TV ‘AA’ Stars swamp Mudcats
Laubacher fans 10 in Stars’ 10-0 victory
By: Argus Observer sports staff
Thursday, June 18, 2009 10:13 AM PDT
Ontario—Still perfect in league play is where the Treasure Valley ‘AA’ Stars find themselves after seven games into league play, and the overall mark sits at 7-3 following a 10-0 blanking of the Columbia Mudcats during an American Legion match up Wednesday in Ontario.
“Our one through nine hitters went up to bat with a plan today,” Stars head coach Matt Mejia said. “We are seeing the ball real well right now.”
Ryan Laubacher, an Ontario High School graduate, dealt the Mudcats some dirty pitches as he struck out 10 and walked only one in six innings of work in the nine-inning scheduled game.
At the dish, the Stars wasted no time piling on the runs with three in both the bottom of the first and second innings for a quick 6-0 lead.
Treasure Valley added another run in the third inning, and in the fourth inning, Fruitland’s Kyle Blackwell went yard with a solo home run to give the Stars an 8-0 lead. Kyle Blackwell finished the game going 3-for-5 with two RBIs.
In the bottom of the fifth, Treasure Valley extended its lead to 9-0 and ended the game in the bottom of the eighth inning with the 10th run of the game.
“There is not much more I can ask from this team,” Mejia said. “We are playing good ball right now.”
The Stars out-slugged Columbia 10-4 in the win. Treasure Valley’s Brad Pollock swung a hot bat as he went 5-for-5 on the day and drove in two runs.
Kyle Blackwell, Daulton Blackwell and Nick Varriale all stroked doubles in the game.
Other offensive leaders for the Stars included Josh Mejia's 2-for-5 effort at the plateas well as a pair of runs batted in, and Varriale had two hits in four attempts. Columbia did not have any extra base hits in the loss.
“We have to continue to improve every day,” Mejia said.
The Stars will hit the diamond again at 7 p.m Friday when they travel to Borah High School to take on the Senators, and Saturday Treasure Valley will travel to Eagle High School for a 3 p.m. start.
