Coach Steve Cramblitt's Taylorsville team has won 10 straight games, is ranked No. 1 in 5A and has claimed the state championship four of the pat five years. But Cramblitt is a little more wary than usual about the Warrior's chances for a title in 1997.
That's because this season, for the first time in history, every team qualifies for the 5A baseball tournament. Same goes for the 4A tourney. "All a team needs is one good pitcher," Cramblitt explains. "And if he has a good game, you could lose."Fortunantely for the Warriors, and the other 5A region champs, they have been awarded a bye for the first round of games, which begin Wednesday. The second round is set for Thursday. Both rounds are at home sites.
Next week, the eight 5A survivors will play at Ken Price Park. The remaining eight 4A teams will compete at Utah Valley State College and BYU. At that point, both tournaments are double-elimination.
The last time Region 3 campt T-ville failed to win the state crown, it was 1995, when Orem prevailed. Since the Tigers, winners of Region 4, were ranked No. 1 most of the season, the two teams might be on a collision course to meet in the finals at Franklin Quest Field. But Skyline, Boneeville, cottonwood and Bingham could spoil that scenario.
Franklin Quest will also host the 4A finals. The three 4A region champs - Springville, Olympus and Box Elder - have earned byes as well as the second-place teams: Spanish Fork, Murray and Bear River.