MLB scouts flock to see Middleton ace. He delivers, and Vikings hang on for Game 1 win
Fifteen Major League Baseball scouts made their way to Middleton High on Tuesday to watch Robert Orloski take the mound. And those who stuck around to the end witnessed a dramatic finish to the opening game of the 5A District Three baseball championship series.
Middleton staved off Owyhee’s seventh-inning comeback, holding on for a 5-3 victory in Game 1 of the best-of-three series. The Vikings (21-4) can clinch their first district title since 2005 — when they were a 3A school — with a win at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Owyhee.
Orloski cruised through six innings, holding Owyhee (19-3) scoreless and to a single hit, before running into trouble in the seventh. The reigning state champs loaded the bases with nobody out, forcing Middleton to finish the game with a pair of relievers for the final three outs.
Junior Treyton Swygart clinched the save by retiring the first two batters he faced, ending any serious threat.
“After me, they don’t have any breaks,” Orloski said. “We always trust our guys to solidify any win with anybody on the bump.”
Orloski flashed the potential that brought all those scouts to Middleton. The 6-2 right-hander — who has reached 96 mph on the radar gun this season — overpowered a potent Storm lineup at times, making several college-bound hitters look foolish.
But he also struggled with his command in his first outing since a perfect game April 27 against Kuna.
His final line: Six-plus innings, three earned runs, three hits, six walks and 10 strikeouts.
A dozen radar guns popped up each time he started his delivery. And the scouts dutifully noted every pitch to report back to their big-league clubs. It’s become a common site for Orloski this season, one he’s had to get used to.
“When 15 scouts show up, that’s a lot of added pressure,” Middleton coach Bryan Swygart said. “We’ve talked about how to minimize that pressure, and what are the things that we can do to mitigate that.
“... He’s grown so much mentally throughout this year that he’s just earned every accolade that he’s gotten. And he’s just one of the best kids to be around.”
The Vikings spotted Orloski an early lead, and they ended up needing those runs. Micah Mendiola absorbed a hit by pitch and Brock Silvers delivered a sacrifice fly for a 2-0 lead after two innings. Silvers and Josh Lucido added solo home runs in the fourth and fifth innings, and Isaiah Anzaldua had an RBI double to give Middleton its much-needed cushion.
“We’ve got so much power on this team,” Treyton Swygart said. “When we hit balls like that, it boosts our momentum so much and our energy rises.”
Both teams are guaranteed spots at next week’s 5A state tournament, and both have clinched their seeds regardless of who wins the district championship. Owyhee will be the No. 1 seed and Middleton will be No. 2.
MOUNTAIN VIEW 3, ROCKY MOUNTAIN 0: Davey Green and Nico Resendez combined for a six-hit shutout as the Mavericks (15-10) clinched a state tournament berth in the second round of the 5A District Three Tournament on Tuesday at Capital High.
Green pitched 6 1/3 innings, striking out four. Resendez earned the save by collecting the final two outs.
Ian Tippets led the Mavericks at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI, while Will Grizzle and Carson Lupton added two hits apiece.
TIMBERLINE 5, EAGLE 2: The underdog Wolves (15-9) punched their ticket to the state tournament at Borah High.
Timberline, which finished eighth in the 5A SIC standings, scored three runs in the fifth inning with the help of an RBI single from Caden Sloan and a double by Aidan Messerschmitt.
Carter Walsh earned the win, giving up two runs on seven hits over five innings while striking out seven.
Timberline and Mountain View will battle in the district third-place game at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Borah.
