Prep recap: They started 2-4. Now the defending champs are one win away from state.
It wasn’t pretty Saturday. But it often isn’t this season for Mountain View.
The Mavericks mounted one of the best seasons in Idaho history to win the 2019 5A state baseball title. But after the coronavirus pandemic canceled the 2020 season, Mountain View only returned one starter to defend its title and stumbled to a 2-4 start to the season.
That forced the Mavericks to scratch and claw their way through the season. And they did it again Saturday, rallying to beat Capital 3-2 in the first round of the 5A District Three tournament and moving within one victory of another state tournament berth.
“It’s a brand-new team, not being able to play in 2020,” Mountain View coach Matt Rasmussen said. “It’s been hard trying to figure out the puzzle. We had a big roster — kind of a COVID roster, if you will — to start the season and a lot of competition within our team.
“Then they started to separate themselves and we learned about some players. We’re young. We make a lot of mistakes. But they’re proud. They want to go represent Mountain View and defend that state title.”
Mountain View (19-7) advances to face Kuna (10-12) at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Capital. The winner can finish no worse than fourth at the district tournament and gets an automatic berth in the state tournament. The loser must win three games in four days to secure the final berth.
Mountain View trailed 2-0 after three innings Saturday. But the Mavericks manufactured just enough runs, scoring on an error, a fielder’s choice and a balk to pull out the victory.
Tommy Whiles’ fielder’s choice tied the score in the fifth inning. Moments later, Brooks Rasmussen took third on a wild pitch and then scored on a balk for the winning run.
“That’s kind of our thing,” Matt Rasmussen said. “We’ve got to put pressure on the defense. We have to put the ball in play, and, you know, hope for the best. We’re not the most offensive team on the planet.”
That was enough for freshman pitcher Will Grizzle, who threw three scoreless innings in relief for the win. The freshman has stepped up time and time again for the Mavericks, including a tense moment in the top of the seventh inning.
Capital’s Jackson Reed, a Seattle University signee, came to the plate with the tying run on third and the power to take the lead with a single swing. Matt Rasmussen said he considered walking Reed but decided to trust his freshman.
Reed ripped a shot to right field, but Mountain View’s Brody Rasmussen snared it on the warning track in front of the 330-foot sign to escape the jam. The final out moved Grizzle to 4-1 with a 1.08 ERA this season.
“Everybody kind of looks down on him like, ‘Who is this kid?’” Brooks Rasmussen said. “But he’s going to be a dog in a couple years, and I’m excited to see what he does. He’s already doing great things.”
SATURDAY’S TOP STARS
Roman Lake, Emmett (baseball): Threw a complete-game shutout and struck out 11 in a 2-0 win over Vallivue in the first round of the 4A District Three Tournament.
Daniel Kormylo, North Star Charter (baseball): Struck out 12 in a five-inning, one-hit shutout to lead the Huskies to a 12-0 victory vs. Wilder.
Carly Boisvert, Mountain View (softball): Held Boise to one hit and struck out nine in a five-inning shutout in a play-in game for the 5A District Three Tournament.
Grace Diffin, Centennial (softball): Pitched a three-hit shutout and struck out 11 as the Patriots beat Capital 1-0 in a 5A district play-in game.
Jorja Crider, Middleton (softball): Homered twice and drove in seven runs to lead the Vikings to a 22-1 win over Columbia to open the 4A District Three Tournament.
Reiss McIntyre, Ridgevue (softball): Led the Warhawks to a 13-0, five-inning win over Emmett by striking out seven and scattering three hits.
Dani Sitts, Homedale (softball): Fired a one-hit shutout and struck out 10 in five innings to lead the Trojans to an 18-0 win over McCall-Donnelly, securing Homedale a spot in the 3A District Three Tournament championship game.
TWO STATE BIDS CLINCHED
Nampa Christian (22-0) and Melba (14-7) already secured their spot in the state baseball tournament, cruising to a pair of semifinal wins Saturday in the 2A District Three Tournament.
Nampa Christian mercy-ruled Cole Valley Christian 18-5 in five innings behind four RBIs from Brent Clapier and three from Zach Mullins. Meanwhile, Melba topped New Plymouth 7-1 thanks to triples from Henry Clark and Robert Knight.
The two meet at 5 p.m. Thursday at Meridian’s Storey Park for the district title.
SOFTBALL SCOREBOARD
BASEBALL SCOREBOARD
This story was originally published May 8, 2021 at 9:04 PM.
