ST. GEORGE — The Piute Thunderbirds beat the Panguitch Bobcats 10-3 on Friday in the 1A high school baseball playoffs at Dixie State University in St. George.
In Piute’s victory, the T’birds pounded out 14 hits to back the four-hit pitching of Tanner Kennedy, who gave up only 3 runs in his complete-game win.
The Thunderbirds struck for 2 runs in the top of the first, on a hit by Ryan Westwood.
Piute coach Kennedy Sylvester said Westwood has come through in the clutch all season.
Panguitch struck back for one run in the bottom of the first. Piute made it 3-1 in the top of the third, as Mason Morgan singled to left on the first pitch, and stole second base. Kesler Blood walked, and Westwood grounded into a force play, with Mason out at third.
Then Casey Pearson hit a sharp ground ball and Blood scored on the ensuing throwing error.
In the bottom of the third, the Bobcats tied the score at 3 on a 2-run single to right by pitcher Jace Eyre, but Kennedy retired the side on a strikeout.
Piute took a 5-3 lead in the fourth on a 2-run single by Blood.
The T’Birds added two more runs for a 7-3 lead in the fifth. Kennedy singled and Logan Dalton tripled to deep center to make the score 6-3. Morgan then singled in Dalton.
In the sixth, Westwood tripled off the left-field wall and scored on an RBI double by Pearson.
In the seventh, Beau Sylvester was hit by a pitch, and Morgan singled. The two were driven in by a double to center by Gates Fullmer, completing the scoring.
On defense, right-fielder Kody Sylvester saved the game with a great running catch of a line drive, and the T’birds turned a nifty double play to stifle a Panguitch rally.
In the second game, the Valley Buffalos shut out the Bryce Valley Mustangs 10-0 in six innings in the single-elimination tournament.
Mustangs coach Tyson Brinkerhoff said after the loss: “It was just one of those days. Our bus broke down on the way to the game, and we had more errors than hits.”
He credited a strong Buffalo offense for their win.
Deseret News prep editor and Real Salt Lake beat writer. EMAIL: jedward@deseretnews.com