The Emery Spartan baseball squad ended their season 14-12 overall and a 6-6 Region 12 record. Starting the season back in March and making it through the three month baseball season, Emery entered the state playoffs in the No. 9 spot. After a first round 7-6 win over Union in the second game they fell into the one-loss bracket after dropping a game with Juab 11-1. After defeating Region 12 rival Grand 13-4, the Spartans season came to an end falling to Grantsville 7-5.
Below is a recap of the season.
March 8- Manti- Win-10-1
Trevin Wakefield tossed a five inning gem as the Emery Spartans opened the baseball season with a dynamic 10-1 win over the Manti Templars Tuesday afternoon at Cheddar Field in Castle Dale.
The Emery bats delivered run support immediately as the team scored six in the first two frames. Spreading 11 hits over six innings, the lead was never in doubt due to a dominant performance at the plate.
Wakefield allowed just two hits as he fanned six batters in five innings of work. Ryker Jensen helped record the final six outs as he allowed one hit and tallied three strikeouts.
Jensen left fingerprints all over the season opener as he also helped pace the offense. Finishing 2-3 at the plate, Jensen ended with three RBI and swiped two bases. The success in the box was contagious as Emery scored in all but two innings.
Junior center fielder Gannon Ward ended 3-4 with a single, double and triple as he too brought in three runs. Tyler Stilson, Wade Stilson and Oakley Alton each finished with two hits. Easton Nielson and Mason Stilson both logged doubles to round out the team’s 11 hits.
The Spartans played the season opener at Cheddar Field due to construction on the new baseball complex at Emery High School. The projected finish date is set for late March, which will cause the team to play one more game at the alternate site this Friday.
The Friday tilt will place the Spartans up against the North Sanpete Hawks, who also opened up the regular season on Tuesday. Despite holding an early lead, the Hawks allowed an eight run third inning that was too much to overcome in an eventual 11-9 loss to Providence Hall.
March 11- North Sanpete- Win 11-1
The Emery Spartans got things started on Tuesday with a season opening win over Manti 10-1 in Castle Dale. On Friday, they welcomed in the North Sanpete Hawks. Playing at Cheddar Field as they await their new home field’s completion, they took the fight to the Hawks, putting up 11 runs in five innings and earning the 11-1 win.
Emery has played their first two home games at Cheddar while waiting for the new baseball field to be ready for them to play on, which should be around the end of this month.
Oakley Alton needed just 64 pitches in the contest to put away North Sanpete, throwing 43 for strikes. Alton allowed one earned run on just two hits, striking out eight and walking just one.
Things got rolling offensively for the Spartans in the bottom of the second when Emery would put up five runs, three from the bat of Gannon Ward who went 3-3. Ward would also earn an inside the park homerun in the fourth.
Wade Stilson would add three more RBI’s on three hits. Jace Mangum went 2-3 driving in two runs and Tyler Stilson went 2-4 adding an RBI.
For North Sanpete, their lone run came courtesy of a homerun off the bat of Angel Navarrete.
The game with North Sanpete was the last one for the month of March that will be played at home. The Spartans will now begin an eight game road trip taking them to Timpview on Monday, they will then head south for tournament play starting Friday Mar. 18.
March 14- Timpview- Loss- 7-6
A seventh inning rally fell just short for the Emery Spartans as the team suffered its first loss of the season in a 7-6 setback to 5A Timpview on the road Monday afternoon.
Monday’s game, a late addition to the schedule, featured several ups and downs. Trailing by one run in the seventh frame the Spartans loaded the bases with no outs. Unable to advance the lead runner home to force the bottom of the inning, the game ended in disappointment.
“We had 16 hits, so we mashed the ball, but it didn’t come at the right time,” said manager Rob Smith. “Having bases loaded and not getting a hit is tough. That’s baseball. Sometimes it just happens that way.”
