Royals continue to roll with four more wins

It was a good week for the Mountain Home Royals last week as they picked up four more victories.

Mountain Home Royals 11, 12

Kuna Diamondbacks 6, 6

The Mountain Home Royals swept an American Legion baseball doubleheader from the Kuna Diamondbacks last Wednesday at Kuna.

Michael DesPres homered in the top of the second of the first game to give the Royals a 1-0 lead, but the Diamondbacks struck back with three unearned runs in the bottom of the inning to go up 3-1.

A two-run homer by Alex Hoffman in the top of the third tied the game at 3-3, and sparked the Royals to a six-run inning as they never trailed the rest of the way, winning 11-6.

"We definitely didn't come out ready to play today," said Royals head coach Mark Cotton in radio comments after the game. "Our guys were pretty flat. We had plenty of chances to put them away and we didn't do it, so that's kind of frustrating, because we're definitely better than we showed, but I'll take the 'w' for sure."

Michael DesPres and Joe Poseley each had three hits in the win, DesPres, a home run and two RBIs, Poseley a double and two RBIs. Alex Hoffman had a double and a home run and drove in two runs. Tim Whitmarsh had two hits, including a double and two RBIs. Jake Hiler and Bret Young both had doubles, and Derek Thorton also had a hit.

Young picked up the win, improving to 5-1 on the season, striking out eight and walking five in five innings of pitching. Mike Anderson pitched the final two innings, striking out three batters.

In the second game, Mountain Home jumped out to a 4-1 lead after two and broke it open with six runs in the fifth, winning, 12-6.

The Royals pounded out 18 hits in the second game, with Alex Hoffman and Steven Budine both getting three, Hoffman had two RBIs, Budine, one. Mike Anderson, Michael DesPres, Joe Poseley, John Murdorf and Jesse Burton each had two hits, Anderson, Poseley and Burton each had two RBIs, DesPres, one, Murdorf had a double, and Bret Young also collected a hit.

"It's great to see guys that haven't played that much come in and play that well," said Coach Cotton. "Jesse Burton was a huge part of that win. He had some big hits, and he's hit well for us all season. It's a shame he doesn't get in the lineup a little more, but you love to see guys prove themselves like that. They came to play!"

Alex Hoffman improved to 2-0 on the season, pitching six strong innings, giving up just two earned runs. Jeff Vogl pitched the seventh.

Mountain Home Royals 8

Centennial Cannons 0

Chris Rau pitched a two-hit shutout last Thursday as the Royals beat the Centennial Cannons, 8-0, at home. Mountain Home scored all their runs in the first three innings.

"Things went really well today," said Coach Cotton after the game. "The guys came out ready to hit the baseball, all the way through the lineup. Alex Hoffman had a great day at the plate, and Zane Bundy had another good day, and obviously, Chris Rau had a great day on the mound, probably the best I've seen him pitch. He was working all day and keeping the batters off balance. It was a great win!"

Aaron Swartz, Alex Hoffman, Chris Rau and Zane Bundy each had two hits, Swartz scored three runs, Hoffman had a triple and two RBIs, Rau had a double and two RBIs. Bret Young had a hit and two RBIs, and Jake Hiler also had a hit.

Chris Rau had a no-hitter until a lost-in-the-sun double with two out in the fourth. The Cannons only other hit came in the fifth.

"It felt good today!" said Rau after the game. "I was hitting my spots, throwing real well. My curve ball felt real good, and my defense played well behind me. The infield picked me up a lot.

"Steven Budine had a couple great plays and (Michael) DesPres, on that diving catch down the (third base) line, saved me right there. The team really picked me up today!"

Rau, who struck out six and walked just one, improved to 6-0 on the season with the complete-game victory.

Mountain Home Royals 14

Boise Barons 4

(5 innings)

The Mountain Home Royals scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 14-4 American Legion baseball game from the Boise Barons last Saturday evening at Mountain Home.

The Royals sent 11 batters to the plate in the first inning as they jumped out to a 7-1 lead. They added two more in the second to go up, 9-1, but the Barons had chipped away, getting within five, 9-4, going into the bottom of the fifth.

"It was kind of bumpy -- a couple defensive errors that didn't cost us, but it's just definitely not the way we want to play a game, but I loved the way they came out in the fifth and really put it to them," said Coach Cotton after the game. "Their guy was pretty good on the bump, he'd shut us down the inning before.

"Jesse Burton came in with a big hit and really got things going in the fifth, and obviously, we had another good performance by (Jake) Hiler -- not his best, but above average -- he's done a great job for us all year."

Hiler struck out 10 and gave up just five hits, and just one of the four runs was earned. He also had a hit and two RBIs.

Bret Young had three hits and three RBIs, Joe Poseley had two hits, including a double and drove in four runs. Aaron Swartz had two hits and scored two runs. Jesse Burton and Alex Hoffman also had hits, and Hoffman scored three runs.

The Barons win improved the Royals to 12-0 in division play, and 25-4 overall. The Royals host the Boise Gems tomorrow (Thursday) evening at 7 p.m. They close out their regular season schedule at home Saturday with a 1 p.m. game against the Boise Senators.