Around the Horn: Skyline, Snake River earn conference wins

EASTERN IDAHO — Baseball regular seasons end this week, with district tournaments scheduled to get started as soon as Monday.

With that, extra meaning is added to games over the next few days, as teams battle for tournament positioning and momentum heading into the playoffs.

Wednesday’s baseball schedule featured just two games, but both carried significance. The Skyline Grizzlies gave themselves a shot to leapfrog Idaho Falls into fourth place with a conference victory over the Shelley Russets. And the Snake River Panthers added to the rhythm with another late-season victory, beating the American Falls Beavers.

Here is what happened Wednesday on diamonds across eastern Idaho:

Shelley @ Skyline

The Grizzlies (11-12, 3-6) defended their home field Wednesday, beating the Russets (9-12, 0-10) 10-7 behind a strong start from junior John Giannini III and a balanced offense.

Giannini lasted 4 innings, forced to pitch around four errors. He allowed five hits and five runs, two earned, while striking out four and walking just one.

Senior Spencer Greene finished with a game-high three hits and matched junior Jaxon Klein and sophomore Hyrum Harrison with two RBIs.

Shelley and Skyline will finish their regular seasons Friday when they face off once again, this time at Shelley.

American Falls @ Snake River

The Panthers (5-15, 3-2) earned win No. 4 in their last five games, beating the Beaver (1-19, 1-5) 11-2.

Senior Trayton David got the start on the mound, allowing two hits and two unearned run while striking out four in 7 complete. He was also his own best run-producer, going 2-for-4 with a homer, one run scored and five RBIs.

Snake River will finish its regular season with two more road games, at Sugar-Salem (6-13, 1-3) on Thursday and at conference foe Bear Lake (4-13-1, 1-3) on Friday.

American Falls will round out its season at Teton facing the Timberwolves (9-8, 2-2) Thursday.