Tigers pounce on Nampa
Ontario trades pitches with Nampa in non-league action
By Scott Ford
Argus Observer
Sunday, April 5, 2009 2:50 AM PDT
Nampa-Finally a nice day to play some baseball, and on Saturday, the Ontario Tigers took advantage of the great weather and pounded out 13 hits on its way to a 12-2 five inning win over the Nampa Bulldogs at Rodeo Park in Nampa.
“Our pitching, defense were great,” Ontario head coach Les Horn said. “We hit the ball well after we figured out what their (Nampa’s) pitcher was doing.”
Horn said the first two innings was a work in progress as his Tigers were baffled and fell behind early in every at-bat. Horn said Nampa’s pitcher would lead off with a first-pitch fast ball then come back with the 0-1 curve for a strike.
“Once we saw that, and knew what to look for we started to put the ball in play,” he said.
Ontario was able to score the first run of the game in the top of the first inning despite their batting woes, but it was in the third inning when the Tigers pounced on the Bulldogs.
Jake Turner led off the inning by reaching safely on a Bulldog error, Chase Fields strokes a single, setting the table for Josh Mejia who reached on an error scoring Turner, and Fields scored on an error. Riley Horn drove in Mejia with a sacrifice making the score 5-0. Greg Raetz came up next and reached on an error which allowed Eddie Lopez the opportunity for the RBI. Lopez delivered with a double scoring Raetz.
Ontario added two more runs in the top of the fourth inning for the commanding 8-0 lead, but Nampa ended a shutout bid by Tigers starting pitcher Horn with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning.
In the top of the fifth inning, the Tigers plated four more runs, and led 12-1. Nampa ended the game with one more run in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Horn pitched four innings in the win with six strikeouts and four walks. Fields came on in relief working the bottom of the fifth striking out two and walking one.
Fields led the Tigers at the plate, going 4-for-4 with an RBI, Mejia was 3-for-3 with five RBIs and three doubles and Lopez finished the day going 2-for-2 with an RBI and a double.
“This is a fun bunch of boys to coach,” Horn said. “They work hard, they do not complain, we have no issues.”
Ontario has picked up some votes in the latest coaches poll, which came out on April 1 and has the Tigers ranked 12th with two votes. Greater Oregon League rival Baker is ranked seventh with 27 votes and La Grande picked up one vote.
Ontario is one week away from starting GOL play, but in the meantime will deal with Vale Tuesday in its final non-league game.
