WEST JORDAN — Sometimes it's tough to get your team to come back and give its best effort after suffering an early-round loss in the state baseball tournament.
But Syracuse High coach Jeff Bearnson had no such problem with his tough-minded ballclub.
The Titans, who lost their first-round game in the 5A tourney last week, got a strong pitching performance from junior right-hander Jason Jourdan and put together a five-run rally in the sixth inning to break open a tight ballgame and take a 7-1 victory over Viewmont in Monday's one-loss bracket action at Salt Lake Community College's Cate Field.
"After that loss (last Tuesday to Copper Hills), we went out and practiced hard for the next couple of days and prepared ourselves mentally," Jourdan said. "We had some good practices and got prepared."
"We're a tough group," said junior second baseman Jayden Bearnson, who had two hits and three RBIs for the Titans. "We came back and we don't let losses affect us. We just come every pitch, every inning, all game long as our coach (and Jayden's dad Jeff) says. So that's what we try to do every game."
With Monday's win, Syracuse (17-9) advances into today's quarterfinal clash with Riverton, which disposed of Region 1 champion Davis 5-2 later Monday evening.
"It was a real good win for us," Jeff Bearnson said. "This is our fifth year and, five years ago when we started, we had one win our first year, two wins the second year and four wins our third year. And then last year we went on that really good run and finished fifth in the state or somewhere around that area.
"... We're doing some good things here (at Syracuse). I think we do some real good things and we compete. I've got a bunch of kids that compete really hard and they all like each other. And we've been really focusing all year long, not about region championships, not about state championships, but playing the game one pitch at a time, every inning, all game long. And if we play that way, I believe in it, because then we don't get overwhelmed by the scoreboard, we don't get overwhelmed by the situation, we just keep playing the pitch, because mistakes happen and we're young.
"... I love these kids because they play so hard and they do it right," the Titans' high-energy coach said proudly. "They're just good kids; they run on the field and run off the field and don't say a word. It can be a bad call or something and they don't say a word, and I'm proud as heck of them.
I can't say enough about how good a kids they are. They're real good students, they're real good people in the community, and they all like each other. They stay focused and they fight for one another."
Jourdan threw six strong innings, scattering seven hits and allowing just one run with two walks and three strikeouts. Adam Johnson came on in the seventh and pitched his way out of a two-on, no-out jam to preserve the Titans' victory over the Vikings.
"I was just trying to command the (strike) zone with the wind blowing in and let 'em put it in play and let my defense work behind me, because they're a good team," Jourdan said. "I was just trying to keep my pitch count lower so I can go longer in the game, and we have a really good defense, so I trust them and let them put the ball in play.
"I was ready to go (back out in the seventh) if he'd let me, but we have a really good closer, and he came in and threw strikes and we got out of it."
Coach Bearnson commended Jourdan and his pitching staff for the job they've done all season long.
"That's one thing that's been our strength this year has been our pitching," he said. "I wouldn't say we have like dominating stuff or somebody who throws the ball in the 90s, but Jason competes and he throws strikes and he works fast and he keeps putting it on you. So you can't take a break on him."
email: rhollis@desnews.com