Randall Raiders pass Borger

Randall’s first quarter started with all-star caliber, but the end of game defensive stand displayed playoff potential and gave the Raiders a win over the Borger Bulldogs Friday, 35-28.

In their first series, quarterback Hunter Alford led his team to a touchdown in six plays. A 41-yard pass connected with Tre’ Norton and after two attempts, Gage Moore crossed the goal-line.

Linebacker Collin Bowen picked off a lobbed ball, and allowed the offensive duo, Alford and Norton, to connect again for 32-yards. Bret Scheve received honors as he swept outside to the edge of the end zone. The Raiders led 14-0.

After another failed Borger series, break away runs by Alford and Moore moved the ball 69 yards and increased the score to 21-0 just before the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Borger’s defense finally stopped Randall on their 17-yard line and received a short punt to the 37. A single 10 second break-away rush by Shavoyiea Clement placed the Bulldogs on the score board, 21-7.

Borger utilized the momentum shift, as the Bulldog defense pulled down a bobbled pass by Alford. Five plays placed Ty Brown with a nine yard push into the end zone.

Borger’s short kickoff was nabbed by the Bulldogs’ special teams and brought the offense back onto the field.

However, Randall’s defense stepped up coverage and forced fumbles on the third and fourth plays, with the later recovered by Bowen. Bowen evaded the Borger offense and claimed a defensive touchdown, moving the score back to a 14 point lead, 28-14.

With seconds left in the first-half, the Bulldogs’ Garrett Irwin completed a pass to Jeremiah Jones and despite a missed extra point attempt; the Dogs kept the score within reach at halftime, 28-20.

The two teams opened the second half exchanging touchdowns. Randall completed a couple of big plays, as Alford connected with Scheve for a 22-yard pass and Moore broke away for a 29-yard sprint into the end zone.

Borger’s Irwin connected with Michael Morrison for 37 yards and Jones earned honors with the 8-yard rush for the score. A two point conversion followed bringing the Dogs within seven points, 35-28.

The Raiders offense was held to nine plays and only 20 yards on their next series, and Borger looked poised to score as they worked from their own 16-yard line to Randall’s seven in 12 plays.

The Raider’s forced a fumble, which resulted in a loss of yardage, and a blocked pass turned the ball back over to Randall’s offense on their 18-yard line.

The Raiders drained five minutes off the clock before punting.

Bulldog Cody Davila received the punt and was pounded by the Raiders special teams, losing the ball.

Randall sophomore Tyler Junell recovered the ball and allowed a couple of quarterback kneels to end the game.

“Last year we did what we had to…had to get stuff simple, obviously that didn’t work,” said head coach Bryan Wood. “We spent all of the offseason and spring ball working on being more diverse and it’s going to work.”

Canyon Eagles down Lubbock High in opener

The Eagles showed up big on Thursday night, claiming a 29-7 victory over the Lubbock High Westerners.

“We got a lot to work on, but anytime that we can get the off-season, summer program, two-a-days – get all that work in and get the victory on the first game, that is a big deal to the program,” said head coach Blake Bryant.

The Eagles went to work on their first drive. An 18 yard pass to Derek Odell, setup Bill Bryant for end-zone honors and successful point-after-touchdown by Aaron Rowe provided an early 7-0 lead.

The Westerners attempted to answerback, but the Canyon defense stuffed Lubbock after five plays.

Travis Cosby delivered his second touchdown pass to Juan Garcia, and the score remaining at 13-0 after a missed PAT.

Lubbock attempted another series, but went a quick three and out; though handed the same to Canyon on defense.

Traded series continued until the Eagle took the field with 2:08 remaining in the first half.

Eight plays, including a 12-yard pass to Odell and a 14-yard rush by Thomas Cunningham, placed Canyon in the end-zone on a 25-yard corner route to Odell. A second a missed PAT set the halftime score at 19-0.

During the second half the Eagles crossed the goal-line for the fourth time, while Canyon’s defense prevented Lubbock from earning a single first-down through the third quarter.

