POCATELLO, Idaho — Pocatello High School’s baseball program finally has a home field to call its own, but the grand opening celebration was cut short Thursday when crosstown rival Highland spoiled the festivities with a dominant 10-1 victory at the brand-new Rails West Field.
The milestone marked the first time in program history that Pocatello baseball has had a true home ballpark. For decades, the Thunder played their home games at Halliwell Field, a facility they did not own. Thursday’s opening of Rails West Field represented the culmination of a long-awaited effort to give the program — and its players — a field of their own.
A Landmark Day for Pocatello Baseball
Despite the lopsided final score, Pocatello head coach Vinnie Benavidez made clear that the loss did not diminish the significance of the day. Benavidez, who has been with the program for more than two decades, expressed what the new facility means to the players and coaches who have waited years for this moment.
“These kids have done a good job of maintaining and taking care of things,” Benavidez told EastIdahoSports.com. “It’s just, it’s nice — I’ve been here for 20-plus years and finally getting to call our field our own home, instead of over at Halliwell. This is ours, we can take pride, and that’s pretty easy.”
Rails West Field is a striking facility that immediately sets itself apart from many prep baseball venues in Southeast Idaho. The park features eye-catching blue infield turf, all-new dugouts, and an expansive outfield with dimensions reminiscent of early 20th-century ballparks. A press box perched atop the first base-side dugout remains under construction. Most notably, center field stretches well over 400 feet from home plate — a dimension that made itself known in Thursday’s contest.
Benavidez noted that his players have taken genuine pride in the new facility, beaming when they discuss Rails West Field with friends, family, and opponents. The community investment in Pocatello baseball is clearly resonating with the program’s young athletes.
Highland’s Offense and Eddie’s Dominant Outing Steal the Show
While the celebration belonged to Pocatello, the game belonged to the Highland Rams. Starting pitcher Cannon Eddie — the reigning All-Conference Player of the Year who more commonly contributes as a catcher or hitter — made a rare mound appearance and delivered a dominant performance.
Eddie pitched 4-2/3 scoreless innings, retiring 11 of the last 13 batters he faced and pitching through a pair of errors, including one of his own. Highland head coach Christian Colonel pulled Eddie with two outs and no one on in the fifth inning, citing the need to protect Eddie’s arm health for the remainder of the season. Eddie’s throwing ability behind the plate is a critical component of Highland’s defensive identity, making his arm health a top priority.
“To be honest with you, I probably should have taken him out of the game and not had him catch. We need him to be healthy the rest of the way,” Colonel told EastIdahoSports.com after the game.
The Rams’ offense was led by Kai Jones and Cooper Colonel, who paced the team with strong performances at the plate. Jones finished with three hits, including two balls that traveled deep into the vast center field, two runs scored, and two RBIs. One of his drives — a ball that sailed over Pocatello center fielder Quinn MacRory’s outstretched glove — drew admiration from teammates who initially thought it had cleared the fence entirely. Jones himself briefly broke into a home run trot before realizing the ball had stayed in play.
“I thought it was gone, for sure,” said Eddie with a laugh.
Cooper Colonel went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs scored, and two RBIs. Highland scored three runs in the first inning, with Jones’ RBI double doing early damage against Pocatello starter Jordan Wilde, and the Rams never looked back.
Jones reflected on the team’s cohesion after the game. “We’re really close; we pick each other up,” he said. “We’re a tight-knit group, we really support each other.”
The Rams now sit at 8-8 overall and 3-2 in conference play, winners of four of their last five games. Highland now faces a challenging upcoming schedule, including a home game Saturday against reigning 5A champion Bonneville and a Tuesday matchup against conference-leading Rigby. Coach Colonel said he believes the offense is beginning to click at the right time, while Eddie was characteristically confident in his team’s momentum.
“We’re rolling,” Eddie said after the game. “We’re not losing another game.”
Pocatello dropped to 8-7 overall and remains in the early stages of conference play at 0-0.
For more on community development and infrastructure investments across Pocatello, read about the historic Monarch Building demolition and how the city continues to reshape its physical landscape. Residents looking to get involved in local youth sports and other community initiatives can also learn more about the Bannock Youth Foundation’s volunteer opportunities in Idaho.
What Comes Next
Pocatello baseball will look to regroup and begin building its conference record after Thursday’s loss. The Thunder’s new home, Rails West Field, will continue to host games as the season progresses, with the press box construction expected to be completed in the coming weeks. Highland, meanwhile, turns its attention to a pivotal Saturday showdown at home against Bonneville as the Rams push for a conference title run later this spring.