Ryker Jensen pitched three solid innings, allowing just two hits and two earned runs. Trevin Wakefield was charged with the loss as he too pitched three frames giving up three earned runs and seven hits, despite striking out three batters.
The Emery offense struck first as the Spartans held a 1-0 lead at the end of the first inning. Timpview took their first lead of the game in the third as they plated four runs in the bottom half. Two innings later Emery recaptured the lead by scoring five runs. The final three runs of the game went to Timpview in the fifth and sixth innings.
Lost opportunities ultimately came back to haunt the Spartans. Out hitting Timpview 16-9, Emery left 10 runners stranded.
“With the way our pitching has been six runs puts us in position to get a win,” said Smith. “I thought our pitcher’s threw really well again, but one ball got to the outfield and changed the game.”
Gannon Ward continued to pace the Emery offense as he finished 3-4 at the plate with two RBI and a triple. Jace Mangum and Wade Stilson both ended 3-4 at the plate, while Oakley Alton and Wakefield each recorded two hits.
Now 2-1 on the season the Spartans will take the majority of the week off before returning to this weekend in Richfield for four games in two days.
March 18- Duchesne- Loss- 6-4
March 18- Millard- Win- 9-2
March 19- Ogden- Win- 19-5
March 19- South Sevier- 6-0
A busy weekend landed the Emery Spartans in Richfield where the team played four games in two days, finishing with a 2-2 record Friday and Saturday.
Continuing the non-region portion of the schedule the Spartans moved their season record to 4-3 overall. Playing two games in each of the two days on the road, the team split both Friday and Saturday.
“At times we played well, but we need to do the little things better,” said manager Rob Smith. “We made plays when we should, but sometimes the ball doesn’t bounce your way. That happened a few times this weekend.”
Despite a hot start at the plate in Friday’s first game, Emery was unable to hold of Duchesne in the middle innings, falling 6-4 in a competitive game throughout.
The Spartans scored three of their first runs in the top half of the first inning. Duchesne would hold Emery scoreless in the next three frames, while capturing a 6-3 advantage thanks to a four run third inning.
Gannon Ward knocked a home run as he recorded the only two RBI for the Spartans in the loss, finishing 1-3 at the plate. Tyler Stilson ended 2-2 with a single, double and a walk, while Jace Mangum finished 2-3 with a double.
Easton Nielson pitched three innings for the Spartans, allowing four hits and four earned runs to go along with three strikeouts. Ward pitched two innings of relief work giving up four hits and two earned runs.
Emery recovered from the loss in the second game of the afternoon by defeating Millard in six innings 9-2.
Sophomore Turner Stoker delivered a solid complete game from the mound by pitching five straight shutout innings to lead the Spartans. Giving up just three hits and one earned run, Stoker struck out five as Millard was scoreless over the final five frames.
Ward was once again lethal at the plate as he ended 3-4, falling a home run short of the cycle, while bringing in two runs. Ryker Jensen found his groove in the box as he finished 2-3 with three RBI. Wade Stilson also notched multiple hits by going 2-2 at the plate with one walk.
Returning to the field on Saturday for two more games, the Emery offense was electric in the first outing as they romped past Ogden 19-5 in five innings.
An 11 run first inning was more than enough for the team to earn its fourth win of the season. The Spartans added four more in the second, followed by two runs in the third and fourth innings.
Ward ended a perfect 3-3 in the box, hitting a single, double and triple to go with a team best four RBI. Junior Sean Rogers gathered three hits in four tries to bring in three runs. Stilson also logged multiple hits as the Spartans finished with 14 for the game.
Trevin Wakefield pitched two innings as he fanned two batters and gave up just one earned run. Peyton Alton also earned time on the mound in the win.
The red hot Emery offense calmed in the final game of the weekend as the team suffered a 6-0 loss to South Sevier in a game that was tight until the final two innings.
Trailing 1-0 entering the bottom half of the fifth, the Spartans allowed five runs over the final two innings.
