Tigers defeat El Dorado Springs at home

Ralph Pokorny/Daily Mail Nevada senior Ross Wolfe is safe at third on a steal during Thursday's game against the El Dorado Springs Bulldogs. [Click to enlarge]

The Nevada Tigers varsity baseball team improved to 2-0 in district competition Thursday afternoon as they defeated El Dorado Springs 11-3.

The Bulldogs came into the day with a record of 7-5, but were still feeling the effects of a very young roster. With just two seniors on their roster, El Dorado Springs came into Thursday's contest with very little depth and leadership and it showed as they committed six costly errors on the day.

Both teams went down fairly quietly in the first inning and it looked as though the game may develop into a pitcher's duel right from the outset as starters Ron Johnson and Trevor Quinlan both allowed just one hit in the opening frame.

The lack of leadership and young age of the Bulldogs' roster began to show in the bottom of the second inning and the Tigers were able to quickly capitalize on four errors in the frame. Quinlan allowed two hits in the inning and the Tigers were able to plate two runs, one of which came as a direct result of three errors by the El Dorado Springs defense on a single play.

The first of two balks in the game by Quinlan gave the Tigers another runner in scoring position in the inning, but the El Dorado Springs defense was able to make a quick recovery and got out of the inning down just 2-0.

Ross Wolfe made his bid for "player of the game" on both sides of the ball as he was able to get on board with two of his four hits in his first two at-bats and stole his seventh base in seven attempts this season in the first inning. Wolfe finished the game 4-for-4 at the plate with two stolen bases and was hit by a pitch in his final at-bat of the game.

"Ross is a very talented player," head coach Kellan Foster said. "With his speed in that leadoff spot, he'll do a great job and I think that's where he needs to be."

Neither team got on the board again until the fourth inning, thanks in large part to Wolfe's defensive play. Between the second and third innings, Wolfe was responsible for all but one of Nevada's defensive put-outs, earning four assists and one solo put-out in five consecutive plays.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Tigers added some insurance to their lead on a two-out RBI single by Wolfe that brought home Corey Kerbs. Wolfe picked up his second stolen base of the day in the inning, but the Tigers were unable to add to their lead any more in the frame.

El Dorado Springs responded quickly in the top of the fifth, taking advantage of Johnson's troubles on the mound and an error by shortstop Colby Shepherd to tie the game at 3-3.

Johnson gave up three hits in the inning before giving up the mound to Austin Baldwin, but thanks to the error, came out of the game with only one earned run allowed.

Johnson came into the game with an ERA of 3.50 on the season and opposing hitters were batting just .218 against him going into the day. With that performance, he continues to be one of the best pitchers in what is already a very strong Nevada rotation

He came into the day with a 2-1 record on the season as well, but ultimately finished the day without being a factor in the decision

The Tigers found their offensive spark in the bottom of that same inning as three of the first four batters to come to the plate touched Quinlan for doubles. By the time all was said and done, the Tigers extended their lead to 8-3 with five runs thanks to Quinlan's second balk of the day and an impressive six hits in the inning.

Nevada added three more runs in the seventh inning on four more hits and two hit batters in the frame. The Tigers finished the contest with 11 runs on 18 hits and benefitted from six Bulldog errors to take the game by a final score of 11-3.

"All in all, it was a great effort," Foster said. "Man, I feel great seeing the kids hit like they did today!"

To compound the impressive nature of the Tigers' performance on the day, two starters played Thursday's game hurt. Taylor Scotten has been battling a broken bone in his hand, but still put on a strong performance for the Tigers in left field and catcher Chris Harris was still behind the plate Thursday, despite having six staples in his head.

"Chris Harris is one tough kid," Foster said. "He played on of his best games all year today. They (Harris and Scotten) are two kids we love to have in the lineup and whevenever we can get them in there, we'll take it."

With that win, the Tigers improve their overall record to 7-5 on the year, while the Bulldogs fall to 7-6.

The Tigers are scheduled to be in action again on Monday, as they host the Carl Junction Bulldogs. That game is set to start at 4:30 p.m. at Lyons Stadium.