The Westerners did manage to put together one successful drive, as Aaron Paulhill broke away for a 25-yard rush for the final 7-29 score.

The comfortable lead built in the first half allowed many second-string players to gain valuable playing time in various positions.

“These kids all work hard. They all accept their role and I am just so proud,” Bryan said. “Any opportunity that we can get we put them in (the game), because they deserve it just as much and they don’t always get that chance.”

Lady Raiders volleyball eye another state title

A repeat as state champions?

If you ask Randall High senior volleyball players, Abby White and Tori Jobe, they confidently claim “we are 100 percent capable of doing it again.”

“As team leaders we are making sure that the other team knows that we don’t expect anything less than a state championship this year,” White said.

The Lady Raiders will be returning four starters, but it’s the upcoming class that will add the extra talent needed to top the one team that Randall lost to last season – Amarillo High.

“Going to state last year was an amazing experience and we had a really good group of girls and a lot of them are returning, and we have a lot of faith in the people coming up,” Jobe said. “We are just really excited and we know that we can do it.

“We are ready for Amarillo High. Last year it was so frustrating because every practice we wished that we could go back to the Amarillo High game and play it over again, because we think we could have won.

“So this year we really want to push for it. They are going to be good too, so it should be a good game- the battle of Bell Street.”

This year it is not the same team returning, and these two athletes willingly acknowledge that fact.

“Last year’s team was the dream team,” Jobe said. “We just sort of meshed as soon as we stepped on the court. This team has that capability, but we just aren’t meshing as well as we need to be yet. As soon as we do we will be fine.”

“This summer we tried to see each other and be doing something together, whether it was open gym or strength and conditioning,” White said. “Most of these girls haven’t really played together yet, so we are trying to get to know each other.

“We are getting there, and we don’t have the power necessarily that we had last year, but in other aspects of the game we have people to replace that and make up for the power.”

Lack of height and power appears to go hand-in-hand for the Lady Raiders. Jobe and White said this year’s offensive and defensive schemes will accentuate this team’s attributes.

“We are going to be much more defensive team, than offensive, because we don’t have those 6’2” girls up (front) anymore,” Jobe said.

“This year we want to be known for our defense. So we have worked really hard on defense every single day,” White said. “On offense, we are hoping to run a quick offense.”

“Much quicker sets, we are going to have more attackers on the floor because we are going to have some of our (offense) playing the back row, which is going to be very beneficial,” Jobe said. “So we can take it to the back row and still get a point; mainly just a faster offense.”

“Coach Culpepper always likes to be running a different offense, or a different type of game,” White said. “So we are never comfortable in one way that we are playing because we are changing all the time.”

However, neither of these team leaders believes that the road back to Austin is going to be an easy one.

“We know that we are not going to have easy sailing, such as last year,” White said. “That is inspiring us to work harder and know they are coming after us. We can’t just be comfortable and stay the same, we have to work harder.

“Every day we want to leave the gym knowing that we got better so when we step on the court it’s 100 percent focus.”

The Lady Raiders will face the Lady Sandies at 7 p.m. Sept. 6 at Amarillo High.

Lackey brings senior leadership to Lady Eagles

Jayla Lackey wears many hats, but a primary one during the fall semester will be that of middle blocker on Canyon High’s volleyball team.

The senior Lady Eagle, wears the lucky number 13 and has been planning her senior year impact for the past three years.

“I am really excited. You always look up to the seniors,” Lackey said. “I have planned since my freshman year what it would be like to be a senior and what we want to do, and be – to be a fun group.”

Fun for this athlete comes with high expectations of this year’s Lady Eagle team.

“I hope that we will get further than last year, which was the regional quarterfinals,” Lackey said. “I hope that we actually get to the regional tournament. We have a really tough district. I expect us to start off pretty strong.”

The Lady Eagles will travel to New Braunfels to compete in a tournament that will include larger 5A teams, and will provide a challenge before having to take on the talent rich 4A Panhandle teams.

