Tigers lose to Capital, Nampa

The Mountain Home Tigers came up on the short end of a couple 10-run games last week against Capital and Nampa.

Capital 19

Mountain Home 4

Some defensive errors proved costly for Mountain Home last Tuesday night at Capital, when they lost to the Eagles 19-4 in a game called in the fifth by the 10-run rule.

Mountain Home scored their first run of the game in the top of the first to lead 1-0.

With two on and two out in the bottom of the first, a fielding error on an inning-ending ground ball kept the inning alive for the Eagles, who scored eight runs before it was over.

Things went from bad to worse for the Tigers, who gave up six runs in the second, two in the third and three more in the fourth with just six of the 19 runs scored by Capital being earned.

"We came out finally hitting the ball, and then the other side of the game sort of fell apart," said Mountain Home Tiger baseball coach Travis DeVore. "Part of that I take responsibility for, as we had a couple guys playing out of position. We thought they could do more than they ended up showing, but at the same time, that's what the beginning of the season is about, coming to terms with your own team and starting to understand where guys can play and what their strengths are, so we learned a little bit about ourselves, but also a dose of humility was given to us as well."

Michael DesPres had a hit and knocked in two runs for the Tigers. Brett Young had an RBI double, and Aaron Swartz and Zach Anderson also had hits.

Brian Fields suffered the loss, but the eight runs he surrendered in the first were all unearned. Aaron Swartz, Mike Anderson and Joe Poseley all pitched an inning of relief as well.

Nampa 12

Mountain Home 2

The Tigers opened their SIC 4A conference schedule Friday at home against the Nampa Bulldogs, and, outside of a bad second inning, played them tough.

Both teams scored two runs in the first inning, but in the Nampa second, the Bulldogs had six singles in a row off Tiger starter Michael DesPres and went on to score nine runs. Nampa added another run in the sixth, to end the game an inning early by way of the 10-run rule.

"Chalk it up to growing pains, to a certain extent," said Coach DeVore, commenting on the loss after the game.

"We definitely came away from it feeling like we beat ourselves, although that second inning, they didn't hit the ball all that hard, but six straight singles, and we didn't help ourselves with some wild pitches and a couple walks mixed in there, but you never really saw the other team beating you, they were just putting the ball in play and it was finding its way to get them on base safely.

"It was a tough game to sit through, and I really feel like early on we matched up well with them. We just dug ourselves a huge hole and couldn't rebound from it.

"Hopefully, we'll come away with some things that clearly outline what we need to work on."

Aaron Swartz, Brian Fields, Brett Young, Andrew Grodi, Michael DesPres and T.J. Miller all had hits for Mountain Home. Fields had an RBI.

Michael DesPres suffered the loss, giving up 11 runs, just seven earned, in an inning a two-thirds of work. Michael Anderson pitched two and a third innings of scoreless relief, and Brett Young gave up an unearned run in two innings of relief pitching.

The Tigers play four games in the Buck's Bag Tournament at Fort Boise this week, starting against Mountain View on Thursday. Coach DeVore is looking forward to his Tigers gaining some valuable experience in the tournament.

"Were really glad the Bucks Bag Tourney is falling where it does, because it gives us time to refocus and a time for guys to come together, and we've learned a lot about this team in the first four games. It'll give us a chance to get some more looks at our guys before we get back into conference play."

The Tigers open against Mountain View at 4:30 p.m. Thursday. They face Middleton at 10 a.m. Friday, and take on Boise at 4 p.m. Friday. They also will have a game on Saturday. All games are played at Fort Boise.