The 'Ville redemption

The Marysville High baseball team has been thirsting for confidence.

Highlands proved to be quite the quencher.

Two days after getting no-hit by San Juan on the road, the Indians belted nine and mercy-ruled the perennially struggling Scots 10-0 at home Friday in a Golden Empire League contest.

"It was good. Highlands is typically not overpowering by any means, so I was hoping that would happen," said Marysville coach Jay De Alba, whose Indians put up 31 runs on Highlands in two games last season. "It was nice to get some hits, get some confidence. I still feel like we're not hitting where we need to be, but nevertheless ..."

While De Alba still wants to see further improvement from his players in the batter's box, the Indians reached base 17 times and used an aggressiveness on the basepaths to score quickly and frequently against the defensively challenged Scots.

The Indians (3-4) stole six bases and advanced with the help of six passed balls.

"I try and read the catcher," De Alba said. "We do have some speed, but we haven't had a lot of luck getting the guys on base.

Not a problem in this game, the best example of which came in the first inning. Marysville leadoff hitter Matt Horsfal battled through a nine-pitch at-bat to earn a walk, then stole second and third base with no resistance. He was then picked off by the catcher but still scored after the Highlands third basemen made a bad throw to home after a pickle ensued.

"It motivated to the team; we all wanted to go out there and take care of business," said Horsfal. "Baserunning was key; we had to hit the ball and we did our job."

Scott Keirsey was 2-for-3 with a double and two runs, and David Walker went 2-for-2 with two RBIs, one of which was the game-winner in the sixth inning.

"It's a pretty good feeling because I expect to be in the bottom of the order because I'm a pitcher," said Keirsey, who was the Indians' No. 9 hitter. "I came in and did what I did in practice."

But where Keirsey truly shined was on the mound. In four innings, the junior hurler struck out eight while scattering a pair of singles.

"My curveball was working pretty good today," he said. "I would work the curveball to get them off balance and then comeback with my fastball to catch them off guard."

In the second inning, the Indians scored a trio of runs when Blaine Huber hit a single, stole second, then was brought in by a Colby Givens double , who scored when Keirsey belted a double in the subsequent at-bat. Horsfal smacked an RBI single through the right side of the infield to bring in Keirsey.

"These guys played a clean game and got their hits today," De Alba said. "It was a good win, especially when you're 2-4 (before the win)."

In the fourth inning, Keirsey would cross the plate again when Walker, who was inserted into the lineup in the fourth inning, hit a single. The Indians would end the game after Horsfal drew his second walk of the day, advanced to second on a passed ball and was brought in by Walker, who simply summed up the mood of the team.

"We felt pretty happy today," he said.