Baseball
Walker Moore, Provo baseball
Photo courtesy Provo
Walker Moore, Provo (Jr.)
Provo’s baseball team is off to a 6-2 start this season, and Moore’s presence is a big reason why.
On the mound he owns a 1.55 ERA while only allowing opponents to bat .109, while at the plate he’s hitting .440 with 12 RBIs, eight runs and four stolen bases.
“Walker, a fearless competitor, exemplifies the Bulldogs in the way that he fights at the plate and on the mound. He loves hitting and pitching in clutch situations, and his fire and energy are contagious in the Bulldog dugout,” said Provo coach Lance Moore. “He is a strike-throwing machine, having walked only one hitter in 18 innings, while striking out 20. He began the season by extending the hitting streak that he started last year to 18 games before it was snapped with an 0-3 against Herriman, and he already has three game-winning hits this season.”
Last Friday he earned the victory on the mound in Provo’s 3-0 win over Uintah to improve to 2-1 this season.
Softball
Oakley Bates, Spanish Fork softball
Photo courtesy Spanish Fork
Oakley Bates, Spanish Fork (Fr.)
Just a freshman, Bates is already tearing the cover off the ball.
Bates has six home runs this season, all of which came during a three-game stretch at the Warrior Elite Softball Tournament in St. George two weeks ago.
She belted three homers against Clearfield, one against Bountiful and two more against Farmington.
“Oakley is a great combination of being a good person, athletic ability, desire and training. It will be a pleasure, for the coaching staff at Spanish Fork softball, to watch this player progress during and after her high school years in softball,” said Spanish Fork coach Don Andrews.
Bates is batting .640 this season with 19 RBIs.
Boys Soccer
Joseph Cloward, Bonneville soccer
Photo courtesy Bonneville
Joseph Cloward, Bonneville (Sr.)
Now a senior, Cloward is taking on a larger role for the Lakers this year.
Last year he scored 12 goals for Bonneville as its second-leading scorer, but already this year he’s found the back of the net nine times in six games to lead his team in scoring.
“Joe is a great kid. He plays hard and gives it his all when he is out on the field. With how focused and hard he plays when he gets out on the field, most opponents would not know how thoughtful and tender-hearted Joe is. He is always concerned about his teammates and what is going on with the team. Not only has he been able to score this year, but he has been able to have several assists. Joe is grateful for the opportunities and the selflessness of his teammates that help and assist him in finding the back of the net,” said Bonneville coach Jared Anderson.
He had a four-goal outing two weeks ago in a blowout win over Tooele.
Boys Tennis
Redd Owen, Brighton tennis
Photo courtesy Brighton
Redd Owen, Brighton (Jr.)
Just a junior, Redd Owen has already won two individual first singles state titles and outside of Utah he continues to impress. He’s one of the top-ranked tennis player in the Intermountain region and he’s ranked nationally as well.
“Every year Redd just gets taller and stronger. He just continues to take his tennis to the next level, he just keeps pushing to get better and further at the game,” said Brighton coach Natalie Meyer.
So far this year he’s 2-0 in Utah with a preseason and a region win.
Girls Golf
Vanna Einerson, Bountiful tennis
Photo courtesy Bountiful
Vanna Einerson, Bountiful (So.)
In her first state golf tournament as a freshman last year, Vanna Einerson finished outside the top 10 by three strokes.
Just one tournament into her sophomore season, and it’s clear that Einerson is a medalist contender. Einerson shot a 69 at Schneiter’s Bluff last Thursday to win the opening Region 5 tourney of the season. The next closest score was an 88.
“Vanna loves to compete. She works extremely hard. She is the kind of girl who will be at the range until the sun goes down. She expects a lot of herself and does what it takes to make herself competitive,” said Bountiful coach Jenny Hathaway.
Boys Track
Blake Freeland, Herriman track & field
Jody Genessy
Blake Freeland, Herriman (Sr.)
This three-sport star is poised to wrap up his career in grand fashion. Last year Freeland won the 6A title in the javelin and shot put and finished second in the discus, but this year he’s hoping for the clean sweep.
He got off to a great start at the Davis Super Meet last week by winning the shot put, discus and javelin.
“Blake is an athlete. He is a humble, fun-loving young man with size and strength, and he is willing to pay the price to achieve great things. He can do it all,” said Herriman coach James Barnes.
Freeland’s shot put toss of 62’01.50 is the best in Utah so far this year by nearly 10 feet. His javelin throw ranks second in Utah this spring and his discus throw ranks third.
Girls Track
Taye Raymond, Orem track & field
Photo courtesy Orem
Taye Raymond, Orem (Jr.)
This junior sprinter had a great showing down in St. George over the weekend at the 29-team Pine View Invitational.
Raymond won the long jump, finished second in the 100 meters and third in the 200 meters. Her time in the 100 meters ranks fourth in Utah this spring, and her 200 time ranks fifth.
The week prior at the Mountain View meet Raymond posted a distance of 18’08.75 in the long jump, which is the best jump in Utah this season. Raymond is the defending 4A state champion in the long jump, and already this year she’s jumped five inches farther than her best jump last year.
Raymond also placed in the top five at state last year in the 100 and 200 meters.