YAKIMA – Perhaps not everyone saw West Valley’s Rhyse Elder tumble in the opener of Friday’s CBBN doubleheader against Moses Lake.

If they were following the flight of the junior’s first of two home runs in the Rams’ sweep of the Mavericks, there’s a chance they missed him trip into a somersault as he double backed to make sure he touched first base.

“I missed the bag and then I stumbled trying to stop,” Elder said. “That was a little embarrassing.”

All’s forgiven, though, especially since his first shot gave West Valley a lead in a 5-2 opening victory, and the second was for a 9-7 walk-off win that secured the Rams their second CBBN regular-season championship in a row.

Not too shabby for the reigning conference Pitcher of the Year who tossed three innings of one-hit ball for the save in the first game.

“He has power, and his big thing is just staying on top of the ball,” said second-year West Valley coach Brooks Archer, whose record in conference games is 33-0. “I told him if he stays on top of it, those balls are gonna go.”

And go they did, clearing the left-field fence at the well-manicured West Valley field.

“Finally,” Elder said. “It took a while but I’m starting to get in a rhythm.”

Friday’s victories gave the Rams a three-game sweep of Donnie Lindgren’s Moses Lake squad which is always at or near the top of the CBBN.

The Rams will finish the regular season with three games against Wenatchee, which split with Davis on Friday, allowing West Valley to wrap up the conference.

“May baseball I think is the best,” Archer said. “We got to be playing our best right now and keep getting better every game and grinding.”

That included rallying from a 2-0 deficit in the first game, and watching a 6-3 lead turn into an error-aided 7-6 deficit before Elder’s heroics in the nightcap.

“We kind of kicked it around a little but it’s good to find other ways to win,” Archer said. “If you’re not playing great defense, you better hit a little better, you better pitch a little better or vice versa.”

Senior left-hander Alex Morales struck out all three batters he faced in the seventh innings of the second game for the win.

Archer also lauded Ryan Rhoads, who was ill much of the week, but pitched his way to a win in the opener, and Brody Vigansky, who recorded two key outs in relief of Colby Graham in the second game.

Graham gutted his way through 5 2/3 innings when the defense behind him had a few lapses.

Noah Hernandez had two doubles and two RBI for Moses Lake in the second game, and reigning CBBN Offensive Player of the Year Jonny Purcell added three hits and three runs, and patrolled center field splendidly.

Brody Roinestad had a two-run double for West Valley in the second game, before leaving with what looked to be a leg injury.

Mason Kovatch added three hits in the two games, and Graham had two hits – one of them an RBI double – in the opener for West Valley.

The Rams (15-0 CBBN, 18-0) open their three-game series against Wenatchee at home Tuesday, while the Mavericks (9-6, 9-8) visits Eastmont on Tuesday before hosting the Wildcats next Friday.