Royals pick up season's first wins at Vallivue event

Thursday, June 11, 2015

The Mountain Home Royals picked up their first American Legion baseball wins last week at the Vallivue Tournament, downing Caldwell twice. For the week, the Royals went 2-5.

Canyon Ridge 6, Royals 5

Canyon Ridge 13, Royals 4

Mountain Home dropped a non-conference American Legion baseball doubleheader at Canyon Ridge in Twin Falls last Wednesday, losing the first game, 6-5, and the second game, 13-4.

A five-run seventh inning for Mountain Home tied the first game at five, but the River Hawks were able to score the winning run in the bottom of the seventh.

Mountain Home managed just two hits in the game as Jody Arellano had a hit and RBI, and Cody Blakemore also had a hit. Esmer Castillo and Curran Price both knocked in a run.

Kole Filipovich pitched four solid innings for the Royals. Riley Woodland threw two innings, and Jesse Cobos, who came on in the seventh, suffered the loss.

Canyon Ridge scored five runs in both the first and second innings in the nightcap to build up a 10-3 lead and went on to take the win.

The Royals managed just two hits in the nightcap as well, as Kody Arellano and Kyle Acarregui had hits. Arellano hit a double and drove in a run. Sklyer Knudson also had an RBI for the Royals, who fell to 0-4 on the season.

Nampa 5, Royals 0

Mountain Home opened the Vallivue Tournament on Thursday, losing to Nampa, 0-5. Seven errors hurt the Royals as the Braves scored four runs in the fifth inning.

Mountain Home managed just one hit in the game, that a single by Shae Sterling. Jesse Cobos suffered the loss, giving up just five hits and two earned runs while going the distance for the Royals.

"We got a good game out of Jesse Cobos, but couldn't play defense behind him, and our bats were cold," said Royals head coach and manager Michael Hobgood regarding the Nampa game.

Royals 6, Caldwell 1

Shae Sterling threw a two-hitter against Caldwell on Friday at the Vallivue Tournament as the Royals picked up their first win of the season, 6-1.

Sterling struck out nine, giving up an unearned run in the fifth. He helped his cause with an RBI-double.

Kody Arellano had three hits including a double and scored two runs. Jesse Cobos also had an RBI-double, and Esmer Castillo had a hit and drove in two runs. Cody Blakemore also had a hit for the Royals.

"We came to play today, and started to do some of the things we do well and scored some runs and got a fantastic outing from Shae Sterling," Coach Hobgood said.

Emmett 4, Royals 1

Mountain Home took an early 1-0 lead over Emmett on Friday but ended up losing, 1-4 to the Blue Devils in the Vallivue Tournament.

The Royals managed four hits in the game as Shae Sterling, Jesse Cobos, Kyle Acarregui and Cody Blakemore had hits. Blakemore went the distance on the mound, giving up just two earned runs on eight hits, suffering the loss.

Nine Mountain Home errors did not help the Royals' cause.

"We battled Emmett well," Hobgood said. "It was a case where we hit the ball, and they just made plays, and we held a bit back since we play them Saturday and in a conference doubleheader."

Middleton 9, Royals 1

A four-run second and five-run sixth inning helped Middleton to a 9-1 win over the Royals on Saturday.

Mountain Home managed just three hits in the game. Kody Arellano, Jesse Cobos and Cody Blakemore all had singles. Kyle Acarregui had an RBI.

Arellano suffered the loss, giving up all nine runs, seven of them earned. He gave up seven its while striking out seven and walking seven. The Royals also committed seven errors in the game.

"We were just very flat and spotted them a bunch of runs and we were sluggish at the plate," Coach Hobgood said.

Royals 3, Caldwell 2

Mountain Home ended up facing Caldwell on Sunday for ninth place, and edged the Bobcats, 3-2.

The Royals scored single runs in the first three innings. Caldwell's two runs were scored in the third inning against Royals starter and winner Jordan Lenz, and were both unearned. Jesse Cobos picked up the save, pitching three scoreless innings in relief.

Jayden Sexton had two hits. Riley Woodland had a hit and drove in two runs. Esmer Castillo also had a hit and Jordan Lenz drove in a run.

"Today's game against Caldwell was just fantastic," the coach said. "We got a great start from Jordan Lenz and a nine-out save from Cobos.

"What was most promising about it was six of our nine positions were manned by freshmen or sophomores, and they played great," the coach added. "Overall, I feel like it made us better. It showed us how we have to play to win, and more importantly, what happens to us when we come out flat."

The Royals are fielding a younger team this year than in previous seasons, and the past week allowed the players to grow considerably, the coach added.

"I feel good about what's to come," the coach said. "Our record isn't great right now, but I think with the younger teams, sometimes that's okay. It shows them where they are and what they can be We're really very happy with the growth we've shown."

The Royals improved to 2-9 on the season. They host Buhl in a doubleheader Tuesday, host the Boise Senators for two on Thursday and host Fruitland for two on Friday before they head to Emmett for two on Saturday. The home games start at 5 p.m.

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