Yakima Valley heads into its four-game series with rival Yakima already having had its mettle tested.

After Monday night’s 7 o'clock championship game of the Brandy Pugh Memorial Tournament in Bellevue, the Pak boarded the bus and started back to Central Washington – only to have the rig overheat before hitting Snoqualmie Pass.

The team regrouped and got home in the wee hours Tuesday, then rallied that afternoon and evening to sweep the West Plains Cannons of Medical Lake.

“That was a good mental toughness exercise,” longtime Pak coach Mike Archer said.

Yakima Valley looks to wrap up the Central Washington League, officially Area 4, on Saturday night when Yakima makes the short strip to Archer Field at Carlon Park for the first of two doubleheaders on consecutive nights.

The Pak returns the favor Sunday with a visit to Parker Faller Field. Both twin bills will begin at 5:30.

YAKIMA BEETLES vs. YAKIMA VALLEY PAK

Yakima at Yakima Valley, 5:30 p.m. Saturday

Yakima Valley at Yakima, 5:30 p.m. Sunday

Archer’s crew will need to win two of the four games to wrap up another league title as it tries to capture the program’s 10th state title since 1993.

Yakima Valley is 6-2 in the four-team league, while the Tri-City Titans are 8-4, followed by the Hanford Flames (6-6) and the Beetles (0-8).

The Pak (23-10 overall) won three of four games against the Titans and Flames.

“This series is not only important because it’s a rivalry, but it also carries momentum into state," Archer said.

A deep pitching staff has helped Yakima Valley win eight of its last 10 games. The Pak shut out two opponents during that run, and gave up just one run to four others.

West Valley senior Brody Roinestad and Rams graduates Colby Graham, Alex Morales, and Gavin Rose, along with fellow class of 2026 players Ashton Barnes-Keller (Quincy), Jake Snow (Ellensburg), Bodie Yale (Eastmont), and East Valley senior twins Grady and Jake Jansen, the sons of longtime Yakima Valley assistant Mick Jansen, have contributed on the mound.

The Beetles (17-19) have found their greatest success in tournament play, winning both the Bob Garretson Sr. Wood Bat and Firecracker tournaments at Parker Faller.

Yakima has been swinging the bats, scoring a half dozen or more runs in 10 of its last 10 games, playing 10 or more in five of those games.

“I think it’s just that time of the year where kids are finding the rhythm,” Beetles coach Roger Guzman said. “You’re seeing a lot of pitching.”

The top of Yakima’s order, including 2026 graduates Quinton Allen-Greggs (Davis), Braden Albrecht (East Valley) and Zillah’s Nathan Kibbe and Caleb Rutherford have been key to the attack.

Although they won’t advance to the state tournament, the Beetles will try to play the role of spoiler.

The Washington Senior Legion tournament is set for July 25-29 in Spokane, while the regional will be Aug. 6-10 in Medford, Ore.