“We have a really good tournament in New Braunfels, just before school starts,” Lackey said. “I expect to do pretty well in that. We will play a lot of 5A teams, and start off the season really strong with a lot of good teams. Hopefully, in district I expect us to be one of the top teams to go to the playoffs with a high ranking. I hope that we don’t have to worry about a playoff before the playoffs.”

In addition to having a rather large senior class, Lackey attributes this team’s strong prospects towards the fact that coach Lorrie Hammit will be returning this season. Hammit is the only second year coach this team has seen in four years.

“Since my freshman year I had a different coach into my junior year, so this will be our first time that we have had a coach here for more than one year,” Lackey said.

“She has taught us a lot, I have learned so much. I think that is what is making us that much stronger this year, that she will be here again. She has taught me to let everything go. She told me to relax and be the leader on the floor, be a role model and communicate with her and communicate with my teammates. She has taught us a lot of mental toughness, which I think we needed. We are still working on it.”

As a leader, Lackey hopes that underclassmen take some guidance from this year’s seniors.

“I just hope that they know that it’s not all about winning,” she said. “I hope that they know that if they lose that it’s OK, but they have to build on that.

“Communication with one-another as a team, is another thing that we are working on this year as seniors. I hope they take that from us. It’s going to be hard, some of our practices are awful. Sometimes we get frustrated with the coach, we get frustrated with each other or we get frustrated with ourselves, but you have to grow from it. You have to learn that it is ok to make mistakes, because that is all volleyball is – is mental. I hope they understand that and want to get better.”

Despite all the obstacles, Lackey continues to shift her view of this next season to a positive note.

“I think that we are going to be really good,” she said. “We had a good turnout to all of our games last year and I think that we only have eight or nine home games this year and I hope that we have a lot of representation. We have a game against Randall at The Box called Big Pink. It is going to be during October for breast cancer awareness and I hope that we have a big turnout for that. Randall is obviously one of our biggest rivals, so we want a good turnout and we want Canyon fans to be there along with Randall fans and have a good match.”

While her life on the court is exciting, Lackey is also busy off the court. She was elected as the Lions’ Club queen, and knows that she will be involved with many community service events.

“It kind of inspires me to be a part of Canyon and be a part of the community,” Lackey said. “Helping others, helping the community and being at the meetings; the meetings are so much fun. It’s a big thing, but it is mostly just helping the community.”

Along with this Lackey will be searching for a college home, a pivotal decision since her long-term goals include law school, a law practice and possibly politics.

“I am keeping my options open, but I have big plans for after college,” she said. “After college I want to go to law school and be an attorney, and maybe be in politics someday.”

Through all of this Lackey leans on her parents to be the stable guiding force in her life.

“My parents are always challenging me to be a leader and have servant leadership, and communicate with people,” she said. “My parents they are my big supporters.”

With clear aspirations on and off the court, Lackey should be one to support this volleyball season and in years to come, as she may need your vote if she runs for office.

Buffalo Sports Park takes shape

The $21.8 million Buffalo Sports Park is visibly reshaping the north side of the West Texas A&M University.

“We are just real excited,” said Bill Craddock, director of recreational sports.

“I think that it is progressing real well. They are working long and hard to make sure that the fields will be ready to go by the start of school.”

While the concession stands, ticket stands and restrooms may not be completed by the start of the fall semester, which is Aug. 30, they are expected to be completed by the time that baseball, softball and soccer season comes to the Texas Panhandle.

The complex includes the competition David and Myrt Wilder Baseball Field with seating; a competition softball field with seating; a competition combined soccer and track and field facility with seating; two combination football and soccer practice fields; a three-field intramural and recreational softball/flag football facility with lighting; two intramural basketball courts with lighting; two intramural tennis courts with lighting; a practice field for the WTAMU marching band; a grand lawn park activity area with lighting; a jogging trail with lighting; as well as, rest room, concession and ticket facilities.

“From a recreational side, it will provide less rainouts, and it will reduce the number of canceled games,” Craddock said. “The fields are going to drain real well. The sand volleyball, outdoor basketball and tennis courts are just outstanding.

