Here’s a recap of the four 5A state tournament bracket play games at UVU on Monday. This story will be updated.
The defending 5A state champions, No. 1 Spanish Fork, got their title defense started off on the right foot, riding the pitching of Matai Johnson to a 5-0 victory over No. 9 Payson in the 5A tournament bracket play.
Johnson had a no-hitter heading into the sixth inning, but it was eventually broken up by a bunt single by Payson’s Yoshi Schaugaard.
Johnson finished with a complete-game shutout and struck out seven batters while walking just one.
“Matai Johnson gave us an awesome start. Anytime we get a no hitter going from our guy, we love our chances. I love his composure on the mound and he’s just a bulldog out there. Every time he is on the mound, we know we’re going to get a good start,” said Spanish Fork head coach Hadley Thorpe. “He’s just going to go right at hitters and throw a ton of strikes and challenge guys. He’s got plus stuff and then when he’s throwing strikes, he’s un-hittable.”
Spanish Fork received two RBIs from Trigg Cloward and RBI’s from Boston Duvall and Nixon Warren.
Spanish Fork put up two runs in the bottom of the second inning, both on bases-loaded walks, and never looked back. While Spanish Fork put up five runs for the game, they had just five hits — something that Thorpe would like to see as his team continues in the tournament.
“We kind of lost our approach early on in the game and I feel like the first couple innings kind of got away from us. We got some timely hitting when we needed it and we did enough at the plate, but I’d like to get our bats going better throughout the tournament,” said Thorpe.
Thorpe added that in order for his team to make a deep tournament run and successfully defend its title, the players will need to stick to who they are and commit to play Spanish Fork baseball for all seven innings.
“I think if we just play our game, we can compete with anybody, but kind of get back to our approach at the plate, and we just got to kind of commit to that approach throughout all the innings. Get good swings on it and keep pitching it. With our pitching staff, they’re going to keep us in every game,” he said.
No. 4 West Field put together a dominant and emphatic win in its open game of the 5A tournament with a 14-4 rout of No. 21 Skyline in five innings.
West Field got a strong pitching performance from Bryce Bagby, pitching a complete game with four strikeouts and allowing just four hits.
“It was another great outing from Bryce Bagby. He’s just being himself. He had a little slow start there but settled in nicely and pitched a gem. Offensively, that’s who we’ve been all year. The bats have been hot 1-9,” said West Field head coach Tyler Barfuss. “We’ve swung it pretty well, and the kids did a great job. I liked how patient we were, making them throw strikes. When we can get into their bullpen, we like our chances.”
West Field got offensive production up and down the lineup, spearheaded by Wyatt Penrod and Tyke Johnson. Penrod in the leadoff spot went 2-3 with two RBIs and a home run, while Johnson went 3-3 with four RBIs and drawing one walk.
“I think all year, we’ve had people try to pitch around us and get us out by swinging at pitches out of the strike zone. Kudos to our guys, who have really commanded the strike zone. They are unselfish as a group and are willing to have good at-bats, pass the bat and take a walk,” said Barfuss.
Skyline may have put up two runs in the top of the first inning to start out the game, but it was all West Field after that. West Field scored two runs in the third inning and four runs in the fourth to break the game wide open. The team then proceeded to score in every inning the rest of the way.
“In the first inning, we might have come out a little flat, some nerves playing at the college site. Once we score one, it seems like we score in bunches,” said Barfuss. “The thing that I love about them is their maturity, knowing if we do get off to a slow start, which we have done some games where we give up early leads, they just are patient and we trust them that they’re going to come through when it matters.”
West Field showed tremendous discipline and patience at the plate, drawing nine walks while rattling the Skyline pitching staff and getting them into all sorts of trouble.
Pleasant Grove 3, West Jordan 0
Ryder Huntsman delivered a standout performance on the mound for Pleasant Grove, striking out 15 batters in six innings as they won 3-0 against West Jordan in a 5A state tournament bracket play game.
Nash Clement went 2 for 2, adding two RBIs to support the victory. Pleasant Grove scored its runs early, with a one-run first inning followed by two more in the second. Crew Anderson came on in relief, striking out two in the seventh inning to secure the win.
Pleasant Grove advances to face Maple Mountain in the winners bracket, while West Jordan will play Fremont in an elimination game.
Maple Mountain 11, Fremont 1
Maple Mountain showcased a dominant performance in the 5A state tournament bracket play game on Monday, defeating Fremont 11-1. Kavyn Carter controlled the mound with six strikeouts, allowing just one run and no walks over six innings.
Mitch Walker, Cayden Giles and Brooks Pratt each went 3 for 4, with Giles also driving in two RBIs, leading a total of six Golden Eagles with RBIs. Maple Mountain scored in five of its six innings, including a decisive four-run third inning, while Fremont managed its sole run in the fifth inning.
This victory advances Maple Mountain in the winners bracket, while Fremont prepares for an elimination game.