The Emery Spartans completed the first week of the baseball season by finishing 1-3 Thursday, Friday and Saturday at a pre-season tournament in Mesquite, Nevada.
Playing four games against three teams in three days, the Spartans earned their lone win of the weekend on Friday afternoon.
Thursday, March 5: Sports Leadership-11, Emery-1:
Locked in a scoreless tie for the first two-innings, the Spartans fell behind after allowing six run in the top of the third. Playing from beyond the rest of the way, Emery came up short in an 11-2 decision.
Junior Kove Johansen was charged with the loss on the mound after four earned runs and seven hits in 3.1 innings. Sophomore Ryker Jensen worked the final 2.2 in relief, allowing two earned runs and walking six batters.
Offensively the Spartans were held to just three hits for the contest, none of which resulted in extra bases. Sophomore Oakley Alton scored the team’s lone run, also registering a single. Teagan Christman and Jace Mangum also logged one hit each.
Friday, March 6: Moapa Valley-14, Emery-2:
Looking to rebound from Thursday’s loss, the Spartans slipped into an immediate 2-0 by the end of the first inning. Moapa Valley added runs in four of the next five innings to end the game following the sixth.
Friday, March 6: Emery-6, Virgin Valley-1:
The Emery Spartans earned their first victory of the season by topping Virgin Valley 6-1 Friday afternoon in Mesquite, Nevada.
Delivering instant run support, the Spartans scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning to capture a 4-1 lead. The offense added two more runs in two of the next three innings to secure the win.
Junior Luke Stilson threw a gem for the Spartans, allowing just one hit, while striking out three in a complete game effort. The Emery defense allowed just four base runners in the five inning contest.
Senior Bron Gordon continued his consistent play at the plate ending 1-2 with a single, two RBIs and a walk. Sophomores Oakley Alton and Ryker Jensen each hit in one run as the Spartans finished with an early season best six runs.
Saturday, March 7: Virgin Valley-8, Emery-1:
The Emery Spartans concluded a four-game in three-day stint with an 8-1 loss to Virgin Valley Saturday morning in Mesquite, Nevada.
Facing Virgin Valley for the second time in as many games, the Spartans were locked in a 2-1 battle heading into the fifth inning. It was there Virgin Valley took complete control with six runs in the top half of the frame, leading to the eventual loss for Emery.
Offensively the Spartans recorded just one hit as sophomore Ryker Jensen reached safely on a single. Jensen would later cross home plate, as he also reached the bases after being hit by a pitch.
Alton and senior Bron Gordon both worked the mound for the Spartans in the weekend finale. Combining for six strike outs (three a piece), the allowed just three earned runs.
With the weekend trip now complete the Spartans will return home for three-games in three-days beginning Tuesday against North Sanpete. Wednesday the Spartans will welcome Payson, followed by Uintah on Thursday.