Former Tri-City Dust Devil shortstop belts 2-run home run to help defeat Seattle Mariners

A year ago, Livan Soto was playing shortstop for the Tri-City Dust Devils, the Los Angeles Angels’ High-A affiliate.

So it was pretty cool on Monday to notice that Soto was starting at shortstop for the Angels against the Seattle Mariners.

Due to some injuries to the Angels’ regular shortstops, Soto was called up from Double-A Rocket City on Saturday to get some play.

On Sunday, the 22-year-old Soto got the start. And he earned his first major-league hit with a single off of Mariners starter Marco Gonzales in the third inning.

In the seventh inning, though, Soto belted a 2-run home run off Gonzales as the Angels beat Seattle 5-1.

▪ Gabe Matthews was the offensive star this year for the Tri-City Dust Devils, whose season ended Sept. 11.

The first baseman led the team in home runs with 14, and in RBIs with 64.

Kyren Paris, who is now with the Angels’ Double-A team in Alabama, led the Dust Devils with 28 stolen bases.

Paris, along with Osmy Gregorio, led the team with 58 runs.

Kyle Kasser had the team’s top batting average (among those who qualified with enough at bats) with a .272 average.

On the pitching side, Robinson Pina led the team in victories with 6, and in strikeouts with 117.

Of those who qualified with enough innings, Emilker Guzman led the team in earned run average with 1.98; and Ivan Armstrong and Dakota Donovan each had 6 saves.

The Los Angeles Angels’ Northwest League (High-A) affiliate finished the season with a 58-71 record.

▪ Mason Martin, a Southridge High grad, is finishing up his first full season in Triple-A baseball.

Martin, a first baseman, has played first base all season for the Indianapolis Indians — a Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate that plays in the International League.

While he is batting .214, Martin has belted 17 home runs and driven in 71 runs.

The Indians’ season ends Sept. 28.

▪ Richland High graduate Eric Yardley has appeared in 29 games this season for the Buffalo Bisons since being signed by the Toronto Blue Jays in May.

Yardley is a right-handed relief pitcher who throws his pitches in a sub-marine type of delivery.

As of Sept. 14, he has pitched 29.1 innings and has a 2-2 record. His earned run average in 4.60.

The Bisons are the Triple-A affiliate for the Blue Jays.

Their season ends on Sept. 28.

Racing

Hermiston Raceway crowned its season division champions on Saturday, Sept. 10.

Here they are: Nick Gibson of Meridian, Idaho, was named the Prolate Model champ; while Brock Denney, of Kalispell, Mont., earned the Legends title.

In Hobby Stock, Yakima’s Rich Peters earned the season crown; while Kennewick’s Mike Savage was named Mini Stock champion.

Three Hermiston-area drivers — Travis Bonney (Street Stock), Brandon Snyder (Bomber) and David Knowles (Hornet) — also won season titles.

College football

Ayden Knapik, a 2022 Kennewick High graduate, got his first start on the offensive line at the University of Idaho last Saturday as the Vandals beat visiting Drake 42-14.

Not bad for a true freshman.

Also getting a start at tight end was sophomore Jack Schuster, the Richland High grad.

Hockey

Former Tri-City Americans forward Sam Huo has made it past the rookie camp for the NHL’s Columbia Blue Jackets.

Huo was invited to the Blue Jackets’ main camp this past week.

▪ The Tri-City Americans and head coach/owner Stu Barnes open the 2022-23 Western Hockey League season this Friday with a couple of weekend games at Prince George.

The Ams have four road games — Friday and Saturday at Prince George; Sept. 30 at Everett; and Oct. 1 at Portland — before they finally open their home schedule on Oct. 8 against the defending WHL champion Edmonton Oil Kings.

The Americans’ home schedule was pushed back so that the Toyota Center could get new seats put in.

Hydroplane racing

Jimmy Shane won every heat race this past weekend, including the final, to lead the U-1 Miss HomeStreet Bank team to victory in the HomeStreet Bank Bayfair race in San Diego.

The victory game Shane the national high points title for top driver.

It also gave the Miss Madison race team the national high points crown for race teams.

Shane finished the season with 9,194 points to take the title.

J. Michael Kelly, driving the U-9 Miss Tri-Cities, finished the season points race in second with 6,848 points.

Shane’s teammate, Jeff Bernard, finished third in the standings (driving the U-91 Goodman Real Estate) with 6,221 points.

The U-1 had the same points as Shane with 9,194 points for the team/boat title.

Kelly’s boat — the U-9 — was second with 7,839 points; and Bernard’s U-91 was third at 6,221 points.