While Wood batted 1 for 2 with two RBIs, George pitched a six-inning complete game and hit 3 for 4 with four RBIs against Ben Lomond.

The Tigers trailed after the first half-inning, then rallied and run-ruled the Scots 18-8 in the Region 13 opener for both teams.

“Down 3-0 was a very hard start, so getting those back quick was definitely reassuring,” George said. “We went in with maybe too high of expectations, but we leveled out.”

Ogden plated five runs in the home half of the first inning without benefit of a hit, using six walks and numerous wild pitches and passed balls to take a 5-3 lead.

The Ogden margin grew to 9-3 after two. The Scots used another big inning to cut that to 9-7, but a four-run third and five more over the last three innings ended it for Ogden.

“There were some rough innings but after we tightened some things up, it was pretty good,” George said.

She scattered six hits and struck out five for a complete-game victory in her first year as a pitcher.

“I don’t think I have enough experience to go in looking for strikeouts. My approach is I’m going to try to put the ball in play,” George said. “I trust my fielders and let them back me up and do all the work. But a strikeout here and there never hurts.”

Normally a third baseman, George has started every game in the circle for the Tigers this year, which is fortunate for her because Wood certainly has the hot corner position nailed down.

Through Wednesday, Wood is batting .571, with seven home runs, 13 runs scored, 16 hits and 19 RBIs.

“The first week out, I set the standards real high for myself; now I’ve got to try to do half as good as that because no one’s going to hit seven home runs in one week, it’s not realistic,” Wood said. “I’m proud of myself, I’m playing confident.”

After recording a 5-15 mark last year, the Tigers are 4-5 this season led by two players who didn’t play for them last year. George sat out as a transfer from Roy and Wood missed her sophomore season with broken bones in her ankle and lower leg.

“It’s been a lot of fun; last year I was out with a tough injury, so coming back, I’ve been super excited,” Wood said. “I’m so ready to be back and happy to be playing.”

Wood doubled, scored two runs, walked twice and hit a sacrifice fly against Ben Lomond on Wednesday.

“I would say I got the pitches I wanted; I looked at the pitcher and I’m like ‘I got that,'” Wood said.

Then there’s the rest of the story, and it turned out to be the senior George. She had three singles and drove in runs in three different at-bats, delivering in the clutch.

“I was really happy with it; I’ve kind of been struggling this year, worrying about hitting while I concentrate on pitching,” George said. “I try to be selfless. As long as the runners are scoring, I’m doing my job.”

Ben Lomond was undone by countless passed balls, wild pitches and errors that made 11 of Ogden’s first 13 runs unearned.

“Tonight we had some catchers who are very new to the position, so they’re still learning to block the ball and it hurt us this game. We had some wild pitches, but it’s part of the growth process,” Ben Lomond coach Jamie Phippen said. “Starting 0-2, I try to keep the girls really focused; more than anything, they’re giving great effort and I can’t ask for more than that.

“We had a good start (in the first inning); our freshman Payton Huff got us going and the rest of the team followed right behind.”

Huff batted 2 for 3 with a run scored and Aleia Huff had one hit and two RBIs for Ben Lomond.

Aracely DeLeon rapped two hits, had two RBIs and scored three runs for Ogden. Mia Sugimoto also scored thrice and walked three times.

“I was pretty excited to get region underway, but wouldn’t say it was bigger than any other games we’ve played,” Wood said.