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Ogden High's Kash Thompson crosses home plate during a region baseball game versus Ben Lomond on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Ogden.

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Ogden High's Lucas Bushell delivers a pitch during a region baseball game versus Ben Lomond on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Ogden.

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Ben Lomond's Kaysen Reeves delivers a pitch during a region baseball game at Ogden High on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Ogden.

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Ogden High's Dominic Piper watches his hit fly during a region game versus Ben Lomond on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Ogden.

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Ben Lomond's Kai Langston rips his swing during a region baseball game at Ogden on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Ogden.

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Ogden High's Denver Rhodes takes in a view of the outfield before stepping up to the plate during a region baseball game versus Ben Lomond on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Ogden.

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Ben Lomond's Koban Moyes (left) and first base coach Juan Jiminez celebrate a hit during a region baseball game at Ogden High on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Ogden.

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Ogden High's Lucas Bushell heads toward the dugout during a region baseball game versus Ben Lomond on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Ogden.

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Ogden High baseball players look on during a region game versus Ben Lomond on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Ogden.

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❮ ❯

OGDEN — Nobody warns you about the juices flowing when your number’s called to the plate.

Ogden High designated hitter Fabian Gonzales, who’d already logged an RBI during his first at-bat, now stepped up a second time with a 9-0 lead and another RBI away from a run-rule win over Ben Lomond in Tuesday’s series opener at OHS Baseball Field.

Gonzales lined off Scots right-hander Kai Langston for a double and Ogden’s Easton Green breezed home for the Tigers’ third win of April. It’s another notch for first-year coach Kyle Bubak, whose vision for the team begins with such showings on the diamond.

“I saw it was getting down so the best thing I could do was just run as hard as I could, get into second base, get that RBI in and get the game over with,” Gonzales said through an interpreter.

It’s the first win for Ogden (3-18, 3-6 Region 13) since April 10 at South Summit; however, the month of April carries additional weight for Gonzales and crew. Gonzales, swinging a perfect 2-for-2 with two RBIs on Tuesday, has noticed a real change in attitudes.

“I’m happy about the emotions in the dugout,” Gonzales said. “I’m happy to be on a team that’s showing a lot of emotions during the game and I’m happy to be a part of this team.”

Ogden right-hander Lucas Bushell held Ben Lomond (1-14, 0-9) to a single hit, two walks and dealt a season-high 11 strikeouts for his second win of the season. Extra hours on the bump have Bushell entering starts as calm and collected as ever, the sophomore said of his recent starts.

“It’s been working the strike zone, locating pitches, things like that,” Bushell said. “(Today), it was confidence; probably my fastball, mainly because I didn’t throw a lot of offspeed (pitches).”

The Tigers drew six of their 11 runs against Scots senior starter Kaysen Reeves (3.0 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 2 K), relieved by sophomore Evan Hurst to begin the fourth.

Denver Rhodes, singling to left, and Jonah Holmes (RBI), flying out, combined for the game’s first run in the bottom of the first. Easton Green (RBI), reaching base on an error by Hurst in right field, and Rodrigo Torres (three RBI), also reaching base on a BL error, made it a 4-0 ballgame for the Tigers through the second.

Leading Ogden with three RBIs, Rhodes said Tuesday’s hot start leaves him encouraged about the sweat they’re leaving behind at batting practice each week.

“I love how aggressive we’re being at the plate,” Rhodes said. “I’m loving how we’re coming together to win a ballgame. … (Bubak)’s expectations aren’t as far as if you get on base or you strike out or whatnot, it’s what you do with your at-bats and if you’re putting good swings on the ball, just being aggressive and being competitive.”

In the third, Dominic Piper (1 for 1) joined the storm by doubling, stealing third and strolling home on a wild pitch moments later. Owen Halverson (1 for 1), singling on base, stole second and third before following Piper’s lead on another wild pitch, scoring a sixth run.

A Rhodes sacrifice RBI set up a three-run agenda for the Tigers, leading 7-0 and three runs away from a run-rule victory, in the bottom of the fifth. Two sacrifice outs between Torres and Rhodes set up Gonzales’ game-winning double off Langston.

Ogden plays three of its four remaining regular-season games at its home field; The Tigers hosted multiple home games at downtown Lindquist Field, a venue Rhodes agreed strengthened his roster’s sense of the field with the bat in hand.

“I feel like you can hit a really nice ball in Lindquist and it won’t get down, but you hit a really nice ball here, it has a much better chance of getting down,” Rhodes said.

Similarly, BL hopes to grow from its rebuilding pains under first-year coach Dawson Anderson. While wins are far from common right now, Anderson emphasized his small roster’s willingness to show up, learn and grind through a competitive region.

“This year’s been a hard one but we don’t expect too many hard ones after this,” Anderson said.

“We’re trying to change baseball at Ben Lomond from an activity to a sport because a lot of kids just play it in their free time and a lot of them are just starting out when we get them as a sophomore. It’s been rough, but we’re expecting to compete.”

Ogden and BL settle their city series Thursday at Ben Lomond. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m.

Connect with sports reporter Conner Becker via email at cbecker@standard.net and X @ctbecker.