Emery was held to just three hits in the last game of the weekend, two of which went to Ryker Jensen. Jace Mangum was the only other Spartan to notch a hit, finishing 1-3 at the plate.
Oakley Alton pitched all six innings in the loss, allowing eight hits and five earned runs, while also striking out five batters. South Sevier managed to capitalize on one Emery error, resulting in one unearned run.
With Region 12 play quickly approaching, the Spartans will travel to Logan to meet Green Canyon Wednesday in the only game of the week. League play is set to begin on Tuesday, March 29 with a double-header in Cedar City against Canyon View.
March 23- Green Canyon- Loss- 8-3
The Spartans found themselves down early on Wednesday afternoon to the Green Canyon Wolves on the road. Green Canyon had put five runs on the board in the first two innings and Emery found themselves down 5-1 headed to the third inning. The Spartans tried to rally but couldn’t find their offense and lost the game on the road 8-3.
Green Canyon is a 4A team from North Logan. Last season they went 15-13 losing in the super regional to Dixie. With six players back from last season the Wolves are sitting at 5-3 and are looking to make some noise in Region 11.
The Wolves jumped out, putting up two runs in the first, with the Spartans scoring one run in the top of two when Trevin Wakefield sent a line drive to right bringing Ryker Jensen home. Green Canyon would add three more in the bottom of the inning.
Going into the top of the third, the Spartans scored two more when Jensen hit one to left allowing Gannon Ward and Wade Stilson to score.
Emery sent three pitchers to the mound, Turner Stoker got the start going two innings, giving up five earned on seven hits while striking out one. Wakefield came in and went three with two earned on two hits and struck out three and Jensen would finish out giving up one run no hits and struck out one.
The Spartans will be off till next week when they will begin region play with a double header in Cedar City to face Canyon View on Mar.29. They will then turn around and play Canyon View on Friday April first in Castle Dale.
March 29- Canyon View (DH)
Game 1- Loss- 15-11
Game 2- Loss- 15-5
A lengthy road trip ended with back-to-back losses as the Emery Spartans suffered a double-header sweep at the hands of the Canyon View Falcons Wednesday afternoon in Cedar City.
Opening up Region 12 play a day later due to inclement weather, the Spartans were unable to keep pace with the Falcons in two high scoring affairs.
Emery started the first game on fire at the plate as they scored four runs to take an early advantage. Canyon View answered with five runs in the bottom half of the inning and would score in each individual frame to earn a 15-11 win.
Easton Nielson was charged with the loss on the mound for the Spartans as he allowed five earned runs and struck out two in four innings. Oakley Alton pitched two innings and allowed nine earned runs off of eight hits.
As a team Emery matched Canyon View in the hit category finishing with 15 for the game. Alton delivered a stellar 4-4 performance, hitting one double and three singles to go along with one RBI. Wade Stilson, Gannon Ward and Jace Mangum each finished with a multi-hit game and recorded two RBI a piece.
The second game of the double-header played out in similar fashion as the Spartans were unable to cool the Falcons’ bats in an eventual 15-5 setback.
Holding a 4-0 lead entering the bottom of the third, the Spartans allowed a minimum of three runs in each of the remaining innings as the Falcons earned the home double-header sweep.
Trevin Wakefield tossed 4.1 innings, giving up eight hits and eight earned runs in the setback. Wade Stilson and Jace Mangum each pitched two-thirds of an inning before the game ended in the bottom of the sixth.
After recording 15 hits in the first game, the Spartans were held to just nine in the second. Ward once again recorded multiple hits as he finished 2-3 at the plate with one RBI. Tyler Stilson and Wade Stilson each logged two hits.
Wednesday’s losses moves Emery to 4-6 overall on the season and 0-2 in division play. The Spartans will look to avoid a season series sweep with Canyon View when the two teams meet for the final time this regular season Friday in Castle Dale at 3:00 p.m..
