TWIN FALLS, Idaho - The College of Southern Idaho Baseball team hosted the Region 18 Tournament for the first time since 1998 and made the most of it Sunday when freshman Hayden Leatham crushed a home run over the center field wall for the walk-off 7-5 win over Salt Lake CC in the Region 18 Championship game.
It would be the Golden Eagles first region championship since 1999 when they beat Salt Lake 10-6 to win the title.
After delaying the matchup a whole day, both teams waited an extra three hours from the planned start time on Sunday. Salt Lake seemed in control early, taking the 3-0 lead through the top of the third inning. But CSI gradually climbed back in, scoring one run in the bottom half of the third and one in the fourth.
Neither team scored in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. The Bruins then took the 5-2 lead in the top of the eighth.
But just like they have all year, CSI answered. Shawn Grandmont ripped a three-run home run, scoring Leatham and Colin Gordon to tie it up.
After Jaden Jensen shut down the Bruin batter in the top of the ninth, it set up Leatham's game-ending heroics.
Jensen earned the win on the mound, going the final five innings and giving up two earned runs on two hits with three strikeouts.
With the win, CSI earns the hosting rights for the District Tournament set for Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Skip Walker Field. Salt Lake CC, Trinidad State and Arizona Western will all compete for a berth in the JUCO College World Series.
Leatham, who was the Region 18 Player of the Year, also was named the Region 18 Tournament MVP.
Other Golden Eagles making the all-tournament team included Mason Foltz, Dylan Steen, David Hudleson and Gordon.