Tony Diaz needed runs, but not too many.

The Casper Ghosts manager wanted solid pitching, but probably not perfection.

With his hitters facing his pitchers in an exhibition format Sunday at Mike Lansing Field, the best Diaz could hope for was a little success for both and plenty of effort - which he got in the eight-inning, 9-8 loss to the Connie Mack division Casper Hurricanes.

"You can't really measure the caliber of your team in a game like this," Diaz said. "But it is what it is. I'm very proud of the effort we displayed out here.

"We busted our butts down the line, the guys played hard. We're ready to go and fired up. I'm looking at the positives."

He had several to choose from.

There was productive situational hitting and good base-running.

The pitching staff didn't pile up many strikeouts - a positive sign for the lineup after last year's K-fest - but it also didn't have much trouble finding the strike zone.

The Ghosts surely weren't perfect in the field, but they generally made the correct plays and also turned a sensational double play with an outfield assist.

"We booted a couple balls and stuff like that, but that's going to happen," Diaz said. "I'm not really going to lose any sleep over this.

"I'm very optimistic and excited about this group. There's a lot of good things that took place (Sunday)."

Outfielder James Sims provided most of them at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a triple and scoring three runs out of the leadoff spot.

The downside is that the hits all came off Casper pitching. But it was an encouraging offensive performance with some unfamiliar faces finally looming on the mound Tuesday in the season opener at Idaho Falls.

"We've been facing (teammates) since extended spring training, so we're starting to get used to it," Sims said. "Once you get over the fact that it's your pitcher, then you're just trying to face them and it doesn't matter."

Neither does Sunday's result, which Diaz made clear in his postgame meeting.

But as much as the Ghosts might have preferred a win, they didn't have any trouble falling in line with their manager.

"The main thing is, you've got to look at the process and what we're trying to do and what we're trying to accomplish," Sims said. "But of course you want to win at anything you play, especially when you're really competitive like most of the guys on this team are."

It's just a little bit harder to accomplish when they're all facing each other.

Contact sports reporter Austin Ward at (307) 266-0634 or austin.ward@trib.com.

Ghosts Tracker

SUNDAY: The Connie Mack division Casper Hurricanes earned a 9-8 decision over the Casper minor leaguers in an unusual eight-inning exhibition at Mike Lansing Field.

UP NEXT: The Ghosts open their season Tuesday at Idaho Falls, finally getting a look at some pitchers who won't be wearing the same uniforms.

HE SAID IT: "We busted our butts down the line, the guys played hard. We're ready to go and fired up. I'm looking at the positives." - Ghosts manager Tony Diaz.