April 1- Canyon View- Loss 7-5
The Spartan baseball team welcomed in the Canyon View Falcons on Friday, this was the third and final time the two teams would meet in the regular season. Earlier last wek, the Spartans traveled to Cedar City losing both games of the double header. On Friday, Emery fought hard but dropped the contest in the end 7-5.
The Spartans started slow unable to put any runs up until the fourth cutting the Canyon View lead to 4-3. In the bottom of the fifth, Emery would even take the lead going up by one on a single to second by Wade Stilson that allowed Tyler Stilson to score.
In the top of the seventh, the Falcons would tie up the game, then going into the eighth they would put up two more runs and take the lead and the win.
Both Wade Stilson and Jace Mangum would collect two hits and four Spartans Stilson, Gannon Ward, Oakley Alton and Trevin Wakefield each added an RBI in the loss.
Turner Stoker went six innings on the mound giving up four earned on eight hits striking out one. Ryker Jensen would come in taking the loss going two, giving up three runs (two earned) on three hits striking out two.
April 4- Grand (DH)
Game 1- Win- 4-3
Game 2- Win- 14-2
Shaking off last week’s losses to Canyon View, the Spartan baseball squad headed to Moab to face the Grand County Red Devils. In a new format this season all region games start with a double header on one teams home field and conclude with a single game played at the other teams house. In the double header with Grand, the first game was close with Emery getting the 4-3 win. Game two ended quickly with an eight run first inning for the Spartans which led to the 14-2 win in five innings.
The Spartans sit at 6-7 after the victories over Grand and have a 2-3 region mark as well as hold the No. 13 spot in the Utah High School Activities Association. The RPI will continue to change throughout the regular season until playoff time when it will be used for seeding purposes.
In game one both teams started out slowly with Emery finally breaking the ice in the third when Mason Stilson would cross the plate on an error, later in the same at bat Gannon Ward would triple to right field bringing home Wade Stilson.
The Spartans would add another run in each of the next two innings pushing the lead to 4-2. Grand would add one more run but that would do it as Emery would take the win.
Gannon Ward collected three hits, a run and an RBI. Oakley Alton had two hits and Trevin Wakefield earned a hit, a run and an RBI.
Wakefield got the complete game giving up four hits, three runs (one earned) and stuck out six.
In game two, Emery used a huge first inning putting up eight runs. Grand would go on to score their only runs in the contest in the first adding two in the bottom of the inning.
The Spartans worked their way through the game, putting up another four runs in the third.
Jace Mangum had a big day for the Spartans with three hits, three runs and three RBI’s. Wade Stilson collected three hits, two runs and a pair of RBI’s. Oakley Alton had one hit and three RBI’s. Alton also did some work on the mound giving up three hits and two earned runs while striking out two.
April 6- Grand- Win- 14-13
Faced with a 12-0 deficit entering the fourth inning, the Emery Spartans scored 14 unanswered runs to stun the Grand Red Devils 14-13 Wednesday afternoon at Cheddar Field in Castle Dale.
A series of Emery errors in the field led to a nine run second inning for the Red Devils. By the bottom of the fourth, the deficit had reached its high point at 12-0.
“We had an awful second inning, but the kids kept their heads and started chipping away,” said manager Rob Smith. “We started finding some gaps at the plate and the runs started to come easy for us.”
The Spartans managed to cut the Red Devils’ advantage in half with a six-run fourth frame. After shutting down Grand in the top of the fifth, the Spartans captured the lead by scoring seven runs in the bottom half of the inning.
Sophomore Wade Stilson played a huge role in the remarkable turn around as he finished 3-5 at the plate, knocking a triple and two singles to go along with four RBIs. Senior Jace Mangum also delivered in spectacular form as he ended 2-4 with three RBIs.
Five players recorded multiple hits for the Spartans including Oakley Alton, who finished 3-3 with a double, two singles and two runs. Tyler Stilson and Trevin Wakefield both recorded two singles.
