| Chandler Pearson pitches a winning game against Park City . |
In the 3-A State baseball playoffs, the Emery Spartans, along with the other three Region 8 entrants, advanced in the tournament. The Spartans traveled to Cedar City and lost a heartbreaker to Grantsville 8-6 and then defeated Park City 4-1 to advance in the double elimination tournament.
Emery’s Region 8 partners also advanced in the playoffs with Carbon High winning two games at home over Snow Canyon, 6-0, and Tooele, 12-7. Delta stunned No. 1 Bear River 7-4 before losing to Dixie 10-4. Lehi defeated Ben Lomond, 9-8 and then lost to Wasatch 8-7.
Against Grantsville, the Spartan’s Josh Eden scored their first run after three straight singles in the first inning. Chandler Pearson and Wes Baletka scored in the third inning before Grantsville added three runs to take a 5-3 lead. Emery added two more runs in the fourth inning as Trevor Thompson and Baletka scored. Emery took the lead in the fifth inning at 6-5 as Brady Larsen walked, went to second on an overthrow, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on sacrifice fly by Chandler Tanner. Grantsville scored three in the bottom of the seventh inning on a homerun to grab the victory.
Pearson led the Spartans with three hits including a double, scored a run and added an Rbi. Bowie Jeffs, besides starting on the mound, added a double and two Rbi’s. Larsen had three walks and a single and two Rbi’s.
Against Park City, Pearson pitched a four hitter while striking out seven to assist Emery with the victory. Baletka scored in the first inning, Josh Eden and Pearson scored in the third inning on Jeffs’ double and Landon Thomas scored in the fourth inning on a hit by Eden to account for the Spartan runs. Eden and Jeffs had doubles in the game while the Spartans added five other hits.
Emery will face the Delta Rabbits this Thursday in a game at Springville High School at 11 am. The 3-A State tournament will also be played at Spanish Fork and Payson High Schools. Games will also be held on Friday and Saturday.