartz had three RBIs, Murdorf, two. Alex Hoffman and Michael DesPres both had doubles and two RBIs. Jeff Vogl had a hit and RBI, Bret Young had a hit and scored three runs, Cal Vivier had a hit, and Mike Anderson also had an RBI.

Michael DesPres allowed just one hit in three innings, striking out six to claim the victory. Jeff Vogl pitched the final two innings giving up the two runs on three hits, while striking out three.

In the second game, the Royals scored eight runs in both the third and fourth innings on their way to a 23-2 win.

Mike Anderson had two doubles and a triple and knocked in six runs. Bret Young and Tim Whitmarsh also each had three hits, Young, a double, a home run and three RBIs, Whitmarsh drove in two runs. Cal Vivier had two hits and two RBIs, Alex Hoffman, Derek Thorton Jeff Vogl, Jordan Cisna and Jake Hiler also had hits, Thorton had three RBIs, Vogl, two, Hoffman and Cisna each had one, and Hiler scored three runs.

Bret Young picked up the win, going three innings, giving up just one hit and striking out six. Jake Hiler gave up the other hit in the fourth, and four walks led to the Senators two runs. Jordan Cisna pitched a scoreless fifth inning, striking out two.

Coach Cotton attributed their great start to his players wanting to make up for going out of the 4A state high school tournament in two straight games.

"They have something to prove after what happened at state, and they definitely came out here with a chip on their shoulder, so I'm really proud of them."

The Royals were at Bishop Kelly last (Tuesday) night for a single game against the Boise Barons, and play their home opener tomorrow (Thursday) when they host Kuna for two starting at 5 p.m.