BLACKFOOT — Conner LaMont simply needed to get back to the basics.

Just over a month ago, LaMont ended his senior season at Century with a .196 batting average and more strikeouts than hits. Wednesday, the recent Century grad and College of Southern Idaho-bound lefty slugger hit two three-run home runs and stockpiled eight RBIs to spark the Pocatello Runnin’ Rebels past Blackfoot 17-7. He has a .363 average through 35 games this summer and is second on the team with 29 RBIs and a .560 slugging percentage.

What a difference a month makes.

“I’m trying to just pull the ball,” LaMont said. “I’m just trying to focus on my power side and just (get my) foot down early so that way I can yank it better. But I’m just focusing on hitting the ball deeper and more often.”

After some mental cleansing and an ego check, LaMont is a force in the middle of the Runnin’ Rebels lineup and helped the Double-A Legion squad secure the top seed for next week’s district tournament. He said he approached his final high school season as a cocky recent college signee and expected good things to happen based on his past. That, combined with feeling pressure to provide all the offense for a struggling team, wore LaMont down mentally. His numbers reflected it.

“I think a lot of it was just in my head during high school,” LaMont said. “I tried to be bigger than I was. ... I just expected to come out and do stuff like that, hit two home runs a game every game.”

Runnin’ Rebels coach Dan McCaskill said LaMont has simplified things this summer, getting back to “A-B-C ball.”

“And now he’s ripping the ball,” McCaskill said.

LaMont is one of a handful of Pocatello players heating up at just the right time.

CC Burrup is on a tear and hit two doubles in Wednesday’s victory.

Kade Hall has been hot all season and went 2 for 3 in the win. He’s hitting a cool .538 this summer to lead the club.

In total, the Runnin’ Rebels (32-12, 17-2 Area C) racked up 15 hits — nine of which went for extra bases — and six players had multi-hit games.

“I think we’re peaking at the right time, hopefully. Knock on wood,” McCaskill said. “Last few games we’ve come out, stayed focused and we hit the ball like that.”

Pocatello has experienced sporadic lulls at the plate this season, leading to several low-scoring losses. But the squad has accumulated 64 total runs over the last four games, thanks to nothing but the ups and downs of a long summer season — and raw ability.

“It’s just talent,” McCaskill said. “Talent rises, and here they come.”

For Blackfoot (7-19, 3-12), Dustin Rowe went 2 for 3 with a double and a two-run homer off the top of the right-field fence while Iz Birdsbill skied a two-run single to deep right-center. Coach Jeff Katseanes said his team is in position to be the No. 6 seed at districts.

Runnin’ Rebels pound out 22 runs to complete sweep

The Runnin’ Rebels’ bats blazed through Blackfoot pitching to the tune of 22 runs on 21 hits in a 22-4 win in game two of Wednesday’s doubleheader.

Saben Rodriguez led the charge with six RBIs on two doubles and a single. Kade Hall went 3 for 5 with a double and four runs driven in and Dawson Keller finished 4 for 5 with three RBIs and a two-bagger.

Blackfoot’s Kyle Scott smacked a triple and collected two RBIs after going 2 for 3 in game one. Blackfoot was held to six hits after amassing seven runs against Poky in the game one loss.

Double-A Legion Baseball

POCATELLO RUNNIN’ REBELS 17, BLACKFOOT BRONCOS 7 (5)

Pocatello 263 41x x — 17 15 0

Blackfoot 010 42x x — 7 7 3

Pocatello — Pitchers: Kade Hall (W) 4IP, 6H, 5R, 5ER, 1BB, 8K; Saben Rodriguez 1IP, 1H, 2R, 2ER, 0K, 1BB. Leading hitters: Conner LaMont 3-3, 3R, 8RBI, 2HR, 2B; CC Burrup 2-5, 2 2B, 3R; Kaden Sweat 2-4, 2B, 2RBI; Dylan Mansanarez 2-3, 3B, 2RBI, 3R.

Blackfoot — Pitchers: Dustin Rowe (L) 1.1IP, 4H, 7R, 6ER, 2BB, 0K; Alx Martinez 2.2IP, 9H, 9R, 9ER, 3BB, 4K; Will Park 1IP, 2H, 1R, 1ER, 1BB, 1K. Leading hitters: Dustin Rowe 2-3, 2R, 2RBI, 2B, HR; Kyle Scott 2-3, R, 2RBI, 2B.

POCATELLO RUNNIN’ REBELS 22, BLACKFOOT 4 (5)

Pocatello 624 55x x — 22 21 1

Blackfoot 100 30x x — 4 6 6

Pocatello — Pitchers: Dylan Mansanarez (W) 4IP, 6H, 4R, 1ER, 2BB, 4K; Kaden Sweat 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 3K. Leading hitters: Saben Rodriguez 3-4, 2 2B, 6RBI; Dawson Keller 4-5, 2R, 3RBI, 2B, SB; Kade Hall 3-4, 4R, 4RBI, 2B; Kam Farnsworth 2-3, 3R, 3RBI, 2B.

Blackfoot — Pitchers: Marcus Gustaveson (L) 2IP, 6H, 8R, 2ER, 1BB, 0K; Kyle Scott 1IP, 4H, 4R, 4ER, 0BB, 0K; Chris Seckel 1IP, 6H, 5R, 5ER, 0BB, 1K; Tai Vonamy 1IP, 5H, 5R, 5ER, 1BB, 0K. Leading hitters: Kyle Scott 1-3, 2RBI, 3B; Dallin Fairchild 1-2, RBI.