Tigers nine places 4th at state

The Mountain Home Tigers extended their win streak to seven straight before dropping their final two games at the State 4A Baseball Tournament in Nampa to finish fourth.

Mountain Home 3

Jerome 2

The Tigers got a 14-strikeout effort from Michael Hobgood in downing Jerome in the State Tourney opener Thursday night.

Mountain Home was out-hit by Jerome 6-3, but took advantage of an error in the third to plate the go ahead run, and Hobgood got stronger as the game progressed to shut down Jerome the rest of the way.

Brett Young, Alan Lawler and Jacob Dunn had Mountain Home's hits against Jerome, Lawler and Dunn had RBIs.

"Hobgood pitched a great game -- an amazing game," said a happy Tiger baseball coach Travis DeVore after the game.

"He got better as the game went on.

"There were some great moments in the game -- (Alan) Lawler making an awesome play at third base, and the play that (David) Wise made right before it -- just some awesome stuff. I'm just so proud of these guys. It's been just absolutely impressive."

Hillcrest 6

Mountain Home 2

The win over Jerome put Mountain Home in the semifinals against Hillcrest, who had got past Caldwell 3-1 in their opener.

Coach DeVore threw sophomore Michahel DesPres against the Knights. DesPres had come up big in the District Championship game against Kuna, and pitched another gem, but was hurt by errors that led to unearned Hillcrest runs.

The Tigers put together three hits in the bottom of the third inning to score two runs and tie the game at 2-2, but it would not only be the last runs they would get off Brad Roisum of Hillcrest, it would be their last hits, as the senior right-hander retired the final 13 batters he faced, striking out six of them, and ending with a three-hitter, and nine strikeouts.

An error helped the Knights take the lead in the fourth, and walks and an error and a hit led to three more runs in the sixth, as the Idaho Falls school built up their lead to 6-2. Roisum struck out the side in the Tiger seventh for the win.

"Obviously, we were not at our best tonight," said Coach DeVore after the game "I thought we had some momentum when we put the first two runs up there, it looked like things were going our way. Certainly (Michael) DesPres pitched extremely well tonight. They put a lot of balls in play, they were a very aggressive team.

"I was really impressed with their coach's decision there in the fourth inning or so to start laying down some bunts. That really was the difference in the game, as Michael was getting to them and they weren't having success at the plate.

"Hat's off to them, I feel a little out-coached, because that really did turn the game in their favor."

David Wise, Brett Young and Jacob Dunn had Mountain Home's hits off Roisum, Dunn had an RBI.

Michael DesPres gave up just six hits while striking out two and walking five.

Sandpoint 15

Mountain Home 11

(11 innings)

The Hillcrest loss put Mountain Home in the Third Place game against Sandpoint, which had dropped a 2-1 contest to Madison in the other semifinal.

After Sandpoint scored a run in the top of the first, the Tigers put together four hits to score three runs in the bottom half of the inning to take a 3-1 lead, two of the runs coming on a triple by Andrew Grodi.

After scoring another run in the second, Sandpoint chased Tiger starter Andrew Grodi from the mound with a six-run third to take an 8-3 lead. The Bulldogs added another run in the fourth off Michael Hobgood, who replaced Grodi, to make it 9-3.

But Mountain Home combined four hits, two hit batters and two walks and an error to score seven runs to take a 10-9 lead after four.

Sandpoint tied it in the fifth, and went ahead 11-10 in the top of the sixth with a run off Jacob Dunn, who relieved in the fifth.

A home run by Brett Young tied the game at 11-11 in the bottom of the sixth, and that was all the scoring until the game reached the 11th inning.

In the top of the 11th, Sandpoint coupled walks, hits and errors to score four runs, and take a 15-11 lead into the bottom of the 11th.

Noah Hawkins, working his seventh inning of relief, shut out the Tigers in the 11th to preserve the win.

"There's nothing to be ashamed of walking away today," said Coach DeVore after the marathon game. "We hurt ourselves down the stretch, but that's a game the kids have to feel proud they got to be a part of it. Somebody is going to have to end up losing that game, and they're going to feel (bad) about it, but I hope our kids don't. I think they have everything to be proud of.

"Jacob Dunn had an awesome outing, with unearned runs that ended up costing us there.

"Obviously, (Brett) Young's home run, and (Michael) Hobgood got some key hits for us. It's all part of the big part of what this team's about this year -- kids stepping up when we needed them to -- that's why we had this run down the stretch that gave us opportunities like this.

"I'm proud of their effort. I'm proud of this team.

"Obviously, you want to go home with the third-place trophy, but overall, you can't get too upset about a game like this or a season like we had. These guys have just impressed me all season long."

Jacob Dunn had three hits for the Tigers and knocked in a run. Brett Young had a double and a home run and two RBIs.

David Wise and Michael Hobgood both had two hits, Andrew Grodi a two-run triple, and Alan Lawler an RBI single.

The Tigers end the season 14-13 overall, and fourth place at state.

Hillcrest won the 4A Championship, beating Madison 5-3. Kuna claimed the consolation trophy, beating Jerome 12-5.