FRASER – Now it’s time for a little payback.

After demolishing Eagle, 13-3, in a mercy-rule-shortened game on Monday, the Three Rivers 13- to 14 year-old All Stars will have to beat Air Academy of Colorado Springs twice to win the state Junior Boys Little League.

The local team, consisting of Glenwood Springs and Carbondale residents, start that task today.

“The kids played well, they’re relaxed and they’re ready to take on Air Academy,” said team manager Dan Chicoine after the win.

On Saturday, Air Academy handed Three Rivers a 5-1 loss in the double-elimination tournament, forcing the local team to battle back through the elimination bracket for the rematch.

In that contest, Air Academy pitcher, Mike Smith who measures in at 6 foot, 4 inches and 250 pounds, struck out 16 Three Rivers hitters.

Three Rivers rebounded from the defeat with a 5-0 shutout over Northern Lights from Boulder on Sunday.

And, they continued their dominating play on Monday.

Zach Zerbato lead off the game with a grand slam home run in the first inning to stake Three Rivers starting pitcher Barrett Jensen to a 4-0 lead before throwing a pitch.

Zerbato, today’s probable starting pitcher, hit a solo homer, his second of the game, in the fifth.

Chicoine’s son, Beau, boosted Three Rivers’ lead to 6-0 on a two-run blast, scoring Jensen, who opening the third inning with a base hit.

Chicoine added to Three Rivers’ lead the following inning when he cleared the bases with a three-run double. Before Eagle could retire the side, Three Rivers Tucker Hitchliffe’s single brought over another run.

Up 10-0 going into the fourth, Connor Radkowski connected for a two-run double before Zerbato’s homer wrapped up the scoring.

Jensen pitched the entire five innings to earn the win.