Defensively Emery used four pitchers, starting with sophomore Turner Stoker. Easton Nielson worked four innings of relief allowing five hits and one earned run. Ryker Jensen recorded four outs, allowing one hit and one earned run.
“I thought our pitching was just fine throughout the afternoon,” said Smith. “Turner did exactly what he needed to do, we just committed too many errors behind him. Easton and Ryker came in and helped us get the win.”
April 8- Providence Hall- Win- 11-0
Today marked a new beginning for the Emery Spartans as they played their first game on their brand new baseball field. The Spartans put on a show for their fans in attendance as they inaugurated their field with an 11-0 throttling of Providence Hall.
Emery got things start in the bottom of the first inning, wasting no time to catch fire early. Tyler Stilson was able to reach base before Wade Stilson drove a ball for a ground rule double. Gannon Ward then stepped up and hit a sacrifice fly that scored Tyler Stilson from second and advanced Wade Stilson to third. The next batter, Jace Mangum hit another sacrifice fly to bring in Wade and give the Spartans a 2-0 lead after the first inning.
After being held scoreless in the bottom of the second, the Spartans exploded for an eight-run third inning. Wade Stilson, Gannon Ward and Jace Mangum all reached base to load the bases with no outs before Ryker Jensen reached base on a fielder’s choice to drive in a run. Ward then stole home on a throw back to the pitcher to score the second run of the inning. Oakley Alton then drove in a run before Sean Rogers roped a two-run triple. Gannon Ward stepped up for his second at-bat of the inning to hit a two-run double to right field to score the eight run of the inning. The Spartans led 10-0 after the third inning.
Trevin Wakefield scored on an error as Oakley Alton attempted to steal second base to make the score 11-0 after the bottom of the fourth.
The lead would prove to be enough as the Emery pitchers never waivered in the five run affair.
Tyler Stilson got the start on the bump for the Spartans. Stilson threw a solid four innings and only allowed three hits. He had five strikeouts and did not give up a single run or walk to the Patriots. In the fourteen batters he faced, Stilson threw just 51 pitches and an efficient 34 strikes to 17 balls.
Gannon Ward replaced Tyler Stilson to close out the game. In the top of the fifth, Ward efficiently retired all three batters consecutively on just seventeen pitches. He also had a strikeout today as he finished the 11-run route of Providence Hall.
April 11- Richfield (DH)
Game 1- Win- 12-1
Game 2- Win- 7-5
Taking on the Richfield Wildcats for the first time this season on Monday in Castle Dale, the Spartans were ready. Having broken in their new digs at Emery High with an 11-0 shutout over Providence Hall last week, the Spartans welcomed in a region opponent in the Wildcats and kept their streak on the field alive, sweeping Richfield in a doubleheader 12-1 in the first game and 7-5 in game two.
In game one, Emery sent ace Trevin Wakefield to the mound. Wakefield went five innings giving up just two hits and one run while fanning four Wildcats.
Offensively, the Spartans got it going in the first inning when Tyler Stilson started with a lead-off triple, all it would take is a well-placed double from Wade Stilson to send Tyler home and put the first run on the board. By the time the inning ended, Emery had already taken a 4-0 lead.
Emery would add three more runs in the second, two in the third, and three more in the fourth, all the while allowing Richfield just one run, ending the game in five innings.
Gannon Ward and Jace Mangum each had identical stat lines with two runs, two hits, and three RBI’s. Wakefield also helped his cause with two hits and a pair of RBI’s.
Game two was a bit more competitive with both teams putting up four runs each in the first and then things went quiet for a couple of innings.
In the bottom of the fourth Emery would add one more when Tyler Stilson grounded out to second base allowing Easton Nielson to cross the plate giving the Spartans a one-run advantage until the next inning when Richfield’s Jaron Ross sent one over the wall to left field for a solo home run, tying the game at five.
In the sixth, Tyler Stilson’s single to right field brought home Chewy Sharp and Easton Nielson pushing the Spartan lead to 7-5. Stilson ended the game with two hits, three RBI’s, and a run in the win.
