ARIMO — There isn’t a spot on the mound too big for Zane Stephenson.

    With a regular season district title in the balance, the Snake River senior pitched a gem to stymie Marsh Valley and the Panthers beat the Eagles 13-1 Wednesday afternoon in Arimo.

    Earlier in the season, Marsh knocked off Snake River in Moreland — handing the Panthers their only district loss of the year — and the Eagles fell twice to Bear Lake.

    So starting Wednesday’s games, if Marsh Valley beat Snake, the Eagles could have created a three-way tie with Bear Lake.

    But, ultimately, the Panthers — who simplified the entire seeding scenario: win and they’re the top seed — had the trump card — Stephenson.

    He pitched a full seven innings, struck out 14, walked five, allowed three hits and one run.

    “Today was the exact same day we’ve had from Zane all year,” said Snake River head coach Rich Dunn. “He really has been our stud. We’ve used him in our big games and he’s come through.”

    Stephenson said there were two stakes sticking out of the dirt on the pitchers mound. To start the game, he was unsure of his footing. He walked the first two Marsh Valley batters.

    But he adjusted to the mound, settled in, found his footing and fanned the next three batters he faced. From there, Stephenson was in cruise control.

    “Things start going for you a little bit and it feels like nothing can stop you,” Stephenson said.

    Marsh Valley was not finding success offensively with the bats, but — early, at least — neither were the Panthers.

    The Eagles had Trevor Bowers throwing and, like Stephenson, he walked the first two hitters he faced before settling in. Through four innings, Bowers held Snake to one run and four hits.

    But unlike Stephenson, Bowers did not rack up the strikeouts, and with a few walks the Panthers had runners in scoring position — abandoning seven baserunners by the start of the fifth.

    One Marsh Valley mistake created an opening for Snake to leap on.

    With two outs and the bases loaded, the Panthers’ Adrian Castaneda reached first base on a dropped third strike — thereby extending an inning.

    That made it 3-0 and Snake’s Bret Parkinson slapped a two RBI single up the middle to put the Panthers up five runs. With that, the Panther bats were alive.

    “Don’t ever bet against Snake River when there’s something dangling in front of them,” Dunn said. “That has a lot more to do with their parents and the product of their upbringing.”

    Snake River, with three hits in the sixth, added five more runs — including a Cash Cardona three RBI double — and that was more than enough for Stephenson to finish off the Eagles — dispelling any hope of a comeback.

    “Our team’s young,” said Marsh Valley head coach Kent Howell. “They haven’t been in a lot of big games, so we’re not going to hang our heads. I told them, ‘Keep your heads up, we’ve got districts next week.’”

    Parkinson finished with two hits and three RBI. Cole Rushton had three hits, all singles, and three runs scored. Batting eighth in the lineup for the Panthers, and displaying their depth, Cardona led Snake with four RBI and three hits.

    The stage is now set for the postseason tournament held at Snake River High School starting Monday at 1 p.m.

    The Panthers are the No. 1 seed and will play American Falls and Bear Lake — the No. 2 seed — will face Marsh Valley.

Snake River 13, Marsh Valley 1

Snake River    000 145 3 — 13 12 1

Marsh Valley 000 010 0 — 1 3 3

Snake River — Zane Stephenson and Cash Cardona. Marsh Valley — Trevor Bowers, Hunter Dayton (6), Caleb Millerman (6) and Dustin Rowe. 2B — Nate Martin (S), Cole Hrabki (S), Cash Cardona (S). 3B — Wyatt Wray (S), Cole Hrabki (S).