Lady Tigers sweep Lady Pilots

The Mountain Home Lady Tigers swept a pair of non-conference softball games from Glenns Ferry last Friday in Glenns Ferry, winning the first game 7-4, and taking the second 10-2.

In the first game, Mountain Home broke open the pitching duel between Lady Tiger Ali Hillman and Glenns Ferry's Jessica Simons, getting Simons for three runs in the third inning, getting back-to-back hits from Kristen Brandli, Paula Doerr and Des Walden.

Glenns Ferry struck back in the bottom of the fourth, taking advantage of a brief wild streak by Ali Hillman, when she walked two and hit a batter. A couple costly throwing errors led to four runs without the benefit of a hit, and the Lady Pilots had the lead 4-3 after four.

A two-run double by Ali Hillman in the top of the fifth helped Mountain Home regain the lead, as they scored three runs. Hillman set down the Lady Pilots the rest of the way, earning her first win of the season. For the game, Hillman gave up just two hits, and struck out 12, walking two and hitting one, earning words of praise from Mountain Home coach Joy Memmelaar.

"She did a wonderful job. She had 12 strikeouts in the game -- what a way to come back from from her last outing against Nampa, when she struggled. We've been working on it with her, getting the adjustments, and she did an excellent job. I'm really pleased with how she's pitching. It's a good way to go into league play."

Paula Doerr had three hits in the first game, Ali Hillman had a two-run double, Des Walden and Ashley Kipp both had RBI singles, and Kristen Brandli and Jessica Des Pres also had hits.

In game two, the Lady Pilots scored single runs in the first and second to go up 2-0 on Michelle Reynolds and Mountain Home. A 10-run fifth inning turned the game around, and Reynolds shut Glenns Ferry down the rest of the way, scattering six hits and striking out six for the win, her fourth against two losses.

"We got another great pitching effort from Michelle," said Coach Memmelaar after the game. "With league play starting next week, it's nice for the girls to experience the feeling of the positive wins, so I'm looking forward to starting league play."

Ali Hillman had three hits and two RBIs in the second game. Kristen Brandli, Des Walden and Michelle Reynolds all had two hits. Paula Doerr, Trisha VanMeer and Sammy Dodge also had hits.

The Lady Tigers took a 5-8 overall mark into yesterday (Tuesday)'s SIC 4A conference opener at home against Kuna. The Lady Tigers are home against Caldwell Friday in league play, and host Bishop Kelly at home in league play on April 13.