| Jeff Fielder and Kent Stilson both have a hand in the attempt to catch this foul ball. |
After being outscored 28-2 in their previous three games, the Spartans exploded for 21 runs when they most needed them.
The region win over North Sanpete gave Emery an even region record at 3-3 and an overall record of 8-8. Emery is solidly in third in the region with the biggest two games coming up this week.
Emery plays Lehi at Spartan Field Tuesday and then the Spartans travel to Carbon on Friday. The Pioneers and Dinos are tied for first in region with 5-1 records. If the Spartans are to move up in the region standings, they have to win these two games.
Travis Barnett led the Spartans against Grantsville and held the Cowboys to just one hit while recording 10 strikeouts. The Spartans overcame four errors and Jeff Fielder racked up two doubles as Emery dominated the game.
North Sanpete jumped on the Spartans early, getting a run on a sacrifice fly and another on a poor throw, before a strikeout and a groundout got Emery out of the inning.
Emery responded in its half of the inning.
A base hit by Kadin Wilson was followed by a walk by Garrett Swenson. Bowie Jeffs brought both of them home with a single. Fielder kept the rally alive with a base hit and Kent Stilson loaded the bases when he was hit by a pitch.
A fielder’s choice brought home Jeffs and a double steal brought home Fielder when he dove head first over the catcher.
Chandler Pearson finished the scoring for Emery when Barnett brought him home on a single.
The Spartans led 5-2 and Stilson took control of the game from the pitcher’s mound. No other Hawk got past second base the rest of the game.
Emery batted around again in the second and got four more runs to put the game out of reach. It was just a matter of time until the Spartans scored enough runs to inflict the 10-run mercy rule.
With Emery’s bats back to life and Barnett and Stilson pitching well, the Spartans’ games this week should be pretty exciting. The games start at 3:30 p.m.