Skyview, led by Davidson, holds off Nampa
Skyview pitcher Josh Davidson delivers a pitch during a game against Nampa on Thursday afternoon.Charlie Litchfield/IPT
More Photo Galleries
wlove@idahopress.com
Friday, April 10th, 2009
NAMPA — After struggling at times last season with his control, Skyview pitcher Josh Davidson spent the offseason changing his delivery.
The work has certainly paid off. Davidson had eight strikeout to just one walk in throwing a complete-game, 4-0 shutout against cross-town rival Nampa on Thursday at Skyview High School.
"Last year he struggled a little bit throwing strikes," Skyview head coach Ryan Bobo said. "We worked hard in the fall and over the winter kind of changing his motion. He's been real accepting of the changes, and it has shown. Every outing this year, he has pitched great."
Share story
Along with the change in mechanics, Davidson entered Thursday's game with a very specific, but simple plan of attack for the Bulldog hitters.
"I knew if I came out and threw strikes, my defense would back me up," said Davidson, who also had one of Skyview's four hits. "So that is what I did."
Both teams had four hits and Nampa enjoyed for the most part a strong outing by its starting pitcher — Brent Mehling — but the Bulldogs were plagued by miscues that Skyview capitalized on.
The Hawks (5-2 4A SIC, 5-10 overall) managed to score three runs in the second inning on just one hit. Mehling hit two batters in the inning and two consecutive runs scored on a wild pitch and a past ball. Skyview added another run when Davidson was involved in a rundown while trying to steal second base, allowing Daniel Santi to score from third.
"We helped them get those three runs," Nampa head coach Scott Knopp said. "We didn't make them do too much to earn those three runs."
The Bulldogs didn't help themselves on the bases. Nampa had two on in the first, but couldn't come up with the hit to score either. The Bulldogs also had a runner at second base thrown out by Skyview catcher Deme DeLaPaz when he faked a steal attempt.
"When you are playing the game we are playing right now, you certainly need some breaks to go your way," Knopp said. "And we didn't have that tonight."
