Whatever you call it, Monday's matchup of Region 3 powerhouses Bingham and Riverton brought a load of firepower and even more region standings implications.
    And it lived up to the billing.
    Though Bingham is a traditional power, the Silverwolves rose to the occasion and edged out the Miners, 3-2, for an automatic share of the region title with two games left against Bingham to decide the title outright.
    The Riverton swagger was set from the get-go, as sophomore starting pitcher Tanner Banks sat the first three Miner batters down in order by striking out the side.
    That inning seemed to be the spark Banks needed, as he went the distance for the Miners
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Riverton vs. Bingham baseball
with six total strikeouts and only four hits.
    "It was a big confidence-booster," said Banks, "It let me know I was there, and I was competing with them."
    Banks' performance in the top of the inning settled Riverton down for the bottom half, as Scott Shipley led off with a home run, putting Riverton up 1-0.
    It took until the third inning for Bingham's offense to break the ice. The eight and nine hitters, Michael Edmunds and Jeremiah Larson, had consecutive doubles to knot the game up at 1-1, but Riverton was able to respond.
    Riverton came back in the bottom of the third inning to secure the lead and eventually the game. After two costly Bingham errors,
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Riverton's Nate Slaymaker hit a two-run single to put the Silverwolves up 3-1.
    The final inning saw a small Bingham comeback. Following an error and a hit, Edmunds stepped up with two outs and delivered an RBI single but a groundout in the next at-bat ended the threat.
   
   
    * Riverton pitcher Tanner Banks threw a gem, striking out six while only allowing four hits en route to a complete game.
    * Senior Scott Shipley led off Riverton's scoring with a home run in the bottom of the first inning.