Juab 8, Richfield 2
No. 2 Juab once again survived with its depth.
The Wasps struggled in their 8-2 win over No. 11 Richfield on Tuesday, but Juab’s depth at both the plate and the pitching mound reigned supreme as it advanced in 3A bracket play.
“We’ve got a great group top to bottom. In fact, there’s three or four guys who haven’t thrown yet that that are fully capable as well,” said Juab head coach Josh Park.
Connor Cowan started on the mound for Juab and was lights out in the win. Cowan threw twelve strikeouts in six innings, allowing only two runs for the Wildcats. Sophomore Luke Marostica came in for Cowan to manage his pitch count and Marostica contributed three strikeouts in his two innings.
“Connor just went out and competed today,” Park said. “I loved Luke coming out, getting loose real quick, and he just came out and pounded the zone.”
It took a while for Juab’s lethal batting to come online. Richfield took a 1-0 lead in the first inning with Malik Fautin stealing home. The Wildcats ran up its lead to 2-0 with a home run in the fourth inning from Bridger Vincent.
The Wasps finally got on top of its pitches in the fifth inning as it scored three runs. Juab continued to roll with five runs in the seventh inning to take a commanding 8-2 lead. Cowan and Koen Mattinson each led the Wasps with two RBIs. Mattinson also added two doubles in the win.
“We knew it was a matter of time before we broke out,” Park said. “I felt like our kids were just trying to do too much to start. We were jumping up pitches a little too early instead of getting our pitch to drive. Once they settled in and looked for their pitches, it kind of took care of itself.
Richfield still has postseason hopes alive as it now will play No. 7 Grantsville on Wednesday.
Canyon View 13, Emery 1
Top seeded Canyon View is the only team to get a mercy-rule win in 3A bracket play, and it has done so twice now. The Falcons dominated No. 12 Emery 13-1 and advanced to the 3A semifinals. Canyon View also beat No. 9 North Sanpete 16-1 in Monday’s bracket play game.
The Falcons had its offense rolling to start and it never quite stopped. Canyon View opened the first inning with two runs and added three in the second.
Meanwhile, the Canyon View defense was lethal as it had Brady Anderson at the helm. Anderson pitched all six innings and totaled 12 strikeouts while giving up only a single walk.
“When you get good pitching, it makes a lot of things a little bit easier,” said Canyon View head coach Jason Jacobsen. “We had some good defense and had a couple of infield hits, but, Brady really set the tone all day with his pitching.”
Its offense was flowing equally well with four players recording two or more RBIs. Falcons’ Trenton Ludlow, Asher Slack and Cannon Williams all finished with two RBIs. CJ McClellan led Canyon View with three base hits and three RBIs.
The Falcons just generally forced Emery’s defense to be uncomfortable and make plays. Through all six innings the Spartans threw only two strikeouts.
“Just our order up and down it’s been consistent all year,” Jacobsen said. “If somebody has an off game they seem to pick each other up and I think we did that tonight. We barreled up some balls and put some pressure on them.”
While Jacobsen said Canyon View is making sure to take it a game at a time, the Falcons know they’re on the precipice of its first baseball state championship. A win tomorrow solidifies a spot in the championship series.
“We’re just going to keep doing what we’re doing, and we know tomorrow is a new day,” Jacobsen said. “We got to be ready for whoever we get tomorrow, and we know we’ll get a hard fought game.”