Idaho Falls 10, Casper 1

The Idaho Falls Chukars started the 2009 season by rolling the Casper Ghosts 10-1 Tuesday night in front of 3,239 fans at Melaleuca Field in Idaho Falls. The Chukars offense put together 14 hits, while three pitchers combined to strike out 16 batters and allow no earned runs.

Three innings into the game the score was 1-1, even though the Chukars allowed four Ghosts' base runners to reach third. The Chukars' offense really got going in the fourth inning when the team scored four runs. With two outs in the fourth, Julio Aparicio hit a double, Salvador Perez hit a triple, and Allen Caldwell blasted a home run. Three more runs were added by the Chukars' hitters in the fifth thanks to six hits, five of which were singles. Idaho Falls was able to add two more runs in the seventh without a hit, when the Ghosts walked three batters, threw two wild pitches and was charged with one error.

Five different Chukars finished with multiple hits, including the five and six hitters in the order Aparicio and Perez, who each had three hits and drove in two runs. Caldwell also had two RBI, while Shawn Griffin scored three runs. The Chukars finished with six extra-base hits.

I.F. starter Bryan Paukovits won his first game after tossing five innings and striking out eight batters. Aneidy Toribio, who was a starter for the Chukars in 2008, tossed two and thirds innings of shutout ball and retired five batters courtesy of the whiff. Eric Basurto finished the game by striking out three of the four batters he faced. Ghosts' starter Kyle Hancock earned the loss after allowing eight earned runs in less than five innings.

The first-place Idaho Falls Chukars are tied with Orem for the South Division lead at 1-0. The Chukars take on the Ghosts again tomorrow night with another 7:15 start time at Melaleuca Field.