Toppers pitcher Lane Saunders at Thursday’s first home game of the season. Photo by Emma Martens

Toppers centerfield Jarrett Generoheads for home in Thursday’s home game. Photo by Emma Martens

The Los Alamos High School Hilltoppers Varsity Team wowed the crowd at the first home game of the season, taking and keeping the lead in baseball against Hope Christian High School.

The bottom of the first inning ended well, with the toppers scoring the first run of the game: Jarret Genero, #7, ran home after Kyle Hutton’s RBI double.

In the bottom of the third inning, the toppers made a huge lead making 7 more runs, ending with Hunter Eaton (#11) running home to 8 runs. With a rough start in the fourth inning, toppers still stumped the guests.

At the bottom of the fourth, Hope Christian subs in a lefty pitcher, but that doesn’t phase the Toppers. With bases loaded, Travis Gonzales, #15,  hits a double getting the team to 11 runs. At the top of the fifth, at 11-0 home, the Toppers took it easy on the guests and Hope finally scored 2 runs.

The Toppers did not let them score any further. At the bottom of the fifth, #13, Connor Mang was up to bat and got pegged in the shoulder by a fast pitch from Hope Christian and walked to first base. Mang did not let that stop him from ending the game in victory. Mang stole two bases and slid home scoring to 12 runs, ending the game in a mercy rule at 12-2 Toppers.