“The community will be able to use them, but it will no longer be free availability. The fields will have a reservation system that they will have to go through. They need to contact recreation sports to do that. We are excited and ready for them to be complete; mostly for our students to be able to use them.”

However, it is not just the WT administration that is excited, but the city commissioners and staff, as well.

Storer brings dedication to CHS volleyball

A single passion for volleyball is guiding Canyon High senior, Chandler Storer, into her senior year.

The Canyon native, did spend her early years playing basketball, but was challenged during junior high to try volleyball as well.

“I got started because in junior high they wanted all the basketball girls to play volleyball, so I decided to give it a shot,” Storer said. “I think that as I got older I got tired of basketball, because I had been playing it too long. I always wanted more excitement and fun, and I think (volleyball) is more of an exciting game for me. So I just kind of switched over.”

While basketball remained a passion when her family briefly moved to Kansas, it was upon returning to Canyon that she decided to focus solely on volleyball.

“When I started high school I moved to Kansas and played volleyball, basketball and softball there,” Storer said. “Then I have moved back and I decided to only play volleyball.

“Volleyball is a very demanding game. Everything has to be perfect. In basketball you can make mistakes and yet you can make up for it, in volleyball you have to be almost a perfectionist in everything if your team is going to win and do well.”

Although Canyon lost three key seniors, they will return eight seniors, of which Storer will be a starting outside hitter.

“I have always played outside hitter ever since I was in junior high. That is probably because I was so tall then and I guess I have remained one of the taller girls, so I have stayed outside,” she said. “As an outside hitter my responsibilities are to help block the middle hitters and right side hitters and outside hitting has a big responsibility because it is suppose to be one of the main hitters. There is a lot of pressure to do well.”

With the assistance of other talented, experienced players, Storer is more excited than nervous about this upcoming season.

“It will be neat to see us all work together because it will be almost just one class playing together,” she said. “I think that it will be fun for us to bond. We are all the same age, we all work well together and we will surprise people this year. I think that we will be one of the stronger teams in district.”

While speaking with confidence, Storer also mentioned the difficulties in overcoming the strong district that Canyon is a part of.

“We have to give 110 percent from the beginning,” she said. “We can’t sit back and relax, we are going to have to work really hard and we are going to have to push through those really tough games and give it our all to make it (to the playoffs.)

“A challenge for me is that I just want to be able to lead the team and always keep things positive on the court; to help everyone work our hardest and try to do our best in every single game.”

The Lady Eagles also recently returned from a team volleyball camp that provided some early season challenges for Storer and the team as a whole.

“We had two teams of six players at volleyball camp,” Storer said. “It was five of us seniors and one sophomore, and it taught us to keep going and keep pushing, because we were obviously tired playing three times a day. I just keep thinking that this is my last year of high school volleyball, so I want to leave a good impression on the program. I want to make it a good, strong, last year. So, I don’t have time to quit or be tired, I have to give it my all for the whole season. But it was a lot of fun, and we really learned to work together.”

Despite her personal convictions, Storer commented that it is the legacy of the Canyon High volleyball program that she wants to improve.

“I think that Canyon volleyball has had some struggles with coaches, but it is still inspiring because there has been really great girls that have come through the program and I want to live up to how good they were,” she said.

“It is a motivational thing; we want our team to do just as well and be just as good.”

North All-Stars feature CHS, RHS athletes

Two Canyon Lady Eagles and a Randall Lady Raider participated in the Greater West Texas Softball Coaches Association North All-Star game on Saturday at Lubbock Christian University.

The North All-Stars battled late in the game but fell 4-5 to the South team after nine innings.

Frenship’s Ciara Rasberry led from the mound for the North All-Stars. She allowed three hits and one run before the North took the field.

The North found one hit, but failed to usher anyone over the plate.

In the second and third innings, the South claimed two runs, but the North was held scoreless as they struggled from the plate. The score remained 0-1.

