The American Legion state baseball tournament begins today at Oquirrh Park with traditional contenders such as Taylorsville and Smithfield having a real shot at winning the championship.

But there are also teams that haven't enjoyed deep tournament runs in many years that also have a legitimate chance of playing for the state title next Saturday.

One of those teams is Granger.

The Lancers took second place in the Valley League behind champion Taylorsville. They lost twice to the Warriors by one run in each game, and the Lancers' solid showings have them thinking big in the state tournament.

"They think they can win it all," said Granger varsity coach Garrett Clark.

In a season where 16 of the state's 26 teams qualify for the state tournament and there is no dominant club, why not Granger?

The Lancers, coached by Robert and KC Sandstrom, have built off the success they had during the spring season and look dangerous going into the tournament. Clint Felion has been Granger's leader during the summer as he was during the spring, while the team has also received contributions from Nate Cook, Kolby Dudley, Junior Zavala, Giovanni Prado and 2008 graduate Troy Picker.

"This group is playing really well," Clark said.

So are other groups.

Taylorsville went through the Valley League undefeated, and the team has the talent and experience to win another state championship. Smithfield is also talented and experienced, and won the Northern League. Uintah, one of three independent Legion teams playing this summer, qualified by knocking off the other two clubs.

The north has some state bragging rights after Mountain Crest won the 4A state championship in May. They'd like to retain those rights, but the players who won that state title are split up in Legion.

The returning Mountain Crest players comprise Blacksmith Fork and are coached by varsity coach Stephen Hansen. Two graduated players, Kyler Webb and Derek Pond, play for Smithfield.

So while there might not be a team as strong as Mountain Crest was during the spring, the Northern League was still pretty solid. Blacksmith Fork, led by Rhett Parkinson and Jeff Schiffman, is a team from the north that could make some noise during the next week.

"I think the league, as a whole, was a lot stronger than it's been the last few years," Hansen said.

Blacksmith Fork plays in what will probably be today's best game, as it faces Cyprus at 11 a.m.

American Legion state tournament

First-round games, today

At Oquirrh Park, Kearns

South Field

Roy vs. Tooele, 10 a.m.

Spartans vs. Box Elder, 1 p.m.

Helper vs. Grantsville, 4 p.m.

Uintah vs. Taylorsville, 7 p.m.

North Field

Cyprus vs. Blacksmith Fork, 11 a.m.

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Clearfield vs. Granger, 2 p.m.

Bear River vs. Taylorsville U-17, 5 p.m.

Murray vs. Smithfield, 8 p.m.

e-mail: aaragon@desnews.com

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