Marsh Valley’s Whitworth flirts with history in leading Eagles past Payette to open 4A Southeast super-regional

ARIMO — Marsh Valley right-hander Tate Whitworth carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning, at times overpowering the Payette Pirate hitters.

The junior was not able to etch his name into Eagles history though, surrendering a seeing-eye single to start the seventh. But he remained on the mound to finish Marsh Valley’s 3-0 victory, Friday at Marsh Valley High School. The Eagles are now one win away from a super-regional victory and berth into next week’s state tournament.

After 110 pitches thrown, Whitworth finished his afternoon surrendering just one hit while striking out 12 and walking two to earn the shutout victory.

“He really showed up ready to play today. He did a great job,” said Marsh Valley head coach Kent Howell.

Whitworth did not allow the first Payette baserunner until there were two down in the third. That was when Joshua Rodriguez reached on a fielding error by second baseman Kutter Lish. But Rodriguez was immediately cut down trying to steal second, by Eagle catcher Chandler Bennett.

Pirate pitcher and leadoff man Jahzyon Sylva started the fourth inning by drawing Whitworth’s first walk of the afternoon. But he was also caught stealing second, on another perfect throw from Bennett.

Payette didn’t put together any sort of rally until the sixth, when Ryker Phillips drew a one-out walk. Sylva then reached, with two down, on a fielding error by senior shortstop Bo Larsen. But Whitworth slammed the door shut, setting down Darrien Pecunia on three pitches.

Larsen made up for his error in the seventh, recording the final out of the game on a clean pick up and diving putout at second to prevent Payette’s first run of the game.

Howell said that while he is usually a bit more guarded with his pitchers, keeping them from throwing as many pitches as Whitworth did Friday, the junior usually reaches double-digits in strikeouts. Whitworth, Howell added, also did the little things well — like holding on runners and varying his timing out of the stretch.

“He did a good job,” Howell said. “I thought he was great with base runners on. They were putting pressure on us, gave us some adversity. He just stayed composed, and that’s such a big deal for pitching — you’ve got to stay composed.”

Whitworth said after the game that he was not aware, at the time, that he had not yet allowed a hit until Jake Penfold bounced a seventh-inning lead-off single through the five-and-a-half hole. He found out from his coaches after the game, that the single was Payette’s first and only hit of the game.

Sylva did his best to match the Eagle ace, tossing six innings of three-run ball on seven hits. He struck out six and did not issue a walk.

Larsen represented the largest thorn in the sides of Sylva and the Pirates.

The Marsh Valley shortstop went 3-for-3, with two singles, a triple and one RBI. Bennett, hitting behind Larsen, added a two-run double in the sixth, giving the Eagles some much-needed breathing room.

All season, Larsen has been one of the key cogs in the wheel of the Marsh Valley offense. The team, according to Howell, has grown to expect offensive production from its senior.

“Bo’s done that since he was a freshman,” Howell said. … “The best thing about him is, we ask him to do the work — when you do the work, you’ve got a chance to have some success — and I think (his success) comes from his work ethic.

Marsh Valley and Payette will be back at it Saturday, at noon. With a win, the Eagles would secure the play-in victory and a spot in the state tournament. If the Pirates win, the two teams will play a winner-take-all game immediately after the noon game.

Asked what his team needs to do in order to win another game Saturday, Howell said they will have to come prepared to battle for as many innings as it takes to do so.

“You’ve got to fight for whatever it takes,” he siad. … “You’ve got to find a way — play good baseball, put good at-bats together, bend but don’t break.”

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