In the top of the fourth, the South found traction as Lubbock’s Arleen Almanza hit a single RBI. Big Spring’s, Linzee Yarber, grounded into a fielder’s choice and a final run was earned on a single.

The North again failed to earn more than one hit and fell behind by four, 0-4.

The South earned one run in the top of the fifth as Monterey’s Cheyenne Ford hit a sacrifice fly to score Monterey’s Jazmin Stewart. The South’s defense continued to hold the North, and the score moved to 0-5.

Pampa’s Carlyn Teichmann pitched a quick three outs in the top of the sixth, and the North earned their first run in the bottom of the inning.

Lubbock Coronado’s Meagan Navarrette walked on a full count, and Randall’s Breanna O’Leary pinch ran for Navarrette.

Canyon’s Taryn Schenk doubled, allowing O’Leary to score, and then advanced to third on the throw home. The North placed a run on the board off of one hit, 1-5.

The North’s defense stepped up in the final three innings to hold the South, but they were also held scoreless until the ninth inning.

Frenship’s Ashley Nabors doubled on a 2-1 count and Plainview’s Tiffany Deluna singled to advance Nabors to third. Deluna moved to second as Canyon’s Sabrae Precure hit a fly-out to first on a 3-0 count.

Teichmann hit a single RBI and Deluna advanced to third. Deluna crossed home on throwing error and Teichmann stopped on third. Schenk singled on a 3-1 count for the North’s final RBI.

Despite the loss, the North team was in good spirits as the game finalized their last time representing their respective alma maters.

The North All-Star athletes were: Shelbie Watson of Pampa, Ciara Rasberry of Frenship, Samantha Pearson of Pampa, Ashley Facio of Pampa, Breanna O’Leary of Randall, Tiffany Deluna of Plainview, Lauren Hill of Plainview, Corinna Chavez of Plainview, Tina Romero of Plainview, Meagan Navarrette of Frenship, Kenzi Carnell of Frenship, Ashley Nabors of Frenship, Carlyn Tiechmann of Pampa, Taryn Schenk of Canyon, Sabrae Precure of Canyon and Christina Florence of Coronado. The North All-Stars were coached by Brian Cronk of Canyon and Bobbi Gill of Pampa.

Meeting the real Bronson

It is a long voyage from the coasts of California to the streets of Canyon, and it is a longer journey from the debut of 1969 television-movie “Then Came Bronson” to the present-day.

For Canyon native Don Collins, the wait resulted in a dream come true.

Collins is one of many fans that latched onto television character Jim Bronson as a realistic hero to idolize. Today, these individuals aptly call themselves “Bronsonites” and join together to retrace their hero’s motorcycle rides.

“Until a year ago my buddies and I knew about Bronson, but thought that he was a fictional character,” Collins said. “But it is pretty neat how it has come full circle.”

Through the group’s interaction, the Bronsonites discovered that the fictional Jim Bronson was actually based on the real life of Birney Jarvis.

Jarvis worked off-and-on as a police reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle and shares that he quit four times and was hired back five times throughout the years.

“The television series came about because of (my) book ‘What do you do with a Drunken Sailor’,” Jarvis said.

“I had a friend (Denne Petitclerc) that also worked at the Chronicle, but he quit to make money and become a movie writer. I quit the Chronicle again, I think this was the third time, and I took off on a sailing trip…and all the way down the pacific coast I wrote to this fellow who wrote the pilot for Bronson.”

In fact, the Bronson name came from reversing Birney’s initials.

“Jim Bronson, the ‘J’ is for Jarvis and the ‘B’ is for Birney, the name came from my reverse initials,” Birney said.

“I have to tell people that character is the combination of many Birney Jarvis’. I was a Hell’s Angel; I was the first reporter ever hired by the San Francisco Chronicle with less than a college education, as I quit school after the eighth grade; I was a prize fighter and I reached a seventh degree black belt,” Jarvis said.

“It is all so fantastic that it sounds unbelievable. I don’t believe it myself sometimes.”

He served as a technical adviser for the two-hour pilot and assures that the depiction came from real life instances.

