But during the last two innings, the Chieftains didn’t respond to the Braves’ late scoring spurt — and Bonner Springs spoiled THS coach Phil Loomis’ debut, 6-3.

Tonganoxie’s Josh Ova, who was pitching against his former team, took the mound for the Chieftains in the first game. Bonner Springs scored twice in the first inning, but Ova held the Braves scoreless in the next three innings.

Down 2-0, Tonganoxie generated some offense in the second with a run. Then, in the bottom of the third, the Chieftains scored again on Todd Brown’s RBI double. With one out in the inning, Keith Wentz-Hall reached base safely with a single. Brown then followed with the two-bagger that tied the game at two.

Bonner Springs again took the lead in the top of the fifth, but Tonganoxie again responded.

In the bottom of the fifth, Tonganoxie’s Jake Dent led off reaching base after being hit by a pitch. Wentz-Hall got on with a single before being forced out at second on a fielder’s choice.

With one out, Dent scored on Daniel Volk’s RBI single, and, again, the score was tied, this time at three.

Unfortunately for Tonganoxie, Bonner Spring pulled away in the final two innings. BSHS scored once in the sixth and tacked on two insurance runs in the seventh. Tonganoxie’s last stab at a rally was short-lived. Dent and Wentz-Hall were called out on strikes, while Brown went down swinging.

Although Bonner Springs pulled away late, Tonganoxie kept things interesting through much of the game.

“We gave the crowd their money’s worth tonight,” Loomis said of the first game.

In the second game, Jake Herrstrom pitched for the Chieftains. Bonner Springs bolted to a 5-0 lead after the first inning and never looked back.

THS scored single runs in the second and third innings, but the runs weren’t enough against a Bonner Springs team that scored every inning of the game, which was shortened because of the mercy rule.

Bonner Springs won, 16-2, and improved to 2-0, while Tonganoxie’s record dropped to 0-2. After his first night of games as the Tonganoxie skipper, Loomis said Tonganoxie simply needed to work on the “little things” in baseball. And, he said his team needed to relax and play ball.

“We’re still fighting our brains more than the other team sometimes,” Loomis said.

Jeff West drops THS

Tonganoxie suffered two more losses on the road Monday in Ozawkie against Jeff West.

The Tigers shut out the Chieftains — 15-0 in the first game and 10-0 in the second game.

Loomis said the first inning of the first game summed up the doubleheader.

Tonganoxie, in the top of the first, had a runner on first and then attempted to bunt to move the runner into scoring position. The bunt, however, popped up.

Jeff West, in the bottom of the first, was in the same situation, but the Tigers laid down the bunt successfully.

“The whole momentum changes,” Loomis said. “They execute, we don’t.”

Loomis said it’s difficult to make those types of mistakes against Jeff West, a team coached by friend Dan Hypse.

“They’re a very disciplined program,” Loomis said. “They just don’t make any mistake. They capitalize on every little mistake you make.”

Now 0-4, the Chieftains will look to regroup Thursday when Basehor-Linwood comes to Tonganoxie for a 4 p.m. doubleheader. The first game will be televised on Sunflower Broadband channel 6, as its game of the week.

“Hopefully we’ll have two really good strong days of practice and come back with an improved approach,” Loomis said.

Linescores

Bonner vs. Tonganoxie

Game 1

Bonner 200 011 2 — 6
Tonganoxie 011 010 0 — 3

Game 2

Bonner 513 43 — 16
Tonganoxie 011 00 — 2