MOHAVE VALLEY — The Fighting Knights put together back-to-back two-run innings to open the Route 66 Classic baseball tournament at River Valley High School with a win.

David Bell/News-Herald Photo Havasu’s Aaron Troyer (7) strokes an RBI single in third inning against Yucca Valley, Calif. in the opening game of the Route 66 Classic Tournament at River Valley High School in Mohave Valley Thursday. Troyer went 2-for-3 in the game and the Fighting Knights won, 5-3.

Havasu defeated Yucca Valley, Calif. 5-3 in seven innings.

“We still have to get the hits to fall when we have guys in (scoring) position. But this is the kind of game we’re going to playing this year,” said Havasu head coach Larry Kiszczak.

The Trojans opened the scoring when Ethan Geeson stroked a two-RBI double off Havasu starter Jeremy Ernst in the bottom of the second.

The Knights responded with one in the top of the third, when Conner Blackburn walked, moved to second on a balk called on Yucca starter Erik Peters and was sacrificed over to third by J.J. Dukes. Blackburn came in to score on Aaron Troyer’s RBI single.

Havasu took the lead in the top of the fifth when Javaree Thompson reached on a bunt single and Troyer doubled. Thompson scored and Troyer moved to third on a wild pitch by Trojans’ reliever Ryan Rogers and Troyer scored on Garrett Heath’s sacrifice fly.

Havasu added two more in the sixth when Dukes was hit by the pitch, Thompson reached on his second bunt single of the game and Heath notched another RBI with a single. Thompson came in on a balk called on Yucca’s new pitcher, Dennis Gray.

Ernest had allowed only two base runners since getting tagged with the runs in second but in the top of the seventh he let the first two batters reach. Tommy Gonzalez, who had walked, came around on an error.

Kiszczak then went to Heath to close out the game and he set down the next three batters, two on strikeouts, to earn the save.

Ernst (2-1, 1 save) got the win pitching seven-plus innings. He gave up three runs — two earned — on four hits and three walks. He struck out seven.

“Jeremy had a heck of a game,” Kiszczak said. “And Garrett did a great job. That’s what we’ll be calling on him to do this season.

“Defensively, we played well. And we’re getting better and getting the hits when we nee,” he said. “But we still stranded 10 runners (six in scoring position) and that’s too many.”

Havasu continues play in the tournament today. The face Chinle at 8 a.m. and Pahrump, Nev. at 3:30 p.m. Both games are at River Valley High School.

You may contact he reporter at dbell@havasunews.com.