The Pinnacle Panthers finished the 2019 baseball with a final record of 6-17, including a 1-1 in the 1A State Championship Tournament this past October.

Led by manager Jim Miller, the Panthers ended the region portion of the schedule with a 1-13 record. Competing against a quality division, the Panthers were awarded the No. 12 seed in the state tournament, the first under the new RPI format.

A 5-0 shutout victory over Intermountain Christian put the Panthers into the second round of the tournament. After reseeding, the Panthers ran into the eventual state champions in Piute, who delivered a 16-2 victory.

Below is the complete recap and statistics from the 2019 campaign:

Aug. 6- VS Draper APA- Win 7-0:

Pinnacle baseball handed Draper APA a 7-1 loss in the opening game of their 2019 campaign.

The Panthers jumped out to a three run lead in the first inning and added three more runs in the third and one run in the fourth on their way to their first victory.

Senior Christian McLean had a dominating performance with a one run complete game giving up no hits, while walking two and striking out twelve.

On the offensive side the Panthers scored early and often. Junior Stetson Motte had two hits in three at bats with one run and three RBI’s. Senior Shayden Christensen added one hit with one run and an RBI, while senior Isaac Arellano gave the team two hits and one run. Sophomore Michael Schmitz had two runs, junior Mikey Vigil and senior Logan Kepl each added one run to round out the scoring.

Aug. 8- VS Merit College Prep Academy- Win 14-0:

The Pinnacle Panthers moved to 2-0 on the baseball diamond with a dominating 14-0 win in five innings over Merit College Preparatory Academy on the road.

Tied 0-0 entering the second inning, Pinnacle unleashed four runs. The Panthers continued to pull away by adding seven more in the third before closing out the game with three runs in the fifth.

Junior Mikey Vigil recorded the complete game shutout from the mound. Allowing just three hits throughout the contest, Vigil struck out 11 batters and walked only one.

As a team the Panthers finished with 14 hits and 12 RBIs. Stetson Motte continued his early season tear as he finished 2-4 with RBIs. Vigil helped his own cause as he knocked two doubles and brought in three runs. Landen Hardy ended 2-2 with two RBIs and one walk.

Aug. 14- Panguitch- Loss 16-6:

The Pinnacle Panthers suffered their first loss of the 2019 baseball season, falling to the Panguitch Bobcats 16-6 on the road.

Despite jumping out to an early 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning, the Panther bats cooled in the middle frames. Holding a one-run lead in the third inning, Panguitch scored 13 runs in three straight innings to end the game.

Senior Christian McLean was charged with the loss on the mound after allowing 12 earned on runs 12 hits, while also striking out seven batters. Isaac Arellano pitched one inning of relief work giving up four hits and four earned runs.

Shayden Christensen led the Panthers offensively as he finished 3-3 in the box. Posting three RBIs Christensen scored two runs as he upped his batting average to .750 on the young season.

Stetson Motte ended 2-4 at the plate with one RBI. Christian McLean brought in the other run for the Panthers, finishing 1-1 with two walks.

Aug. 16- Valley- Loss 20-0 1A Preview Tournament, Richfield:

In the opening game of the 1A Preview Tournament in Richfield, the Panthers lost to a very good Valley team in this one. Valley is now 6-2 overall and 0-1 in 1A South Region play.

Valley came out and scored six runs in the first two innings, but the damage was done in the 14 run third as this game ended in three innings.

Aug. 16 – VS Diamond Ranch Academy- Loss 8-7 1A Preview Tournament, Richfield:

The Panthers bats came alive in game two but it wasn’t quite enough to overcome Diamond Ranch as Pinnacle dropped their second game of the day 8-7.

Seniors Isaac Arellano and Benjamin Scott along with junior Jakai Ellington each had two RBI’s and one run. Junior Landen Hardy added one run and one RBI while senior Christian McLean and sophomore Michael Schmitz added one run a piece.

Arellano went three innings giving up 11 his eight runs all earned while striking out one and giving up one walk. Sophomore Mcguire Kocks went 2.2 innings giving up six hits and one walk.

Aug. 17- VS Bryce Valley- Win 8-1 1A Preview Tournament, Richfield:

The Panthers finally found their stride in the third and final game on Saturday afternoon. Scoring five runs in the second, one in the third and two in the fourth, it would be all they would need to log the win.

