Softball squad goes 2-1 as season opens

The Mountain Home Lady Tigers picked up non-conference wins over Centennial and Wood River last week, after a season-opening loss at Eagle.

Eagle 2

Mountain Home 0

The Lady Tigers opened their season last Thursday at Eagle, and, in what was a great pitching duel, dropped a close, 2-0 contest to the Lady Mustangs.

The Lady Mustangs got single runs off Ali Hillman in the second and fourth innings. Hillman managed the only hit off Eagle's Joani Cook, who struck out 12.

"It was quite a good game defensively," said Mountain Home Lady Tiger softball coach Joy Memmelaar. "We played well, we did everything right in the field. We just didn't hit very well. We couldn't lay off the rise ball that she (Joani Cook) got us with quite a few times, but it was a good game. The girls played smart and did some really good things."

Ali Hillman went four innings and struck out two and walked four. Carmen Santy pitched the final two innings, and held Eagle scoreless, giving up three walks.

Mountain Home 11

Centennial 10

Mountain Home hosted Centennial in a non-conference game last Friday and fought back to win the game in their last at-bat.

The Lady Tigers went up 5-1 after three. Centennial tied it at 5-5 in the top of the sixth, but the Lady Tigers scored three in the bottom of the inning to take an 8-5 lead.

The Lady Patriots exploded for five runs in the top of the seventh to take a 10-8 lead, but Mountain Home rallied in the bottom of the seventh, with Sammy Dodge's triple driving in the winning runs.

"It was a real good battle," said Coach Memmelaar. "We got a lead on them and they came back and tied it, and we went back in front, and they came back to go up, 10-8.

"We came up trailing by two in the bottom of the seventh, and we got some hits and then Sammy Dodge tripled to win the game. It was a great way to end the game."

Ali Hillman, who went the distance to even her record at 1-1, struck out 10 and walked nine. She also had two doubles and two RBIs.

Tawni Downen had two hits and an RBI, Kim Hamilton and Liz Griffeath both had two hits. Sammy Dodge had a triple and two RBIs, Ashley Kipp had a hit and two RBIs, Carmen Santy and Brei Draper also had hits.

Mountain Home 5

Wood River 2

The Lady Tigers scored twice in the third and fourth innings, which was more than enough to beat the Lady Wolverines from Wood River Saturday at Eastside Park.

Brei Draper and Kim Hamilton both had two hits against Wood River, Draper had an RBI. Krista Gillaspy had an RBI single, Ashley Kipp clubbed a double, and Ali Hillman and Sammy Dodge also had hits.

Ali Hillman pitched the first three innings, giving up one run on one hit, while striking out six and walking three. Breann Christiansen, who pitched the final three innings, struck out three and walked one, giving up just one run, to earn the win.

"We got another win today, which was nice," said Coach Memmelaar after the game. "The girls played fairly strong defensively, and our pitchers did well. Our little freshman (Breann Christiansen) got her first win today, and we got everybody in the game, and Krista (Gillaspy) came off the bench and ripped a beautiful hit, so there's some real good things going on this year.

"I'm looking forward to us doing well."

The Lady Tigers opened SIC 4A conference play yesterday (Tuesday) at Nampa, and travel to Kuna in conference play tomorrow (Thursday). They travel to Jerome for a doubleheader on Saturday.