Mission Valley wins regional championship

BURLEY, Idaho — It didn’t come easy. For the second straight tournament, the Mission Valley Mariners went to the very last game and came out on top.

The Mariners beat host club Burley, Idaho 6-2 to win the American Legion Class A Northwestern Divisional championship on Tuesday.

The Mariners got out front early, scoring three runs in the first three innings.

That was enough help for Nick Crawford, who pitched a gem for Mission Valley, holding the Green Sox scoreless through eight innings. He gave up just two runs in the game, both in the final inning with the game in hand, allowing six hits with eight strikeouts and two walks in the complete game win.

Robbie Gauthier put the game away in the sixth inning, launching a home run that gave the Mariners a 6-0 lead. Gauthier was 2 for 4, as were Zeke Webster-Yaqui, Chris Clary and Jacob Young. Webster-Yaqui and Young each had two doubles.

Mission Valley got to the championship game by beating Rocky Mountain, out of Boise, 17-7 in the semifinals. The Mariners racked up 19 hits against the Avalanche, including a big game by Justin Evertz, who starred at the plate and on the mound.

Evertz was named the tournament MVP.

Mission Valley Mariners 6,

Burley (Idaho) Green Sox 2

Burley    000    000    002    —    2    6    2

Mission Valley    102    021    00x    —    6    9    0

LEADING HITTERS - Burley: Boehmer 2-4 (2B, RBI), Denker 1-2 (2 HB, R), Kunz 0-5 (RBI), Timmons 1-1 (R). Mission Valley: Webster-Yaqul 2-4 (2 2B), Gauthier 2-4 (HR, RBI), Cleary 2-4 (RBI), Young 2-4 (2 2B, RBI).

PITCHERS - Burley: Mills (L) 8 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 HB, 7 SO. Mission Valley: Crawford (W) 9 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 HB, 8 SO.