High school baseball: Lone Peak overcomes unusual ruling to beat American Fork

Published: April 15, 2026, 8:52 p.m. MDT

Lone Peak’s Kingston Stroshine (9) slides past American Fork’s catcher Talon Willardson, scoring the game-winning run, as they play in Highland on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. Lone Peak won 5-4. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Carson Hilton has covered high school sports in Utah for the Deseret News since 2022.

A misunderstanding of substitution rules by Lone Peak on Wednesday nearly cost it a huge chance to get a big win over Region 3 rival American Fork.

The confusion came in the bottom of the seventh inning after Lone Peak’s Landon Fry stepped up to the plate.

Fry, who started for the Knights on the mound, was substituted for Porter Holmes between the sixth and seventh innings. Throughout the game, Lone Peak had used the speed-up rule for Fry, which allowed another runner to run the bases for him.

However, after Fry was substituted, he was no longer eligible for the speed-up rule. So, when a runner was used for Fry, that was a pinch runner and not a speed-up rule, and Fry was ruled out after the deliberation.

The confusion led to a 25-minute delay to allow the umpires to consult with umpire leadership to confirm the call. However, with two outs in a 4-4 tie in the bottom of the seventh, the Knights weathered the penalty as Bronx Chavira hit the walk-off RBI single for the 5-4 win over the defending 6A champions.

“They called it an out,” Chavira said. “I was just thinking in my head, ‘Let’s go, baby. They need me right now. My team needs me. So I’m going to go up and get a base hit for my team.’ And that’s what I did.”

It was a big bounce-back win for Lone Peak, which had its undefeated record and 13-game win streak spoiled by the Cavemen on Tuesday. But it was American Fork that got things going early.

A two-run first inning and another run in the third gave the Cavemen a 3-1 lead. Both defenses were playing tight, and runs were hard to come by.

Still, through the first half of Wednesday’s game, Lone Peak was playing from behind. That was until a big breakthrough in the bottom of the fifth.

Lone Peak’s Kingston Stroshine (9) and the rest of his teammates celebrate after Stroshine hammered a home run as they and American Fork play in Highland on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. Lone Peak won 5-4. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Lone Peak and American Fork coaches and game umpires discuss a situation that delayed play for several minutes as an appeal was sent to the UHSAA, as the two teams played in Highland on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. Lone Peak won 5-4. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Lone Peak catcher Braden Packer tags American Fork’s Talon Willardson out at home plate as they play in Highland on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. Lone Peak won 5-4. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Lone Peak pitcher Landon Fry sends a pitch on its way as the Knights and American Fork Cavemen play in Highland on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. Lone Peak won 5-4. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Lone Peak and American Fork play in Highland on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. Lone Peak won 5-4. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

It started off with a home run from Kingston Stroshine which brought home two runs and evened the score 3-3. Then, a sacrifice fly from Grady Slesk gave Lone Peak its first lead of the game.

It was far from smooth sailing from there, as American Fork was quick to fight back.

In the sixth inning, a walk and a couple of base hits gave American Fork an equalizing run and threatened to load the bases. American Fork’s Talon Willardson hit what looked like a solid line drive over second base which would’ve brought home another run.

However, Chavira made arguably the defensive play of the game at center field with a diving catch for the third out.

View Comments

“One thing you’ll learn about Bronx, if you watch him enough, he’s not going to be the guy that wows you with all these tools even though he’s got them,” said Lone Peak coach Matt Bezzant. “But you just watch him, he is a gritty, blue-collar guy.

“He might strike out every once in a while. You’ll never see him not hustle. You’ll never see him not just go 110% all the time. That’s why we love him. I think he’s a next-level guy.”

Both defenses played tight, not allowing either team to get the go-ahead run. That is, until Chavira’s heroics brought home the winning run in the bottom of the seventh.

“I’m really proud of the guys we have,” Bezzant said. “It’s just steps in the right direction. One thing about (American Fork), they always play hard, they always play great defense. It’s a battle every single time, so anytime you can beat them, it is a well-deserved win.”

Looking for comments?

Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.