Pocatello's Runnin' Rebels are state Legion baseball champs for second straight year

POCATELLO — The Runnin' Rebels have repeated as state American Legion baseball champs.

Pocatello's AA Legion team defeated Coeur d'Alene 7-6 on Sunday at Halliwell Park to retain the state title after defeating Coeur d'Alene for the title last year.

There were some differences between this year's Rebels team compared to last year's squad.

This was Mikee Blackhawk's first year as the team's head coach. In addition, there were only three returning players from last year's team.

Blackhawk attributes the team's success to his outstanding assistant coaches and a great group of players.

He described the Rebels players as "kids who want to win, who want to grind it out, who believe in the program, who are coachable and respectful on and off the field."

Blackhawk's son Elias Blackhawk was the winning pitcher on Sunday but the coach was quick to point out that winning the state title for the second straight year took a total team effort.

The Rebels went undefeated in the playoffs, defeating Hillcrest, Twin Falls, Nampa and Coeur d'Alene, not once but twice.

The state title comes after a regular season in which the Rebels achieved a 30-10 record.