KEARNS — Rarely in the past two decades has Taylorsville been considered an underdog in baseball. But that's the role the Warriors found themselves in the American Legion state tournament on Tuesday night.
Taylorsville U17, a team comprised of players that will compete for the high school team next season, faced the Brigham City Pioneers — the Northern League champions that feature graduated players from four high schools. Taylorsville U17 not only pulled off the upset, it made it look relatively easy. The Warriors advanced to the winners' bracket final by handling the Pioneers, 7-2.
Taylorsville U17 coach Jackson Ewing knew his team wasn't expected to win Tuesday's matchup, and he told his players to not try and be heroes. They just needed to be themselves.
"I told them if we play like we can play — we don't have to do anything special — do what we do, we got a chance," Ewing said. "It worked out for us."
The Warriors got on the board early, scoring three runs in the first. Isaac Fullmer started the scoring with an RBI single and Tanner Dawes hit a two-run single. Anthony Dixon allowed Brigham City to score two runs in the first, but buckled down the rest of the way. He had just two strikeouts while throwing a complete game, and got the Pioneers to ground out 12 times.
"I just had confidence in my team," Dixon said of what helped him shut the Pioneers down the last six innings. "I knew they were there for me."
Dixon, who was cut from the team at Taylorsville as a sophomore, made just as many plays as his teammates. With Brigham City building momentum in the sixth, he struck out Bubba Blau with two runners on base to get out of the inning.
"He's tough," said Ewing, who had Dixon play for him last summer on the Legion team after he was cut in high school. "He's just a competitor. He came along last summer and he just keeps getting better and better. It might be scary if he improves that much next year. Some colleges better be looking at him."
Dixon's offense made the outing easier for him. The Warriors gave him a couple of insurance runs in the third when Fullmer blasted an RBI triple and Marc Reynolds ripped an RBI double. Dawes drove in a run with a double in the fifth, and scored on a wild pitch to make it 7-2.
"Guys have stepped up," Ewing said. "We've had good at-bats 1-9. It was really good at-bats more than anything."
Taylorsville U17 will play Granger in the winners' bracket final tonight. Brigham City plays Helper in an elimination game featuring two league regular champions.
GRANGER 4, BLACKSMITH FORK 3: Junior Zavala threw a complete game, and the Lancers scored the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh. WEST 16, MURRAY 15: The Panthers outlasted the Spartans in a slugfest as Mike Valdez had three hits and scored two runs. Andrew Samora had two hits and four RBIS.
ROY 8, BEAR RIVER 0: Logan Vigil threw a complete game shutout, keeping the Royals alive in the losers' bracket.
TAYLORSVILLE 9, STANSBURY 6: Coby Harward scored three runs to lead the Warriors.
HELPER 6, KEARNS 5: Keny Seals hit a two-run home run and Josh Denison earned the save by getting Helper out of a jam in the seventh.
American Legion tourney
Wednesday's games, at Oquirrh Park
Winners' bracket
Taylorsville U17 vs. Granger, 7 p.m.
Losers' bracket
Helper vs. Brigham City, 4 p.m.
Roy vs. Blacksmith Fork, 5 p.m.
Taylorsville vs. West, 8 p.m.
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