Second ranked Spartans win two-lead region 8

By GARY ARRINGTON Sports writer

After last week’s stunning upset of Juan Diego on the baseball field by the Emery Spartans, the Deseret News not only finally ranked the Spartans but put them in the number two slot right behind last season’s state champions, the Judge Memorial Bulldogs. This week on the field, Emery showed that they are for real as they picked up two more region victories. On Tuesday, Emery defeated Salem Hills 6-5 in Castle Dale and then on Wednesday, Emery defeated Carbon 16-13 in Price.
The visiting Skyhawks drew first blood in the Tuesday game as they put together two singles and a sacrifice bunt in the third inning for the first score of the day. In the fourth inning, two walks and two more singles off Emery starter Brett Mecham allowed the Skyhawks to score two more runs and they led 3-0.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Tayler Tanner got on base due to an error by the Salem third baseman. Nevin Jensen, next up for Emery, got hit by a pitch and both batters would eventually score although Emery would not get a base hit in the inning. Emery trailed 3-2.
In the fifth inning, Emery grabbed the lead for the first time in the game. After the first two batters got out, Derrick Allred walked, Tanner got on board due to an error by the Salem catcher. With runners on first and second and two outs, Jensen singled scoring a run. Addison Collard then doubled to center field scoring both the runners and putting the Spartans up 5-3.
Emery held the lead until the top of the seventh inning when Salem scored two runs after getting three hits including two doubles. When Emery was unable to score in the bottom of the seventh inning, the game went into extra innings with the score tied at 5-5.
Neither team scored in the eighth inning although Emery did get two base hits to at least threaten. Mecham and Kashe Jewkes were the two Spartans that singled.
After holding Salem to three up and three down in the top of the ninth inning, Jensen walked, got to second on a hit by Collard and scored on an error by the Skyhawk first baseman on a ball hit by Jewkes and Emery escaped with the win.
The next day, Emery nearly blew Carbon out of the ballpark before holding on for the win. Carbon scored a run in the top of the first inning but Emery came back in the top of the second inning and scored five runs. Carbon scored three more runs in the third inning to trail 5-4. Emery responded with nine runs in the top of the fourth inning to lead 14-4. Emery left the bases loaded in the inning.
Carbon then added two runs in the fourth inning, two more runs in the fifth inning and two more runs in the sixth inning to trail 14-10. Emery scored two in the top of the seventh inning with Carbon adding three runs in the bottom of the inning. Emery left town with the win.
In that second inning, Allred tripled to lead off the inning, Tanner then doubled and Jensen and Collard singled. Mecham followed with a double and Jewkes then singled as the first six Emery batters all got base hits. All but Jewkes would score.
In the fourth inning, Jewkes led off the inning and became a base runner due to a Dino error. Gatlan Huntington then tripled to score Jewkes and Jason Giles walked. Colby Snow singled to score Huntington. After Allred grounded out, Tanner singled, Jensen doubled, Collard walked, Mecham walked and Jewkes, up for the second time in the inning, singled. Giles, Snow and Allred were all on base when Tanner grounded out to end the inning.
In the seventh inning, Allred walked and Collard and Mecham singled with the first two batters scoring.
Against the Dinos, Collard and Mecham led the Spartan offensive effort. Collard had two singles and a double while scoring three times. Mecham also had two singles and a double while scoring twice and also had three RBI’s. Allred, Tanner, Snow and Jewkes all had two hits in the game. Emery finished the game with 16 hits including six for extra bases. Emery also picked up nine walks in the game.
Against Salem Hills, Giles, Collard and Mecham all finished the game with two base hits. Jensen had a single but all walked twice and scored three times including the winning run. Emery had 11 hits in the game and also walked seven times.