Royals come in second at Mudcat Wood Bat Classic

The Mountain Home Royals brought home the second-place trophy from the Mudcat Wood Bat Classic at Columbia High School in Nampa.

After winning the first three days of the tourney, the Royals lost to Emmett in the championship game, 2-0.

Royals 7

Toros 4

The Royals opened the Mudcat Wood Bat Tourney at Columbia High School last Thursday morning with a 7-4 win over Mountain View.

A six-run second inning was the big difference in the ball game as Mountain Home prevailed, 7-4.

"We jumped out early on them in the second, and then kind of got quiet there through the middle of the game," said Royals head coach Mark Cotton.

"We're kind of lacking our killer instinct. We jumped out quick, and we played good enough to win, but we just kind of need to put the dagger in them when we have the chance."

Ricky Lee and Brock Morris both had two hits for the Royals. Lee scored two runs, Morris knocked in a run with a triple. Ricky Baker and David Bitrick both had a double and RBI, Trevor Woodruff and Tom Hennessey also had hits. Tom Hennessey picked up the win, going four innings, striking out five and giving up just two hits. Alex Rodriguez pitched the final three innings to get the save.

Royals 2

Kuna 0

Mountain Home faced the Kuna Diamondbacks in the second day of the tournament, and Trevor Woodruff battled Kuna's Mike Kominski in a great pitching duel. The Royals managed two runs and Woodruff limited the Diamondbacks to just one hit as Mountain Home prevailed 2-0.

The Royals first run came in the second inning without the benefit of a hit, as Eric Christiansen was hit by a pitch to start the inning, and Tom Hennessey followed with a walk. A double-steal put them on third and second base, and Christiansen scored on an Alex Rodriguez ground-out.

An error led to the second Mountain Home run in the fourth.

"Trevor threw a heck of a baseball game -- a one-hitter -- and worked ahead all day and threw very few pitches today," said Coach Cotton after the game.

"Offensively, we did just enough to get it done, but we've got to get the sticks going. On the mound and defensively, we've been pretty awesome."

Trevor Woodruff, who struck out 12 Kuna batters, had two hits at the plate, including a double. Ricky Lee, Brock Morris and J.T. Cristobal also had hits and Alex Rodriguez had an RBI.

Royals 10

Rangers 0

The Royals got their bats going and took advantage of Idaho Falls miscues to beat the Rangers 10-0 in the tournament on Saturday.

The Royals scored two runs each in the first and second innings, and three each in the fourth and fifth to end the game early by the 10-run rule.

Coach Cotton was pleased with the overall team effort in the win.

"Eric (Christiansen) threw a great baseball game, worked ahead all day long, and did what we expected him to do, and then Jared (Day) came in and threw a nice fifth (inning). I wish we could have got Jared even more innings, he was really impressive in the inning that he was in there.

"Finally our bats came alive and all through the lineup we had some big hits."

Ricky Baker led the Royals at the plate with three hits, including a triple, and drove in three runs. Ricky Lee had two hits and scored three runs, Eric Christiansen and Chris Maholick both had doubles (Christiansen's knocked in a run), Brock Morris had a hit and two RBIs and Kevin Anderson and David Bitrick also had hits.

Christiansen picked up the win, going four innings, giving up just one hit while striking out nine. Jared Day pitched a scoreless and hitless fifth, striking out one.

Emmett 2

Royals 0

The Royals faced Emmett for the Mudcat Wood Bat Classic championship Sunday afternoon, and lost a great pitchers duel 2-0.

Emmett scored a run in the first inning, and added another one in the fifth off Royals pitcher Ricky Baker, who allowed just five hits in going the distance.

Emmett pitchers Matt Reinstra and Taylor Nicholson limited the Royals to just two hits in the game -- by Ricky Lee and Ricky Baker.

"It was a great pitchers duel," said Coach Cotton after the game. "Ricky Baker pitched well enough to win, we just couldn't get our bats going against Emmett's pitchers.

"We had our chance early against Reinstra, but weren't able to score, and then Nicholson came in and really shut us down.

"I told the kids we've got to get better and be able to get the hits when we need them if we're going to go far, but it's nice to bring home a trophy."

Ricky Lee and Trevor Woodruff were named to the all-tourney team.

The loss to Emmett was the Royals' first in seven games.

The Royals have a doubleheader at Fort Boise against the Boise Seminoles today (Wednesday) starting at 5:30 p.m. They are home for two games against the Boise Senators on Saturday. They are also home against Centennial for a 6 p.m. game with the Centennial Cannons next Tuesday, and host Mountain View for two on June 18, starting at 5 p.m.