SDN Sports Editor
After waiting a week to get on the field, the Snyder Tigers expected cooperative weather for Saturday’s scheduled doubleheader.
Instead the Tigers opened the season with the wind whipping a cold drizzle across Moffett Field.
And it didn’t matter.
The Tigers got the 2004 campaign underway with a pair of wins, pounding Pecos, 11-1, in six innings in the opener, before topping Wylie, 10-6, in the nightcap.
“I thought our defense and our pitching looked sharp,” head coach Charles Bollinger said. “Our offense is a little behind, but I’m extremely pleased after not being outside all week. We will improve, and starting 2-0 is a big confidence booster.”
Snyder easily dispatched Pecos, taking advantage of four errors to 10-run the Eagles in six.
Ty Collier got the first win of the season, going five innings and striking out seven while allowing just two hits and one earned run. Ryan Mitchell threw one inning of scoreless relief.
“I felt good,” Collier said. “My curve ball was working and I felt really good about the defense. We’ve got a really sound defense and they made good plays.”
Jordan Dea started his productive day at the plate right away, going 2-for-3 against Pecos with a pair of doubles and three runs driven in.
Dea was 4-for-4 against Wylie to start his season hitting .857.
Blake Grimmett, Bradley Price and Marcus Villarreal each collected a pair of base hits, while Alex Neal, Isaac Ramon, Eric Martinez and Hadley Hirt had a base knock apiece.
Grimmett said the club was at first chagrined by the weather, but forgot it once they hit the field.
“It was the first game and we were all pumped,” he said. “No matter what the conditions were, we were going to come out and play our game. Establishing that first win is key. If you lose, you can come back, but inside morlae is going to be low.”
Pecos was stomped by Wylie in the second game, and the Tigers spotted the Bulldogs four first-inning runs in the nightcap before coming back to claim a 10-6 win.
Alex Neal struggled in the first inning, issuing three walks before being relieved by Lico Castillo.
Castillo took over with one out in the first, pitching 4 2-3 and striking out two while giving up three runs on four hits.
Dustyn Williams closed out the game, getting the final six outs while not allowing a run.
“He was a little excited,” Bollinger said of Neal. “He’ll get another shot. The guys played well. I was really proud of them for the way they came back. Maybe they were too fired up to play Wylie. Our guys know they have talent.”
Snyder responded to the 4-0 deficit with five runs in the bottom of the first.
Dea led the way at the plate with 3 RBI, while Grimmett and Price again slapped a pair of hits each.
Collier had a bunt single, Nathan Hernandez added a hit and run driven in, and Williams had an RBI on a sacrifice fly.
The Tigers host Trinity Christian at 7 p.m. Tuesday.