Mariners start 3-0

The Mission Valley Mariners started out strong, going 3-0 at the Eureka tourney, led by homers from Brandon Thompson and a grand slam by Jake Bosley.

They started off against Cranbrook, winning 8-0 with Thompson getting his first homer, and picking up the win on the mound. Eric Locke also came in and pitched.

In the second game, they played the Glacier Twins, falling behind 3-1 before bouncing back to win 8-3. Tyler Trudeau started but got the no-decision, and Brandon Roy came in to finish the game on the mound.

"After the fourth inning, the kids just got it into their minds to turn things around," said head coach Jami Hanson.

In the third game against Kalispell, Bosley hit his granny after fouling off six or seven pitches. The team won, 17-5, and he picked up the win on the mound.

Tim Rausch also came in late in the game and settled down and pitched well, Hanson said.

Hanson said all of the pitchers were on a pitch count, but that he was pleased with what he saw in the early part of the season.

"Pitching-wise, I was extremely happy with where we are right now. I felt good about balls versus strikes [ratio]. I think we gave up a total of five hits over the weekend," he said.

Defensively, he said the team only had a few errors — another good sign early in the season.

"The kids came out and did a lot of good things together. I like the camaraderie of the team," Hanson said.

The team will travel to Florence to face the Bitterroot Bucs this Saturday. Game time is 1 p.m., although Hanson said they might try to play two 7-inning games.

The home opener is Saturday, May 6 at 1 p.m., against the Bitterroot Red Sox, with two 7-inning games.

"I liked how we looked this early in the season. We played well," Hanson said.