By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

TWIN FALLS, Idaho.–  Santiam’s Gaven Lyon came into a log-jam fourth inning in relief of Regis’ Tanner Manning in the Post 58 Crushers first of two games Saturday evening at Canyon Ridge High School.
Manning was pitching great, but fatigue began to sink in for the recent Ram graduate as the Twin Falls Blackhawks turned a 11-3 deficit into a manageable 11-7 and momentum swinging into their favor when the Wolverine-grad came in.
“Being my first time pitching this year for this team, I was definitely nervous.  A little nerve-racking, but as soon as I settled in I was locked and loaded,” Lyon said.
Lyon, who came in with two outs in the fourth, picked up the final out via strikeout.  One of seven for the Crusher pitcher.
His curveball broke just perfectly coming into the batter’s box that had the Blackhawks chasing often.  It ebb-and-flowed with his fastball as over his three-and-a-third innings, striking out seven while allowing just two hits.

“It was definitely my go-to and it was working.  It was working really well and breaking really good, I was really happy with it.  My fastball was going, it wasn’t too bad,” Lyon said of his pitch selection.

The bats came around once more in the fifth, scoring five in the top half of the inning to rebuild a comfortable lead and gave Lyons and his defense a cushion to work with coming down the stretch.  

Western Christian’s Owen Stalnaker had three hits to lead the offense and had 2RBI’s in the opening game.  Manning had 2RBI’s to go with four strikeouts in three-and-two-thid innings on the hill.    Silverton’s Sawyer Enderle and Robbie Brockamp each contributed 2RBI’s.

“I liked it.  I liked it a lot.  I couldn’t find the bat, but I’m looking for it,” laughed Lyon, who had two at-bats in the first game.

Post 58 used an eight-run sixth inning in Game 2 to win over the Blackhawks 16-10 in six innings. Manning drove in 6RBIs. Enderle drove in three and Cascade’s Lupe Peralta struck out three in four-and-two-third innings pitching.

The Crushers wrap up their five-game road trip in La Grande when they’ll play the Legends at 4pm.

Photos By Jeremy McDonald