Imagine watching a suspenseful, mystery show for three hours, and just when they are about to announce who-dun-it, a message flashes across the screen to tune in next time for the conclusion.
This was the same feeling fans had when a thunderstorm forced umpires to suspend the 7-7 ballgame between two undefeated teams, Taylorsville and Tooele, last night at the American Legion state tournament at Oquirrh Park. The game was scheduled to be finished today at 4 p.m.With a spectacular lightning storm overhead and sheets of rain pouring down, Tooele scored two runs in the bottom half of the eighth to tie the game again and force another extra inning.
The game pitted a gritty, Cinderella-like Tooele team against the powerful, defending champions Taylorsville. With two outs in the top of the seventh inning, Tooele led 5-2 and appeared ready to pull off the upset.
Taylorsville wasn't ready to give up so easily.
Brandon Ballard came in to pinch hit for Taylorsville with two runners on and two out. With one swing of the bat, Ballard smashed Cinderella's slipper. He blasted a three-run homer well over the left field field fence to tie the game at 5-5. Tooele couldn't score in the bottom half of the seventh, so the game went into extra innings.
Taylorsville loaded up the bases in the top of the eighth after two straight batters were walked. Tooele's Scott Pratt came in relief for Tyson Sweat but walked the first batter he faced and then hit the next batter to give T-ville a 7-5 lead.
In the heavy rain, Ernie Beacham sparked another Tooele rally with a single in the bottom of the eighth. Beacham scored on an error and then Trent Pratt singled in Scott Pratt, who reached base on his fifth walk of the game.
Taylorsville first baseman Brian McBeth ended the eighth with an unassisted double play.
Granger 13, Cyprus 4
Shane Olsen drilled a three-run double, leading Granger past Cyprus. Scott Beames, Mike Okerlund and Jeff Rasmussen each had two hits in the victory. Granger broke the game open with a six-run sixth inning.
Taylorsville 9, Viewmont 4
Taylorsville pounded 14 hits and held the usually high-scoring Viewmont team to only four runs. Rommell Valladares had three hits, including two doubles for T-ville. Jared Larson hit a homer and had two RBI in the win.
Brighton 8, Bingham 5
Micah Mangrum and Zach VanDyken each had two RBI on two hits as Brighton eliminated Bingham. Justin Garrett tripled for Brighton. Bingham's J.D. McBride had three hits.
Cache Valley 3, West 0
Tyler Holland pitched a four-hit shutout and contributed offensively with two hits, one RBI and one run scored.
Tooele 5, Bingham 4
Brian McBeth went 2-2 with two RBI. He took ball four with bases loaded for the game winning RBI. Jeff Cluff and Trent Pratt each had two hits for Tooele.
Payson 5, Viewmont 3
Payson eliminated Viewmont after Ben Marziale got an RBI on a walk. Brian Ford also had an RBI. Jaman Taylor also singled in a run.
Cache Valley 7, Granger 2
Justin Sparks sparked a triple play after making a spectacular diving catch in the sixth inning. Tyler Holland went 3-4 with a triple. He added three RBI and scored twice.