Pocatello, Preston split double-dip; final conference showdown set for Thursday

POCATELLO — The 5A South East Idaho Conference regular season title will be decided during the regular season’s final week.

Pocatello and Preston faced each other for the first time this season, Wednesday, as the two rivals split a doubleheader at Halliwell Park in Pocatello.

The Thunder overcame an early deficit, riding a six-run sixth inning to a 9-6 victory in game one.

Preston won the second game, via mercy-rule, 12-1 in five innings.

Pocatello got off to a 2-11 start to the season, but have since found their groove, winning four of their last six games, including three of five against conference foes, Century and Preston. The Thunder’s 6-13 overall record means little, as their 3-2 record against conference opponents puts them atop the conference standings table.

They will finish their conference schedule, Thursday, at Preston, before closing their regular season at home against Madison, then at Rigby.

Preston (5-6, 1-1) got off to their own slow start, seeing their first four games canceled due to weather. They will host Pocatello, Thursday, then go to a tough 13-1 Marsh Valley squad, before ending their regular season with a three-game set against Century (5-15, 1-2). That final series between Preston and the Diamondbacks will decide the conference’s regular season champ.