Bruins struck out in a face-off with the Hillmen.

Bear River High School’s Fall Ball team played Placer High School on Saturday, October 8. The Bruins started off the baseball game strong and held up their end in all the innings but ultimately lost to the Hillmen 8-3.

Coach Eric Van Patten weighed in on the game.

“[I was] Excited,” Coach Van Patten said. “I always like playing Placer because there is a good program over here and it’s good competition for us inside of our league and allows us just to get better. When you play competition that is as good as Placer, your team is only going to get better.”

Scottie Sandstedt, a junior first basemen, shared his experience of the game.

“Going in, I was pretty tired to be honest,” he said.

Despite the loss, Coach Van Patten was pleased overall.

“We actually played pretty well,” he said. “I mean, we are staying in every inning and trying to compete for every out, so I don’t think our boys at all are feeling undermatched. … It’s a good confidence booster when we play a school twice our size and are still able to come in every inning and compete for every out.”

Fall Ball players and Coach Van Patten reflected on how they could’ve played the game better.

“I think we could’ve actually caught the ball,” said Jake Rogers, a junior and the catcher. 

“Today it was mental, mental errors,” said Coach Van Patten. “There was some decisions on first and third that could’ve allowed us to think through those situations. So some situational practicing is probably what we will need to do to help correct that.”