On April 10, 2026, Rocky Mountain High School traveled to Boise High School to play a regular-season matchup game that could have big effects on both teams hopes for a playoff berth.
Entering the game, the Grizzlies held a 10-8 record and were riding a two-game winning streak, including a home shutout against Timberline which would only boost their spirits. Boise, meanwhile, stood at 7-11 and was looking to bounce back after losing seven straight.
First pitch was scheduled for 6:30 p.m., with temperatures in the mid-60s and minimal wind, though rain became a factor later in the game.
Looking at the numbers, the Grizzlies were favored in a majority of the categories going into the game, hitting and pitching well as of late. The only thing that could save the Braves from starting pitcher and College of Southern Idaho commit Aiden Anderson was the fact that they had home-field advantage. The Braves were starting sophomore right-handed pitcher and utility piece Arthur Boyles, in high spirits and still looking for his first win of the season.
To win this game the Grizzlies were going to need to do what they had done against Timberline: be efficient on the mound and hit as good as any school in baseball.
If the Braves were going to want to win this game they would have to take their home field and use it to the most advantage they possibly could, with the Grizzlies having a massive momentum advantage, it will be hard to get going if they don’t start early, so if they can find that spark at the beginning of the game, that will be the key to their success.
On the first pitch of the game, sophomore outfielder Carter Fuss doubled off the wall, setting the tone for a four-run first inning. Boise answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning, as Anderson showed early signs of control issues.
The second inning went smoothly for both teams, allowing no runs, but in the bottom of the third inning Brennan Davis hit a three-run home run to put Boise up 5-3. This led to a pitching change for Rocky Mountain, substituting Anderson for junior relief pitcher Taylor Porter.
Boise tacked on another run at the end of the third before shutting Rocky out in the top of the fourth and scoring another four in the bottom of the fourth, with drops of rain starting to fall.
With the rain increasingly pouring down and Rocky Mountain continuing to cycle through pitchers, the Grizzlies needed a miracle. In the top of the sixth, they scored five runs to make the score 10-8, shutting the Braves out in the bottom of the sixth for the second consecutive inning. But in the top of the seventh, with the rain pouring down at that point, the Braves retired the final batter, marking the end of the game with a final score of 10-8.
This was quite a disappointing performance for the Grizzlies, as they were favored heading into the game. They were beaten in nearly every statistical category: batting average, stolen bases, ERA, fielding percentage, runs, hits and OPS.
This game dropped the Grizzlies to a record of 10-9 and put the Braves at 8-11, with a little more momentum going into the final stretch of the season.
Overall, the Grizzlies were not able to get the job done in seven innings against the Braves and fell 10-8. This loss did not define the Grizzlies, as since this game they have gone 4-2, with multiple wins coming in double digits. For the Braves, it wouldn’t be as straightforward as they had hoped, losing five of their next eight while struggling on offense.