Oakley Alton got the start on the bump going six innings, giving up five runs on seven hits while striking out three. Ryker Jensen came to close out the contest giving up a single.
April 13- Richfield- Win- 16-1
Wednesday afternoon Emery traveled to Richfield to face the Wildcats for the third time. Back on Monday, the Spartans swept the double-header against the Wildcats. On Wednesday Emery claimed the season series with a 16-1 victory.
The Spartans racked up 20 hits with eight different players registering at least one hit in the victory, and on the mound Turner Stoker earned a three hit complete game.
Emery jumped out in the first putting up four runs. Gannon Ward got it started with a triple to center field that brought Wade Stilson home.
Emery really stepped it up in the second putting up six runs, two that came off the bat of Oakley Alton, when his single to center scored Ryker Jensen and Jace Mangum. The scoring would end in the second when Alton would score on a walk.
The third was another six run inning for the Spartans with hits from Jensen, Wakefield and Alton, who drove in two runs. Mason Stilson added a hit with an RBI and Alton would walk in for another run.
Jensen led the Spartans with four hits driving in three and also scoring three, Alton finished with three hits, driving in three and scored a run.
Emery now sits at 11-7 and carries a 6-3 mark in Region 12 play. In the latest RPI rankings from the Utah High School Activities Association, the win over Richfield has moved them up two spots to No. 8.
The Spartans have just one region series left and it will begin next Tuesday when they welcome Carbon to Castle Dale for a double-header for the first of three games with the Dinos next week. The region season will end for Emery next Friday when they travel to Price to finish out the series.
April 19- Carbon (DH)
Game 1- Loss- 11-0
Game 2- Loss- 12-8
The Carbon Dinos scored a total of 23 runs in their doubleheader sweep of the Emery Spartans, winning 11-0 and 12-8.
The Dinos dominated from the very beginning of game one as Carbon had complete control on offense and defense. Jacob Vasquez got the start on the mound and threw all seven innings for the Dinos. Vasquez allowed eight hits but did not allow a single run to cross the plate for Emery. Rylan Hart and Beau Vea led the Dinos with two RBIs each. Hart, Keaton Rich, Jordan Fossat and Dallin O’Neil each recorded multi-hit games for the Dinos.
Trevin Wakefield was the starting pitcher for the Emery Spartans. Wakefield tossed five innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits and three strikeouts. Ty Stilson appeared in the game for Emery to throw the final two innings. Stilson allowed seven runs, five earned, on six hits and three walks.
Carbon scored two runs in the top of the second inning to set the tone. The Dinos would go on to add one run in the fourth and fifth innings before they unleashed an onslaught of five runs in the sixth inning. Unable to muster any offense, the Spartans greatest downfall was the inability to drive in runners who were in scoring position. The Spartans were able to manage eight hits in the game but stopped themselves during attempts to start rallies.
Emery came out firing in game two of the doubleheader as they opened scoring in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by Oakley Alton.
Carbon and Emery traded runs in the third inning as Rylan Hart drove in a run for Carbon and Alton added his second RBI of the game as he reached on an error to bring in a run.
Carbon added two runs in the top of the fourth after Ridge Nelson and Jacob Vasquez knocked in two runs. Emery, however, would respond immediately with four runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth. The Spartans strung together four straight singles to drive in four runs and retain a 6-3 lead.
Carbon added one run in the top of the fifth on a Jordan Fossat RBI double before adding another five runs in the top of the sixth. The Dinos batted around as every player in the lineup stepped into the batter’s box. Jacob Vasquez, Dallin O’Neil, James Castro, and Rylan Hart all recorded an RBI in the inning. Emery would try to respond but could only muster two runs in the final two innings before Carbon shut the door with three runs in the top of the seventh.
