| Landon Watson with the tag. |
Emery’s baseball team played a solid game at Snow Canyon in the first round of the state playoffs, but the Warriors earned the win 4-0.
Emery pitcher Travis Barnett struck out four, but gave up the four runs on seven hits including a home run. Most of the time, however, Barnett forced the Warriors into hitting ground balls.
That’s where Emery’s defense sparkled. The Spartans committed no errors and showed quick hands in the infield.
Catcher Jeff Fielder picked a player off first base and threw out another to erase base runners.
Emery’s hitters struggled. Most of the time they fell behind in the count and then were forced into tough decisions with two strikes. The Spartans managed only three hits�two of them by Kent Stilson�and a couple of walks, but they never could put two together.
Trailing 1-0, the Spartans got into trouble in the fourth inning when Snow Canyon’s leadoff hitter doubled.
They almost got out of the inning when the Spartans got the next two batters out on a groundout and a little popup, but the next batter singled in a run and then he scored when the next Warrior hit a home run.
Snow Canyon didn’t get a hit in the last two innings, but the damage was already done. The Spartans ended their season on a field in St. George, but it was not a shameful end. They played a team that was just a little better, but they never flinched, never gave up. The Spartans may look at the “what-ifs,” but they shouldn’t. They should be proud of how they represented the school and of the great things they did this season.