Here’s a recap of the four 6A state tournament bracket play games at BYU on Monday. This story will be updated.
Corner Canyon 3, Lone Peak 2
Zach Sorenson has spent the majority of the season as Corner Canyon’s closing pitcher. A few weeks ago, however, an impromptu start against Lehi gave his head coach an idea: Sorenson should get the starting nod in a playoff game.
Such a hunch proved genius on Monday. Sorenson’s mere third start of the season resulted in No. 3-seeded Lone Peak being held scoreless for six innings, as the underdog Chargers orchestrated a 3-2 upset victory in the second round of the 6A state tournament at BYU’s Miller Park.
In addition to his heroics on the mound, Sorenson led Corner Canyon with three hits on the afternoon, including both a triple and a two-RBI knock in the seventh inning for a critical insurance score.
“Zach’s a stud, man, we just rode with him,” Chargers coach Jeff Eure said postgame. “He’s just an incredible player, you know, a two-way guy. He’s got a bright future, it was awesome effort.”
While he allowed more than 10 baserunners, Sorenson managed to escape jam after jam, pitching to contact and trusting his defense to bail him out, which it seemingly always did.
Chargers outfielders Garrett Downing and Jenson Pollard made a pair of flashy plays for outs, Tanner MacKay and Lincoln Eure locked down the middle infield, and catcher Jobie Brady gunned down two would-be base stealers as well.
“It means everything, it’s how you win a game,” Sorenson said of the defensive support he received. “It’s really nice to have a good defense, man. It’s the greatest thing ever.”
Corner Canyon first took the lead in the fourth, as a Downing single plated Krew Thorn, who had doubled just before. Sorenson’s aforementioned two-run single put the Chargers ahead 3-0 in the seventh, needing just three more outs to survive and advance.
But after being blanked all afternoon, Lone Peak finally jumped on Sorenson in the bottom half of the seventh, with Boston Walkenhorst smacking a two-run double to cut the deficit to one.
With one out and the tying run on second base, Lincoln Eure relieved Sorenson to put out the fire, quickly securing the two coveted final outs — the first coming on an impressive catch in foul territory by new third baseman Sorenson, and the clincher coming on a Eure strikeout — to pick up the save and shut down the Knights’ comeback attempt.
In all, Sorenson logged 6 1/3 innings of two-run ball with two strikeouts — an impressive outing for anyone, let alone a bullpen arm making a rare start.
Lone Peak starting pitcher Grady Slesk was excellent himself, posting his own 6 1/3 inning line and piling up eight punchouts. He left the mound having given up just one run, but the two baserunners he left for reliever Chase Gutierrez to deal with both scored on Sorenson’s third hit.
Corner Canyon will now face No. 7 seed Skyridge — fresh off its own upset of Mountain Ridge — for Wednesday’s third round at 4:30 p.m. in Provo.
“Obviously there’s some confidence right now, we’ve got to ride that and just keep battling,” Eure said. “There’s lots of baseball left to play.”
American Fork 11, Jordan 3
Top-seeded American Fork triumphed over Jordan in 6A state tournament bracket play, winning 11-3. Bentley Taggart had a standout performance at the plate, going 3 for 4, including a double and triple, with two RBIs to help lead American Fork.
Talon Willardson added a solo home run, also finishing 3 for 4. Gavin Robinson and Cache Poulson each contributed two RBIs, aiding the six-run surge in the fifth inning that established control for American Fork.
Kenny Johnson secured the win as the starter, pitching five innings with six strikeouts while allowing one run on two hits. With this non-region victory, American Fork advances in the winners bracket, while Jordan faces an elimination game.
Skyridge 11, Mountain Ridge 9
Miles Robinson led No. 7 Skyridge with a stellar performance, going 2 for 2 with three RBIs, a double and a triple as they triumphed over No. 2 Mountain Ridge 11-9 in a Region 5A bracket play of the state tournament.
Robinson’s triple drove in two crucial runs in the top of the seventh, cementing the comeback. The contest saw Mountain Ridge take an early lead, including a solo home run by Karson Fankhauser, who went 2 for 2.
Skyridge’s Boston Sundberg bolstered the Falcons’ offense, going 2 for 3 with four RBIs, including a momentous fourth inning that featured a five-run rally. Mountain Ridge managed a four-run rally of its own in the same inning, but ultimately faltered as Skyridge clinched the victory with a late-game surge.