The Emery Spartans opened up the 2019 baseball season with a 2-2 finish at the Virgin Valley Tournament Thursday, Friday and Saturday in Mesquite, Nevada.
Opening the season on Thursday with a 4-1 loss to Alta, the Spartans responded with back-to-back wins on Friday. The tournament came to an end with a second-loss to Alta, this time 5-4 in a thrilling finish.
Weather prevented the Spartans from participating in the original season-opener on March 5 against South Sevier at home. The erratic weather limited Emery to three practices outside before participating in the season opening tournament.
The Spartans will now turn their focus to the Region 15 opener at home on Wednesday against the Grand Red Devils. With action scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m., the two teams will meet in a double-header.
Below is a complete recap of each of the four outings this past weekend.
Thursday, March 7:
Alta- 4, Emery- 1, Final:
Held to just two hits throughout the contest, the Emery Spartans suffered a 4-1 loss to Alta in the season opener Thursday afternoon in Mesquite, Nevada.
Koda Alton recorded the team’s only two hits, finished 2-3 with one RBI. Fellow senior Kyson Stilson ended 0-2, but stole two bases and scored the team’s lone run in the setback.
Despite a solid performance offensively, Alton was pegged with the loss on the hill after giving two innings of work. Allowing just four hits, Alton struck out five batters to go along with three earned runs.
Friday, March 8:
Emery- 11, Valley- 6, Final:
The Emery Spartans earned its first victory of the season at the Virgin Valley Tournament, topping Valley 11-6 to improve to 1-1 on the young season.
After being held to two hits as a team in the opener, the Spartans responded with five hits on the 11-run performance Friday morning. Brax Jensen led the way with a 1-3 performance at the plate, that included two RBIs.
Kason Stilson, Koda Alton and Kyson Stilson each logged one hit and finished with one RBI. The steady offensive performance was coupled with a solid pitch outing.
Jace Collard recorded the win on the mound with two earned runs over the course of a complete five inning performance.
Friday, March 8:
Emery- 6, Virgin Valley- 3, Final:
The Emery Spartans improved to 2-1 at the Virgin Valley Tournament with a 6-3 win over Virgin Valley in Mesquite, Nevada.
Senior Logan Healy dominated at the plate with a 4-5 performance, that included two RBIs and two doubles. Riggs Griffin contributed to the offensive onslaught with a 3-4 go at the plate on top of one walk.
The Spartans scored in four of the seven frames, including three runs in the second inning. The offense provided solid run support for senior pitcher Cade Brazier.
Brazier kept Virgin Valley in check on the scoreboard with two earned runs in the six innings he held the ball on the hill. Kason Stilson closed out the game with one inning of relief work.
Saturday, March 9:
Alta- 5, Emery- 4, Final:
After winning two-straight games the Emery Spartans suffered a 5-4 loss to Alta in a rematch of opening day Saturday afternoon at the Virgin Valley Tournament in Mesquite, Nevada.
Holding a 4-2 lead entering the bottom of the seventh, the Spartans allowed three runs to finish out the pre-season tournament at 2-2.
As a team Emery was once again held to just two hits. Kason Stilson finished 1-3, while Riggs Griffin connected on one single in four at bats. Koda Alton reached safely three separate times on walks.
Despite a solid pitching performance Kason Stilson was hit with the loss on the mound. Going six innings Stilson allowed five hits and two earned runs, while also striking out three batters.