Hawks face Raptors in Wednesday night baseball doubleheader

GARDEN CITY, Boise (CBS2) — The Boise Hawks are perched atop the Pioneer League heading into the second week of the season.

Boise was supposed to face off against the Ogden Raptors Tuesday night, but thunderstorms resulted in the game's postponement. The game is being made up Wednesday, where there will be two seven-inning games.

The Hawks are in good form going into the series, having one five straight after dropping their opening night game against Idaho Falls.

Hawks Manager Gary Van Tol spoke on the team's first few games, praising their road performance.

"You know, I couldn't be more happy with the way we started," Van Tol said. "Of course, we lose opening night at home which is disappointing but we responded with a walk-off in Game 2. And then, just kept the momentum, (we) went to Idaho Falls and took three on the road which is very difficult to do at any time of the year and we're hoping to keep that momentum going into the big series now here against Ogden."

One thing that Van Tol wants to see is improved pitching. He mentioned that the team's starters had a rough outing in their first few games, but noted that he's confident they'll rebound.

"We're looking I think for today's starters, Voelker and Stout, who struggled a little bit last week, to come out and back some adjustments and have better outings," Van Tol said. "And you know again, everyone else just kind of matching up and giving us 5 or 6 (innings), and then offensively, just getting those timely hits, those 2-out RBIs, those two-strike wins."

Another thing that the Hawks have adjusted to is the pitch clock. The rule, implemented in the MLB earlier this year, made its way to the Pioneer League as well. Van Tol said that the team has not struggled with it thus far.

"Well for us, it really wasn't a factor. And I think we prepared our guys very well during our spring training," Van Tol said. "And we've had some guys that have come out of the college level, that are used to pitching with a pitch clock, so that is an advantage. But so far, I really haven't noticed a huge difference. It does keep the game moving though and that's the whole purpose of the pitch clock."

The team is still working to improve around the pitch clock. This extends to the actual positioning of the clocks themselves inside Memorial Stadium.

"We're actually tinkering with our placement right now to make sure that, one, it's not a distraction for the hitters with the outfield pitch clock, and then the pitch clock that's put behind home plate; is it interfering with any line of sight with our infielders."

Initially, the tarp was wheeled across Memorial Stadium, but the rain stopped around 5:00 p.m., allowing crews to take it off to play ball. The Hawks first ball game just started at 6:05 p.m. Boise and Ogden will take a 30-45 minute break between games tonight.

ncG1vNJzZmihlJa1sLrEsKpnm5%2BifLS8zqurrGeSpLa0sYyhmLCjo2S1osPKrGSsnaRis7C%2BjJ2mrpqcmrWmrcOeqWaZpGK6prnOq6CapF2owaKwyK6k