Junior Stetson Motte had two hits and three RBI’s along with one run. Kocks, Arellano, McLean and senior Shayden Christensen all added one run and one RBI each. Ellington and Schmitz chipped in with each player registering a hit.

Christensen got the complete game win giving up four hits, one run and two walks while striking out four.

Aug. 21- VS Green River- Loss 7-2:

Unable to hold a small middle inning lead, the Pinnacle Panthers came up short in a 7-2 loss to the Green River Pirates Wednesday afternoon at Carlson-Colosimo Field in Price.

Holding a 1-0 lead the Panthers allowed three runs in the top half of the fourth inning. Green River continued to pull away by adding four more runs in the final three frames to close out the contest.

Despite scoring just two runs in the setback, the Panthers accumulated 11 hits, three less than the Pirates. Adding three walks to the hit total, Pinnacle ended up leaving 13 runners on base.

Pinnacle senior Isaac Arellano was charged with the loss after allowing three earned runs in four innings, while also fanning four batters. Stetson Motte worked the final three innings in relief, striking out two and giving up seven hits.

As a team the Panthers gathered five extra base hits. Motte ended 3-4, falling just a home run shy of the cycle. Arellano and Michael Schmitz each recorded one RBI in the loss.

Aug. 23- VS Wayne- Loss 17-4:

Heading into the home contest against Wayne, Pinnacle was sitting at 3-4 and had just come off a 7-2 loss to rival Green River.

The Panthers came out flat, giving up 11 runs in the first inning and then struggled to produce offensively falling 17-4 in five innings.

Seniors Shayden Christensen and Benjamin Scott each contributed a hit and a run, while sophomore Michael Schmitz did the same. The other run was added by junior Landen Hardy.

Aug. 26- VS Tabiona- Loss 4-3:

The Pinnacle Panthers suffered their third consecutive loss, falling to the Tabiona Panthers 4-3 on the road in Tabiona.

Holding a slim 3-2 lead entering the bottom of the seventh, the Panthers allowed two runs in the final frame, leading to the setback.

While the Panthers were held to just three runs, the team shined at the plate. As a squad they accumulated 11 hits, including three that turned into extra bases. Defensively Tabiona was held to just three hits.

Senior Stetson Motte finished 3-3, falling just a home run shy of the cycle. Isaac Arellano ended 3-4, while scoring two runs. Five others ended with one hit.

Shayden Christensen and Mikey Vigil shared pitching duties, each going 3.1 innings. Both allowed two earned runs, while Vigil struck out four batters and Christensen three.

Aug. 28- VS Diamond Ranch Academy- Loss 8-6:

The Pinnacle Panthers traveled to Hurricane to take on the Diamond Ranch Academy Diamondbacks, after a slow start they mounted a comeback that would fall two runs short 8-6, handing the Panthers their fourth straight loss.

Senior Isaac Arellano would have four hits with two runs and one RBI. Mikey Vigil added two hits with two RBI’s and junior Stetson Motte had one hit and one RBI as well.

On the mound Christain McLean gets the loss, going five innings giving up 15 hits, eight runs (five earned) while walking three and striking out five.

Aug. 30- VS Piute- Loss 18-2:

Another slow start would plague the Pinnacle Panthers as they give up 13 runs in the first inning to Piute, and as they struggled to find offense the game ended in five innings.

Landen Hardy registered a hit and two RBI’s driving in Pinnacle’s only runs on the day.

Mikey Vigil goes four innings giving up eight hits, five runs (four earned) while walking two and striking out six collects the loss as he came in for Mcguire Kocks who went just one inning giving up 13 runs on twelve hits.

Sept. 4- VS Bryce Valley- Loss 13-3:

Coming off their fifth loss in a row the Pinnacle Panthers would head to tropic to take on Bryce Valley. And although Pinnacle would strike first blood they would not be able to keep the pace and fell to the Bryce Valley Mustangs 13-3.

Junior Jakai Ellington registered one hit and two RBI’s and junior Stetson Motte would be responsible for the other run in a contest that saw the Panthers struggle on offense. During the six game losing streak they have been outscored by their opponents 67-20.

On the mound Pinnacle used three pitchers but it would be senior Christain McLean that would be given the loss. McLean went two innings giving up 10 runs on three hits.

Sept. 6 – VS Valley- Loss 13-4:

Valley entered the game against Pinnacle winner of eight of their last nine, the Panthers entered the game losing their last six. The Panthers gave up 10 runs in the first three innings and would ultimately lose their seventh game in a row 13-4.

