The way that Skyline players were jumping on top of each other and rolling all over the Ken Price Park infield following the Eagles' 9-6 victory over Taylorsville in Thursday's semifinals of the 4A state prep baseball playoffs, one would have thought they had just won the championship.
No, the 4A championship won't be decided until today, with Skyline, Taylorsville and Alta still in the hunt in the double-elimination tournament with one loss each.Mind you, Skyline had reason enough to celebrate. The victory: 1. kept the Eagles from suffering their second, eliminating playoff defeat; 2. came at the expense of the defending 4A champion Warriors; and 3. marked the first time that a Skyline team coached by former Taylorsville assistant Steve Cramblitt had defeated the Warriors and Cramblitt's ex-boss, Ron Rushton.
No matter that the 4A titlist will party hardy once the championship is claimed today _ Skyline wanted to celebrate just having reached the finals. "We're just happy to be there," said Cramblitt during Thursday's post-game celebration. "We'll worry about tomorrow tomorrow."
Skyline now faces Alta in today's 11:30 a.m. preliminary final at Ken Price Park, with the Hawks earning a second shot through a 10-4 victory over Provo. The winner of the Skyline-Alta game faces Taylorsville at 2 p.m. for the 4A crown.
Meanwhile, Taylorsville is guaranteed a first- or second-place trophy, thanks to being the last team to suffer a loss in the 4A playoffs.
As for the Eagle-Warrior game itself _ the only constant was the hitting, which came in inconsistent, changing weather. The two teams were swinging in the rain . . . in the blustery, swirling winds . . . in occassional sunshine.
The two teams combined for 27 hits, with Taylorsville having the 14-13 edge. But the Warriors also stranded a dozen baserunners, including three separate instances where they ended the inning with the bases loaded.
Skyline's Scott Vincent smacked a two-run homer in the two-run second inning, as the Eagles broke a 1-1 tie to take the lead for good. Loren Knaphus drove in one run and Zac White two more with back-to-back doubles in the third, while Dave Overfelt went 4-for-4 and scored a pair of runs.
The Eagles' Brett Heugly picked up the pitching victory, thanks to a late-game save by Travis Morgan. Heugly worked out of one bases-loaded jam in the fourth by getting the final two outs on strikeouts. Morgan came in with the bases loaded in the sixth and got the final out and then held Taylorsville scores in the seventh as well.
Warrior third baseman Travis Parker drove in three runs, including a lead-off homer to dead center in the third inning. Teammate Scott DeBenedictis hit a double and triple and scored two runs.
Alta 10, Provo 4: Ryan Bills struck out 12 Bulldog batters, and Hawk teammate Scott Schuler drove in two RBI in the four-run fourth inning with a single as Alta eliminated Provo. Doug Webb went 3-for-4, with his triple and home run helping to account for four RBI.