BADGERS CLAIM DISTRICT TITLE
Badger pitcher Zack Roberts shut down Orofino Maniacs 10-0 in six innings to help Bonners Ferry claim the 3A District Title. Bonners Ferry plays American Falls at 9 a.m. today, May 14, in the 3A State Baseball Tournament in Ontario, Ore.
Roberts was named as the overall Most Valuable Player Intermountain League coaches.
Roberts and senior Aaron Hoisington and junior Zack Roberts were selected as All-League players for the 2009 IML all-league team.
Roberts’ overall pitching record is 6-1 with a 1.90 era. The junior struck out 80 batters and walked 22. Roberts batted over .500 on the year with two homeruns, seven doubles, one triple and 29 RBIs. Roberts did not strike out all year in 81 plate appearances.
Hoisington had a .320 batting average as the lead-off hitter for the Badgers. He committed only two errors at second base all year in nearly 60 attempts.
GAME 2 – DISTRICT 1-2 3A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Bonners Ferry 10, Orofino 0 (6 innings)
Coming into the District 1-2 3A baseball tournament, Orofino had lost only one league game, that to Bonners Ferry nearly six weeks ago. The Maniacs were positioned to win its first 3A District Championship since moving up to 3A this year.
Roberts struck out 8 batters, allowing only three hits and walked two in route to the Badgers’ third overall District Title and second in three years. The Badgers made four runs in every inning except the third inning, getting 10 hits.
Hoisington started the game off with a single to left field and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Alex Kellogg. In the second inning, the Badgers added two more runs when Robby Burns was hit by a pitch and Greg Taggart walked. Zach Maas hit an RBI single to score Burns, and Casey Nelson came through with an RBI single to score Taggart.
Bonners Ferry added two more runs in the fourth inning when C.J. Erickson started things off with a double to deep left center. He scored on Taggart’s double down the left field line. Then Nelson, got his second hit of the game scoring Taggart on an RBI single.
The Badgers continued to add runs with three more in the fifth inning with RBI singles from Erickson and junior Ryan Wilson. In the sixth inning, they added their ninth and tenth runs of the game when Hoisington scored after reaching base on a walk and Roberts scored on an RBI single from Taggart.
For the tournament, Nelson went 4-for-5 with two RBIs, Roberts went 3-for-five with three runs scored and Taggart went 2-for-4 with three RBI.
In an earlier game, senior pitcher Greg Taggart threw seven strong innings, allowing only three hits, striking out eight batters in route to a 2–1 victory over the St. Maries Lumberjacks in the semifinal game in Orofino.
Bonners Ferry scored two runs in the third inning when Alek Lopez dropped a bunt single down the left field line with one out in the inning. Zack Roberts then walked. Robby Burns hit a hard shot to the third baseman who bobbled it and Lopez scored advancing Roberts to third.
Roberts then scored on a passed ball from the catcher.
In the top of the fourth inning, St. Maries Marc Grubham reached on a fielders choice and later scored on a passed ball by Badger catcher Casey Nelson.
Lopez and Nelson each had two hits while Roberts, Maas and Erickson contributed with a hit a piece.