In the opening credits the Bronson character speaks to a man in the car next to him, the man laments how he wishes that he was in Bronson’s shoes, to which Bronson replies, “Hang in there…”

Jarvis confirms this is a true life occurrence, but never would he have thought that it would become the tag line for a generation. As a labor of love and at the bequest of Jarvis, Collins has converted a 1979 1000cc Harley Davidson Sportster to be a loose replication of the bike used in the television show.

“I got this bike from a friend of mine and told the Bronson group that I would sell it to one of them for what I paid for it, well Birney spoke up first,” Collins said. “He asked if I could paint it red and put a decal on it, I said sure.”

The two gentlemen will meet up with other Bronsonites for a motorcycle trip that will retrace another route shown in the Bronson film located in Jackson Hole, Wyo.

For Collins this can only be described as a dream come true. For Jarvis, well let’s say; he is ‘hanging in there.’

CHS, RHS athletes help North All-Stars to victory

The Canyon Eagles and Randall Raiders each sent three representatives to the Greater West Texas Baseball Coaches Association All-Star game in Lubbock on Sunday.

Canyon’s Cutler Polk, Kendall Neill and Dillon Riley, along with Randall’s Patrick Esposito, Nolan Hoskins and Jeremi Moreno led the North All-Star team to a 14-6 victory over the South team.

The All-Star game was divided up so that all participants received playing time.

The North and South teams featured at least five pitchers, as well as a rotating infield and outfield through the nine inning game.

The North team climbed to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning with Riley and Neill crossing home plate. Riley received a walk after being hit by a pitch. He advanced to second on a steal and to third on Hoskins’ hit.

Neill doubled for the RBI and crossed the plate on an RBI single by Esposito.

The North team’s defense started out with Hereford’s Parker Bridwell on the mound. He allowed a single hit and walk, before expiring the South in the first inning.

Bridwell followed in the second inning with three quick outs and kept the South scoreless.

The North team, earned an additional run in the second and carried a 3-0 lead through the third and fourth innings.

In the fifth, Hoskins was walked and Neill reached first after being hit by a stray ball.

Esposito singled for the first hit of the inning and a walk pressed the first runner over home plate. Bridwell followed with an RBI single and the South substituted pitchers on the mound.

The South’s fresh pitcher walked his first batter for the third score and a second hit by pitch earned the fourth run.

An error by the South’s infield allowed a single RBI and a sacrifice single turned into a double play, but allowed a sixth runner to cross home plate before the South’s pitcher earned a strikeout to end the top of the inning.

Despite the North’s dominating 9-0 lead the South battled back for six runs of their own.

Polk walked the first batter and an infield single resulted in an out.

An error allowed the first run of the inning, followed by a hit and walk, which placed two on base. Another walk loaded the bases and a second error allowed a runner to cross the plate.

A solid single, earned two RBIs and a third error reloaded the bases. A walk sent the fifth player across the plate and another single RBI concluded the scoring attack.

The North was held scoreless in the sixth and Polk returned to the mound to shutdown the South, as well.

The North led off with an out in the seventh, but Hoskins and Neill both reached first on errors as Hoskins stole home.

Esposito followed with a single RBI and Bridwell’s single RBI increased the North’s lead, 12-6.

In the eighth and ninth the North scored single runs as they continued to work against the South’s pitchers.

The North received two walks in the top of the eighth and a double allowed a single runner to cross home plate.

In the ninth, Riley led off with a single, stole second and was sent to third on a sacrifice by Neill. Esposito was ushered to first on a pitcher balk and Riley was reached home on a single RBI for the final score.

The North team was coached by John Doan of Canyon and Jimmy Burns from Vernon. The team was comprised of Andrew White of Vernon, Blake Waldrep of Bridgeport, Casey Keksi of Burkburnett, Cutler Polk and Dillon Riley of Canyon, Ely Castillo of Hereford, Hayden Alexander of Plainview, Jake Holguin of Perryton, Jeremi Moreno of Randall, Kendall Neill of Canyon, Miquel Jaime of Wichita Falls Hirschi, Nolan Hoskins of Randall, Parker Bridwell of Hereford, Patrick Esposito of Randall, Reid Barnett of Wichita Falls Rider, Richard Smoack of Iowa Park, Sam Duke of Burkburnett, Skipper Lumley of Perryton and Taner Veasquez of Plainview.

