‘We answered.’ How Skyview baseball rallied for its third straight district title
Bishop Kelly sophomore third baseman Chase Casagrande hit a three-run home run to right field in the top of the first inning.
The dinger came after Skyview senior pitcher Tyler Russell beaned the first batter he faced and walked the second.
It wasn’t exactly the start the Hawks were hoping for, but it’s a place they’ve been before.
Skyview brushed off the rocky first inning and battled its way to a 14-9 win over BK in the 5A District Three Tournament championship game Thursday night on the Knights’ home field.
It is the third straight district title for the Hawks and their 14th straight win.
“We were not good at beginning of the year,” Skyview coach Ryan Bobo said. “We really struggled offensively and kind of just went back to basics. And mid-year, we had some really good BP sessions in practice, and the kids bought into it, changed their approach at the plate and it’s really paid off.”
Skyview (17-3) began the season losing two of its first three games. The Hawks have since scored 10 or more runs nine times and 10-runned seven teams, polishing off the 5A SIC regular season with a perfect 12-0 record.
“I think we’re just taking it more serious, coming to the plate with a plan, executing the plan, and really just playing together, having that high-level baseball,” said Russell.
Russell was one of five Hawks to register two hits in the win over Bishop Kelly, going 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.
Although the starting pitcher was pulled from the mound after 2 ⅔ innings, Skyview lit up the scoreboard with 14 hits, and senior Robert Martinez earned the win with three strikeouts and two unearned runs over 2 ⅓ innings.
“It feels great,” Bobo said. “We’ve had teams before do it, but this is a much different team than we had in years past. We took a punch in the first inning. That three-run bomb got them excited, but it’s kind of how we’ve been all year. We just kind of play our game and focus on us and don’t focus on the other team. We answered.”
Junior catcher Trevan Plew, sophomore right fielder Jesse Krahn, senior designed hitter Keegan Sullivan and sophomore center fielder Elijah Strong added two hits apiece for the Hawks.
With Thursday’s victory, Skyview earns the right to host in the regional round with a spot in the four-team state tournament on the line.
“It’s really nice to be at home,” Bobo said. “How it shakes out, we’ll play whoever shows up.”
Bishop Kelly’s season isn’t over. The second-seeded Knights (16-5) host No. 4 Vallivue at 11 a.m. Saturday for a ticket to regionals.
4A: FRUITLAND 4, HOMEDALE 3
The Grizzlies secured their second straight 4A District Three Tournament championship and a spot in the regional round with a walk-off win over the Trojans on Wednesday at Fruitland High.
Fruitland’s Owen Baker scored the game-winning run, beating the tag at home plate during a rundown for the walk-off run.
Jarron Whaley and Titus Vidlak each recorded two hits to lead the Grizzlies (19-2-1), and Vidlak added a two-run triple in the second inning. Vidlak pitched the final three innings, allowing one hit and no runs with two strikeouts to earn the win.
Dylan Taylor and Mason Taylor had two hits apiece for Homedale (20-5).
3A: MELBA 12, NEW PLYMOUTH 2
Jack Emery cranked a walk-off grand slam to left field to trigger the mercy rule in the bottom of the sixth inning in the 3A District Three Tournament championship game Thursday at Melba.
Cooper Brooks earned the win on the mound to clinch Melba (21-2) a regional berth. He struck out 13 while giving up two runs on five hits for the six-inning complete game.
New Plymouth (11-14) can still clinch a regional bid with a victory in the second-place game Friday against the winner of Nampa Christian (11-9) and Parma (9-15).
