The White River High baseball squad made hay while the sun was shining Saturday, hosting Class 4A Bethel High and trouncing the Braves 11-1 in the Hornets’ initial contest of the 2009 campaign.

Team speed, efficient base running and timely hitting all played a role in the Hornets pulverizing their guests as the 10-run rule went into effect after Bethel took its last at-bats in the top of the fifth and came away with another goose egg after falling behind 11-1 in the bottom of the fourth frame. The Hornets were helped by shaky Bethel pitching in the second inning; the Brave hurler hit three Hornet batters during White River’s eight-run uprising.

It was pitching by committee for White River as D.J. Reynolds pitched the first two innings of shutout ball and the trio of Jeremy Hoffman, Dustin Stroud and Dan Smith relieved to keep the Braves at bay.

Kameron Kujawa and Connor Williams had three RBI apiece in the lopsided affair and Williams was the only Hornet to record an extra base hit, using his speed to stretch a single to a double in the third stanza with two runners aboard.

White River will have a full dance card this week. The Hornets were to make up a game at Peninsula Monday and hosted a regularly-scheduled contest with Clover Park Tuesday, with the results of those encounters coming too late to include here.

At 4 p.m. today, Wednesday, the Hornets will visit Auburn Mountainview. At 4 p.m. Friday, White River hosts the Lakes Lancers.

Reach John Leggett at jleggett@courierherald.com or 360-802-8207.