The South team’s roster included Aidan Rivera and Alfredo Garza of Estacado, Chad Bednarz of Lubbock Cooper, Chago Gomez of Seminole, Chas Quisenberry of Frenship, Claire Garrett of Levelland, Clint Wall of Snyder, Eric Alvarez of Estacado, George Jeffrey Ramirez of Andrews, Jace Hall of Frenship, Jake Crenwelge of Snyder, Martin Yanez of Big Spring, Nick Rodriguez of Lubbock Cooper, Roddy Rivas and Trevor Cabe of Frenship, Ty Horton of Monahans, Will Brown of Lubbock Cooper and Zyquaine Young of Estacado.

Canyon baseball’s season ends Friday

The No. 6 Canyon Eagles met the No.7 Rider Raiders for a two game loss at Moffett Field in Snyder on Thursday and Westerner Field in Lubbock on Friday.

“They are a good baseball team, we are a good baseball team and they just executed a little better than us and took advantage of some things that we couldn’t take care of,” said Canyon head coach John Doan.

The Rider Raiders topped the Eagles 8-4 in game one and 13-4 in game two.

The Eagles struggled on Thursday as they were held scoreless through the first five innings.

The Raiders claimed two runs on two hits in the first, and followed with three runs on three hits in the second.

Eagle pitcher TJ Looney (7-1) found his first strikeout and was assisted on two fly-outs to hold the Raiders in the third.

However, Rider claimed two runs in the fourth and a run in the fifth, before Cutler Polk (10-2) took the mound to hold the Raiders through the end of the game.

In the sixth, Kendall Neill (.466) was walked and advanced to third on Gregg Veneklasen’s (.462) single.

Coby Roming (.406) batted a ball off the right wall for a double and the first two RBIs of the night.

The Eagles went to work in the seventh as Connor Moore (.400) led off with a single and Landon Townsley (.433) singled and then stole second on a Rider error.

Derek O’Dell (.581) hit a sacrifice fly for an RBI and Neill singled for Canyon’s fourth run.

Dillon Riley (.430) connected on a line-drive, but it was picked off by the Raider’s second baseman for a double play to end the game.

On Friday, Canyon claimed an early one run lead but allowed the Raiders to come back with three runs in four consecutive innings.

In the first innning O’Dell hit a home run over the center field wall for the early lead.

Rider tied the score in the top of the second inning as a Canyon error allowed a Raider to move to third, a fly-out allowed for the score and tied the game.

Canyon battled back in the third as Moore led off with a walk and Neill doubled for the RBI and recaptured the lead 2-1.

Rider claimed three hits and three runs in the third bringing the score to 4-2. They matched that effort in the fourth off of two hits and two Eagle errors.

Moore led off again for Canyon in the top of the fifth, but this time claimed a solo home run. Townsley received a walk and O’Dell followed with a single.

Neill hit an infield grounder for a fielder’s choice at second and Riley singled to left field for the Eagles final run.

Rider followed in the bottom of the fifth and sixth for six runs off of four hits and defensively held the Eagles in the seventh.

Canyon faced an athletic pitching trio as the Raider’s Cameron Allen, Ben Bates and Reid Barnett combined for 16 strikeouts and 10 players trapped on base.

The Eagles went deep into their pitching lineup utilizing Looney, Polk, Austin King and O’Dell to earn nine strikeouts in two games.

“I think that we got everything out of them that we possibly could,” Doan said.

“Those guys laid it on the line for 36 ballgames. There are a lot of teams that would have checked it in on that score, but in that last inning we kept fighting and scratching for runs. That’s what it was for 36 ballgames this year.”

The Canyon Eagles end their season 31-5.