Staff photo by E.J. Harris Mac-Hi's Jesus Vela throws from the mound in the Pioneers' 11-0 loss to Orofino on Friday in Milton-Freewater.

MILTON-FREEWATER — Orofino pitcher Hayden Wilson stymied a shorthanded Mac-Hi lineup in a non-league game, and the Maniacs cruised to an 11-0 win in five innings on Friday.

Wilson struck out nine with no walks and only gave up two hits to the Pioneers (1-2), which started six underclassmen.

“He was throwing two pitches for a strike, and when you do that you give yourself a chance to dominate a game,” said first-year Mac-Hi coach Mark Michaud of Wilson’s fastball and curve. “I wouldn’t even say it’s us swinging at bad pitches, but that’s always part of it when you’re pitching well, getting guys to swing at bad pitches. He filled it up and he challenged our guys. He worked well and had a good tempo.”

Mac-Hi starter Bailey DeBord had to settle for moral victories after Orofino jumped out to a 6-0 lead after one inning. Michaud said he was happy with the way DeBord handled the setback and came out stronger in the second inning.

“It was a combination of us not playing defense and him being up in the zone, being a little wild to start the game,” Michaud said of the first inning. “He came into the dugout and I said, ‘Hey, this is a challenge for you right here, keep us in the game.’

“And he went out and gave up one run (in the second), and that’s a win for us because that’s like getting punched in the face one round, and then you go back out and have a good round. That was good to see, I was happy to see him respond the way he did.”

Jesus Vela and Justin Carlson gave up a combined four runs in relief.

Michaud said that while his team didn’t give Orofino much of a challenge Friday, he couldn’t fault the players on the field.

“Right now it’s just, they’re young kids and they’re just getting their feet wet,” he said.

Part of the reason the Pioneers went with such a young lineup was the absence of players who chose vacation over baseball for their spring break.

“Until we can create a culture that being here for baseball is more important than going on spring break, it’s going to be a challenge,” Michaud said. “Not only did Orofino find players that wanted to play, but they found ones that wanted to travel (for baseball) on their spring break, and that’s what we’re trying to get.”

The Pioneers won’t play again until April 5 when they’re at Elgin at 4 p.m,

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R H E

OHS 610 103 — 11 7 2

M-H 000 000 — 0 2 2

H. Wilson and T. Burke. B. DeBord, J. Vela (3), J. Carlson (6) and R. Esparza. W — Wilson. L — DeBord.

2B — K. Brink (OHS); J. Carlson (M-H). 3B — T. Howard, J. Shively (OHS).