Noxon-Thompson Falls baseball kicks off debut season
Polson's Zak Muzquiz (20) slides around a late tag at home plate during Polson's 20-1 win over T Falls-Noxon in a high school baseball game this past Saturday. (Photo by Bob Gunderson)
Cold, rainy weather with doses of snow between the raindrops.
A new baseball team playing the first two games of their existence, including one against the defending state high school champs.
On their field.
That is what the Noxon-Thompson Falls baseball team went up against this past week as they kicked off their first season of high school ball.
The Red Devils opened the season last Tuesday in Eureka and fell to the Lions 17-0 in a game that was shortened to two innings by the Mercy rule, which calls games when one team goes ahead by a set amount of runs.
Then, with snow and rain falling amid seasonally cold weather, the T Falls/Noxon co-opers fell to defending state champion Polson, 20-1 in a game also shortened by the Mercy rule.
“ It (the game)was supposed to be in Plains and then Plains canceled, so they (Eureka) picked it up with us. We lost, by a lot. I feel that it was mainly due to nerves. I think that it was good to get that game out of the way to knock the dust off and prepare guys for what they will be up against the rest of the way out”, said Noxon head coach Lucas MacArthur of the season openers.
The Red Devils had no hits against Eureka in the shutout loss. Stats were not immediately available for the Polson game, which was against arguably one of the best teams in the state.
Baseball, which is in its first year as a varsity, sanctioned high school sport for T Falls and Noxon, is now in its second year statewide.
The Red Devils will regroup prior to their next two games, scheduled for this Thursday at 4 p.m. in Frenchtown, then a Saturday afternoon match-up with Mission in St. Ignatius, with the opening pitch set for 1 p.m.