Benjamin Scott was a bright spot offensively as he registered three hits, two runs and an RBI.

Sept. 11- VS Panguitch- Loss 12-2:

The Pinnacle Panthers were unable to keep pace with the Panguitch Bobcats in the middle innings of a home region contest, falling 12-2 at home.

Hoping to break a seven game losing skid, the Panthers and Bobcats were locked a 2-2 tie entering the fourth inning. From that point Panguitch took complete control, scoring in each frame, including four runs in the sixth.

Junior Mikey Vigil logged four innings of work on the mound, allowing six hits and four earned runs for the Panthers. Sophomore McGuire Kocks pitched three innings, giving up eight hits and two earned runs. Combined the two pitchers registered nine strikeouts.

Offensively the Panthers struggled to produce at the plate. Base runners came at a premium as the team tallied just three hits, three walks and no extra base hits.

Vigil was responsible for one of Pinnacle’s hits, finishing with 1-3 with two RBIs. Senior Shayden Christensen logged the other two, ending 2-3 with two singles.

Sept. 13- VS Green River- Loss 13-3:

The Panthers headed to Green River to face the Pirates. While the hits were there, the runs were hard to come by as Pinnacle only crossed home plate three times.

Junior Mikey Vigil led a foursome of players that went 3-of-3. Vigil had two hits and an RBI. Seniors Logan Kepl added two hits and Benjamin Scott had one hit, one run and one RBI. Sophomore Michael Schmitz went for two hits and two runs while senior Shayden Christensen added one hit and one run as well.

Christensen also pitched four innings giving up 11 hits, 12 runs, three earned, one walk and struck out four. Junior Stetson Motte went one inning giving up three hits one earned run and struck out two.

Sept. 14- VS Tabiona- Win 8-5:

The Panthers took on Tabiona in a non-region affair. Tabiona jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning and that was all it took to light a fire under Pinnacle, as they scored in all but one inning the rest of the game.

Mikey Vigil and Benjamin Scott led the way at the plate both going 4-of-4. Vigil had three hits and two runs while Scott had two hits, one RBI and two runs. Logan Kepl and Michael Schmitz went 3-of-3. Logan had two hits and one RBI and Schmitz had one hit, two RBI and one run. Stetson Motte added two runs and senior Christian McLean added the final run in a well balanced offensive attack.

On the mound Christain McLean went six innings giving up 10 hits, five runs (three earned), walked four and stuck out three. Vigil came in and went one inning walking one and striking out two.

Sept. 18- VS Wayne- Loss 10-1:

It hasn’t been an easy season for Pinnacle baseball, they are currently sitting at 4-13 overall and 0-10 in region play. They had a road contest against Wayne, who is ranked at #1 in the most recent RPI standings. After seven innings the Panthers would fall 10-1.

The Wayne Badgers (16-0 overall and 10-0 in region) proved to be quite a handful for Pinnacle.

Sophomore Mcguire Kocks had a double and also scored a run, while junior Landen Hardy had one double, one RBI and also added a stolen base. Senior Shayden Christensen also collected a stolen base as well.

On the mound junior Stetson Motte went five innings giving up 15 hits and 10 runs (seven earned) while walking two and striking out five. Christensen would come in to close the game out.

Sept. 20- VS Diamond Ranch Academy- Loss 13-1:

The Pinnacle Panthers faced the Diamond Ranch Academy Diamondbacks at Colosimo-Carlson Field losing in five innings 13-1.

Pinnacle (4-14 overall and 0-11 in region) have struggled in their last two games. Coming off an 8-5 victory against non-region opponent Tabiona, their last two games have been against the top two teams in 1A South standings.

Offense was tough to find in this game for the Panthers as Diamond Ranch only gave up two hits to seniors Christian McLean and Benjamin Scott and junior Landen Hardy had the only run.

On the mound for Pinnacle, sophomore Mcguire Kocks went four innings giving up eight hits and six runs (four earned) while striking out two. McLean would come in going one inning with six hits and seven runs (six earned).

Sept. 25- VS Piute- Loss 9-1:

The Panther baseball squad headed to Junction on Wednesday to take on the Piute Thunderbirds, losing the region game 9-1.

Pinnacle has dropped four of their last five games with their last win coming on September 14 against Tabiona. Two games remain on their schedule with the season set to wrap up on October 2.

