The Badgers picked up one win in the four days, beating Eagle 10-2 on June 17. Greater Nevada opened the tournament on June 14 with a 6-2 loss to Nampa and played twice on June 15, dropping a 9-8 decision to Mountain Home and an 11-1 defeat to Idaho Falls. In a single game on June 16, the Badgers lost 9-1 to Kuna.
In the loss to Nampa, Greater Nevada (2-12) was held to one hit - a second-inning single by Brian Shettler. The Badgers cut the deficit to 4-1 in the bottom of the fourth, as Michael Williams walked and eventually scored after two wild pitches and a passed ball. Greater Nevada added its second run in the bottom of the fifth when a ground ball by Damon Miller plated Shettler, who reached base after getting hit by a pitch.
Nampa scored three runs in the second inning for all the offense it needed but picked up two insurance runs in the sixth to bring the advantage to 6-2. Shettler started for the Badgers and took the loss in three innings of work. He struck out two and walked none. Kyle Schultz and Jared Taylor combined to throw the final four innings.
Greater Nevada found its offensive stroke against Mountain Home, building a 6-2 lead after the top of the second after scoring five times in the second inning. The first five batters reached based and scored, with Taylor picking up the only hit in that stretch. Mountain Home hit two batters, walked another and the defense committed an error, adding to the rally. LJ Achenbach had a single and Austin Bachik drove in two more runs to conclude the frame.
Mountain Home added single runs in the second and third innings to cut the deficit to 6-4, when Mickey Donovan scored after leading off the inning with a walk. He stole second and reached third on a throwing error by the catcher and later scored on a wild pitch.
Mountain Home continued its stretch of single runs, scoring one time in the fourth and fifth innings to trail by a run at 7-6. The Badgers picked up an insurance run in the top of the sixth when Williams and Bachik used singles to score the run. With one out in the bottom of the sixth, Mountain Home used a Greater Nevada error to its advantage and put three runs on the board to take the lead at 9-8.
Aaron Nelson singled with one out in the top of the seventh and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Trevor Zumwalt, but he was left stranded on second to end the game. Taylor went the distance for Greater Nevada on the mound and took the loss. He struck out two and walked six. Bachik led the Badgers with three hits. Donovan walked three times and scored three runs.
Greater Nevada had its chances against Idaho Falls but left eight runners on base in the game and was only able to plate one run. That came in the top of the third when Colin Doyle walked and scored on a balk. The Badgers had just one hit in the last three innings but left five runners on base in that time period.
The Rangers used a pair of four-run innings, and a three-run frame in the fifth to end the game on the run-rule. Christian Dawson threw all five innings and was credited with the loss. He walked one but was hurt by six errors in the field. Troy Hardy, Williams and Taylor each collected one hit.
The string of leaving runners on base continued into the next game against Kuna, as Greater Nevada left nine base runners stranded, including three in the first and two in the fifth and seventh innings.
The Diamondbacks built a 9-0 lead after five innings of play and made the advantage hold up. The Badgers scored their lone run in the sixth inning after Bachik singled and came home after a passed ball and two wild pitches.
Hardy pitched into the fifth inning and was replaced by Nelson. Hardy was given the loss. Nate Nelson and Bachik had two hits apiece for the Badgers.
Greater Nevada took out its frustrations in the tournament finale, scoring the first 10 runs of the game. The Badgers tallied three runs in the first on a RBI double by Bachik that scored Williams and a two-RBI single by Achenbach that brought Bachik and Miller home.
The Badgers added two runs in the third inning and broke the game open with five runs in the third. Hardy and Bachik drove in three of the runs on back-to-back doubles. Brandon Okuma threw a complete game to earn the win. He struck out four and walked one. Schultz and Hardy each had two hits.
Greater Nevada closes out its summer season in Baker City, Ore., with the Baker City Wood Bat Tournament from July 6 - 8. The Badgers are scheduled to play Pendleton, Baker, Redmond and John Day.
[[In-content Ad]]
