Tiger nine ready to open season Tuesday v. Timberline

l team opens its season next Tuesday afternoon at home against Timberline.

Despite the turnout being the smallest in Tiger baseball coach Travis DeVore's seven years at Mountain Home, he has plenty of experience back from a team that went 12-15 last season.

"It's actually the smallest we've had since I've been here, but we have a lot of quality athletes in the program, and you don't need numbers when you're getting those kinds of guys out, so that's definitely encouraging.

"We basically graduated those three seniors, and lost a couple other guys to other stuff, but it's a lot of returning guys. Our infield is a lot of guys from last year.

"Brock Morris came up as a freshman (from the JV), and he's back as a sophomore to try and anchor that shortstop job. Alex Hoffman is healthy again, so we have him back working the middle infield as well, and a lot of the guys are the guys that were up last year, with Cal Vivier, Jordan Cisna, Jake Hiler, Chris Rau, Ricky Lee and Derek Thorton.

"It's a lot of experience back, complimented by Ricky Baker, Gabe Anderson and Erik Christiansen, all coming up from last year's JV team that won the district title.

"John Murdorf is still nursing his arm injury that he got in (American) Legion ball, but he's going to come out and get some DH time.

"There's a lot of familiar names, which usually bodes well for the season when you have that much experience coming back."

Jake Hiler and Chris Rau will anchor the Tigers' pitching staff. Hiler led the team in innings pitched (61), strikeouts (81), wins (7) and ERA (2.80). Rau had the second most innings with 54, and went 4-4, with a 3.29 ERA.

Rau and Hiler also led the Tigers at the plate last year, Rau hit .420 with 25 RBIs, 13 doubles and a home run. Hiler hit .407 with 35 hits, 21 RBI and nine doubles.

The Tigers open the season at home against Timberline next Tuesday, and open their conference season against Skyview March 13-14, playing at Skyview on March 13, and hosting the Hawks on March 14.