Glenns Ferry revives Legion ball team

In 1996, Glenns Ferry revived its high school baseball program after a 40-year absence.

This summer Glenns Ferry has initiated an American Legion baseball team, the first in Glenns Ferry since -- well, who knows when.

With the retirement of Chester "Soapy" Walborn, the Mountain Home Royals American Legion team became no more, but several Mountain Home players are playing on the Glenns Ferry team, called the "Orioles," and the local team opened their season Friday in Glenns Ferry against Vallivue, beating the Titans in five innings, 16-2.

The Orioles pounded out 19 hits in the ball game, scoring four runs in the first and third innings, three in the second, and five in the fourth to win by the ten-run rule.

Brett Young, who led the Mountain Home Tigers in hitting this past season as a sophomore, had four hits and five RBIs, three of them coming on a three-run home run.

Scott Arellano had four hits, scored four runs, knocked in two runs and stole two bases. Brian Fields, another Mountain Home product, had two hits and two RBIs. Jason Simons, Justin Case and Mike Anchustegui each had two hits and an RBI, and Cody Darrington and Laif Morrison both had hits and RBIs. Michael DesPres, another Mountain Home player, also had a hit.

Jason Simons picked up the win, going four innings, giving up two runs on five hits -- four of them coming in the second when Vallivue scored their two runs. He struck out five, and walked just one.

Scott Arellano pitched a scoreless inning of relief, striking out one of the three batters he faced in the fifth.

Orioles head coach Denis Uhl, who coached the Glenns Ferry Pilots to a second place finish at the 2A State Tournament in Orofino, was happy with his team's first effort of the season.

"I didn't know what to expect today," said Uhl after the game. "We have a little mixture of two teams of Glenns Ferry and Mountain Home, and both of us were playing at State last week.

"We had a real good pitching performance from Jason Simons, and then Scott Arellano came in and finished up in the fifth, and we had something like 20 hits I think, so if we can get performances like that, we're going to stay in all the games, and we've got some other guys that I know are going to be quality pitchers, and if our hitting stays solid, we should be competitive throughout the year."

The Orioles scheduled doubleheader last Saturday at TVCC against Treasure Valley was postponed until June 26.

The Orioles were at Emmett Monday for a single game, and have a doubleheader today (Wednesday) at Caldwell, and return home for two with the Boise Senators Saturday in Glenns Ferry starting at 1 p.m. They are also home against Eagle for a single game on June 14.