Junior Mikey Vigil racked up two hits with one RBI, while junior Stetson Motte had two hits and scored the only run of the contest. Sophomore Gabriel Bloomer and Senior Logan Kepl had one hit a piece. Piute held the Pirates to just six hits on a day when offense would be at a premium for Pinnacle.

On the mound Motte went three innings giving up six hits and seven earned runs while walking five and striking out one. Vigil came in and gave them two innings with one run two walks and two strike outs and senior Christian McLean went one with one hit and one run.

Sept. 27- VS Bryce Valley- Win 12-2:

The Pinnacle Panthers (5-15 overall and 1-12 in region) would use a seven run second to propel them to a 12-2 victory over Bryce Valley in five innings.

Eight Panthers players would score at least one run in a game that was an offensive explosion in which they would collect 13 hits.

Junior Stetson Motte led the way with two hits, one run and four RBI’s. Senior Logan Kepl would contribute as well with two hits, two runs and two RBI’s.

Two seniors would control the mound as Shayden Christensen would give three innings of work giving up one hit, two runs (one earned) while walking two and striking out two as well. Christian McLean would go two, giving up two hits with no runs, walking one and striking out three.

Oct. 2- VS Valley- Loss 10-0:

The Panthers baseball squad made the trip to Orderville to face the Valley Buffaloes in the final game of the regular season. The Buffaloes played up to their #3 RPI ranking shutting out the Panthers in five innings 10-0.

Valley would do their damage in two innings, scoring six runs in the third and four runs in the fourth. Pinnacle couldn’t find the answer registering just two hits off of the bats of juniors Stetson Motte and Mikey Vigil.

On the mound senior Isaac Arellano would go three innings allowing four hits, giving up nine runs (three earned) while walking four and striking out two. Motte would then come in giving up two hits and surrendering one earned run, walking one and striking out one.

With the release of the final RPI standings we now know that the Panthers will face Intermountain Christian, a team out of Salt Lake, in the first round of the playoffs. With an 8-11 record on the year and a No. 13 RPI.

Oct. 4- VS Intermountain Christian- Win 5-0 State Championship Tournament:

In the first game of the State Championship Tournament, Pinnacle would come out swinging scoring two runs in the first and third innings and adding one more in the fifth as they would walk away with this one 5-0.

Sophomore Michael Schmitz would log one run, one hit and collect two RBI’s, senior Shayden Christensen would add one hit and two RBI’s as well. Junior Stetson Motte had two run and two hits including one double. Junior Mikey Vigil would collect an RBI and seniors Benjamin Scott and Isaac Arellano would each add one run.

On the mound senior Christian McLean would get the complete game shutout allowing seven hits while walking two and striking out eight.

Oct. 5- VS Piute- Loss 16-2 State Championship Tournament:

In game two the Panthers would face Piute, a team from their own region that they faced twice this season dropping both games.

Stetson Motte would add offense in this game as well with two hits and two RBI’s. Mikey  Vigil would add one hit and one run and sophomore Mcguire Kocks also had one run and one hit.

Pinnacle would use three different pitchers in this one. Shayden Christensen would go two innings giving up six hits, seven runs (four earned), walking two and striking out three. Motte would go one inning surrendering two hits and two earned runs and Vigil would also go one with five hits and seven earned runs.

Below are the 2019 team leaders for hitting and pitching:

Batting Average:

Number	Name	AVG.
2	Issac Arellano	.467
13	Stetson Motte	.456
34	Jakai Ellington	.417
38	Benjamin Scott	.400
7	Shayden Christensen	.392

RBIs:

Number	Name	RBI
13	Stetson Motte	19
7	Shayden Christensen	12
23	Mikey Vigil	12
73	Michael Schmitz	11
15	Landen Hardy	6

On Base Percentage:

Number	Name	OBP
7	Shayden Christensen	.516
13	Stetson Motte	.513
2	Isaac Arellano	.500
34	Jakai Ellington	.500
38	Benjamin Scott	.455

Pitching:

Number	Name	Wins
27	Christain McLean	3
7	Shayden Christensen	1

Strikeouts:

Number	Name	K’s
27	Christain McLean	52
23	Mikey Vigil	34
7	Shayden Christensen	21
13	Stetson Motte	11
2	Isaac Arellano	7
1	Mcguire Kocks	7

Off-season news:
It was announced on April 2 that Ray Jones, Jr. will take over the baseball program beginning in the fall of 2020.