Kevin Thompson was honored before Eastside’s baseball game, as the 2013 state wrestling champion threw out the first pitch.

Once the game got underway, the Eagles took a page out of Thompson’s winning play book and defeated Monroe Area 4-1 in a Region 8-AAAA game Friday.

Peyton Pallay took the mound for the Eagles and held the Hurricanes hitless through the first two innings. Eastside scored a run in the bottom of the second on Hank Steele’s double to drive Hunter Ballard home. Steele led the

Eagles, going 3 for 3 with two doubles on the night.

The Hurricanes tied it up in the third, scoring an unearned run. But the Eagles answered right back by scoring a pair of runs in their half of the inning when Musashi Briem reached on a single followed by Daniel Garrett belting his second home run of the season. Eastside added an insurance run in the fourth as Hunter Ballard singled and was plated by Steele’s second double of the night. Pallay and the Eagles’ defense worked in concert to prevent the

Hurricanes from getting another base runner past first base the rest of the way. Pallay allowed five hits while walking two and striking out four for the complete game win.

Eastside will again face Monroe Area on the road Monday followed by a pair of Region 8A-AAAA games against Walnut Grove Wednesday and Friday.