Baseball is a game of timing.

And the Hayden 8- to 10-year-old boys baseball team couldn't have picked a better time to notch its first win of the season.

The Tigers beat the Boardroom Steakhouse team, 11-8, in the opening round of the Craig Parks and Recreation little league baseball season-ending tournament Monday night.

"We won," Hayden coach Bill Irvine proudly exclaimed after the game. "The kids have been practicing hard, coming out on Saturdays, and it finally paid off."

There were two games slated for the first day of the tournament, but the Peroulis Brothers team had to forfeit its game against 3B Enterprises because not enough players showed up for the game.

The Hayden and Boardroom game more than made up for it, however.

After the first two innings, Hayden lead, 5-2, but the Boardroom team scored 5 runs in the third.

Not to be outdone, the Tigers roared back with another 5 of their own.

William Roop, Boardroom coach, said his team has had an inconsistent year.

"It's been a year of ups and downs," he said. "It's all been fun, though. I think I've learned more than they have this year."

During its game against Hayden, the team wasn't without strong performances as Breck Henderson pitched well, Roop said.

The Boardroom team will play against the Peroulis Brothers team at 5:45 p.m. today at the Woodbury Sports Complex.

Hayden will play the Craig Physical Therapy team at 5:45 p.m. today, and the 3B Enterprise team will play the winner of that contest.

Ben Bulkeley can be reached at 875-1795 or bbulkeley@craigdailypress.com.