Cardinals Are Back On The Diamond

The Soda Springs baseball team saw its first action of the season last weekend as they took part in the Wood Bat tournament in Challis.  The Cardinals played four games over a two day period finishing the tournament with a record of 2-2.

The Cardinals started the weekend taking on the Idaho City Wildcats.  Following a fast first inning it was the Wildcats that struck first knocking in three runs.  The three run lead would hold until the top of the fourth inning.  In the top of the fourth the Cardinals cut into the lead by scoring two runs of their own.  Soda Springs then was able to hold the Wildcats to no runs in the bottom of the inning.  Heading into the top of the fifth and final inning the Cardinals needed to do some work since they were still trailing by one and the Wildcats had last bats.  Fortunately for the Cardinals their bats woke up in the fifth.  The Cardinals went on a six run streak that included a bases loaded triple by Kolton Peterson.  Now leading by five the Cardinals defense would have to do their job to hang on for the win and that's just what they did.  Soda Springs held the Wildcats scoreless in the final three innings to secure the win.  In addition to Peterson's three RBI’s Titus Carpenter, Isaiah Bowman, and Conner Goodin each added one.

Following the game one win the Cardinals next faced the host school Challis.  This game started off the same way as the first game with neither team able to earn a run in the first inning.  However this time the Cardinals caught fire in the second inning.  In the top of the second the Cardinals put up six runs and continued to hold Challis scoreless in the bottom of the inning.  Soda Springs followed the second inning with eight runs in the top of the third.  The Cardinals were well in control of the game and cruised to a twelve run victory.  Seven different Cardinals recorded hits in the game with eight players scoring runs.  Kolten Peterson threw sixty-one pitches giving up just two runs and earning seven strikeouts.

With day one in the books the Cardinals entered day two against a very good Salmon team.  The Savages got  an early jump on the season and had already played three games before entering the tournament.  In those three games and two played against Idaho City and Challis the Savages had outscored their opponents by the incredible mark of 73-3.  The Cardinals definitely had their work cut out for them.  For the first time this season the Cardinals gave up runs in the first inning.  The Savages jumped out to a quick four to zero lead in the first inning.  In the second inning the Cardinals failed to slow down the Savages while also failing to score any runs of their own.  By the end of the third inning Salmon held a commanding fifteen run lead.  In the top of the fourth inning Salmon added four more runs meaning the Cardinals 

would need a miracle to force the game to a fifth inning.  While Soda Springs was finally able to get on the board in the bottom of the fourth it was far too little too late and the Cardinals suffered their first loss. 

With the tournament format the Cardinals were set up to play the Savages once again for their final game.  In this final game of the tournament once again the Savages jumped out to an early lead scoring three runs in the first.  The Cardinals were unable to answer back in the top of the second and gave up three more runs in the bottom of the inning.  In the top of the third the Cardinals were finally able to get on the board.  Junior Horsley got the credit for two RBI’s driving in Randy Stephens on a two run homerun.  Unfortunately that was all the scoring that the Cardinals would manage in the game as they eventually fell by ten runs.  Despite the two big losses to the Savages the Cardinals were able to put five runs up on a team that had only given up three runs in their previous five games.

The Cardinals will be back in action on Thursday with a home game against Marsh Valley then again on Saturday against Wendell.  Saturday’s game will also coincide with the Lady Cardinals home opener against Wendell as well.

Cardinals 0 0 0 2 6 8

Wildcats 0 3 0 0 0 3

Cardinals 0 6 8 0 14

Challis 0 0 0 2 2

Cardinals 0 0 0 3 3

Savages 4 7 4 4 19

Cardinals 0 0 2 0 2

Savages 3 3 3 3 12