Oakley Alton and Easton Nielson pitched for the Spartans and allowed twelve runs on eighteen hits. The spartan pitchers did not record a strikeout but did allow just one walk. Gannon Ward, Jace Mangum and Oakley Alton all recorded two RBIs.
Beau Vea started for the Dinos while Keaton Rich finished the game. Vea allowed all eight Spartan runs on ten hits. Rich threw two innings and did not allow a run or a hit. Vea and Rich combined for three strikeouts, the only strikeouts to be produced in the game.
April 21- Carbon- Loss 15-3
On Tuesday the Carbon Dinos and Emery Spartans met on the baseball field in Castle Dale for a double-header. Carbon won both meetings 11-0 and 12-8. On Thursday the venue changed but the result was the same with Carbon taking the win and getting the regular season sweep 15-3.
Dallen O’Neil and Wyatt Falk split pitching duties for the Dinos with O’Neil getting the start on the mound picking up the win with 3.2 innings of work giving up three earned and striking out three. Falk came in to close out the game going 1.1 surrendering one hit and striking out one.
Carbon got on the board first in the bottom of the opening inning when both Rylan Hart and Keaton Rich would score on a wild pitch from Tuner Stoker, who started the game on the mound for Emery.
Carbon would put a trio of runs on the board in the second inning and then followed that up with five in the third. Ryker Jensen would take over for Stoker on the mound and after giving up a single and a walk, Hart was hit with a pitch walking in Ridge Nielsen. After a score on an error, Chet Anderson would send one to center allowing Hart to tag up and score. The next batter up, Colton Lowe would triple to center allowing Hart and Rich to come home, putting Carbon up 10-0.
In the top part of the fourth, Emery found some offense, starting with an Oakley Alton single to right that drove in Jace Mangum for the Spartans first score. Two batters later, Easton Nielson hit into a fielder’s choice bringing home Jensen who had reached on a single earlier in the inning. Mason Stilson would get Alton home on another fielder’s choice making the score 10-3.
The Dinos put up two of it’s five runs in the fourth with a two out swing of the bat by Wyatt Falk when he put one over the left field fence bringing O’Neil home. Two Doubles in the inning from Keaton Rich and Anderson brought home Hart and then Rich and Jacob Vasquez’s single drove in Anderson. Mangum would then take over the pitching duties and get the final out of the inning.
Emery came out in the fifth looking to rally but it wasn’t meant to be. Jensen collected a single in the inning however, three outs and the game was over.
The Spartans struggled on the defensive side committing six errors against the Dinos and offensively they couldn’t find their groove at the plate and on the base paths.
Alton, Stilson and Nielson each collected an RBI in the loss with Jensen going 2-3 from the plate and scoring a run.
For the Dinos, Anderson and Lowe each ended the game with three RBI’s, Rich added two as did Falk.
Emery has just one game remaining on their schedule and it won’t take place until May 3 when they will play a make-up game with Union that was rescheduled due to weather. The Spartans own an 11-10 overall record and are 6-6 in league play, they hold the No.10 ranking in the state RPI.
May 3- Union- Win 11-1
Emery celebrated their senior baseball players on Tuesday during the final regular season game as they hosted Union. Playoff time is right around the corner, but Emery had to deal with the Cougars first in a contest that had to be rescheduled from April 12. Tyler Stilson had a day at the plate, going 4-4 scoring three runs and collecting an RBI in the 11-1 win.
The Spartans scored first putting a couple of runs on the board in their first at bat when Gannon Ward stepped up hitting a double bringing home Wade and Tyler Stilson. Emery added two more runs in the bottom of the third pushing the score 4-0.
In the bottom of the fourth Tyler Stilson would get things started with a single to center bringing home Trevin Wakefield. In the next at bat Wade Stilson hit a triple to center driving in Easton Nielson, Mason Stilson and Tyler Stilson.
In the top of the fifth, the first batter up for Union Camden Frandsen, scored their only run with a solo shot over the wall in left field.
Headed to the bottom of the sixth inning, Ryker Jensen would hit a fly ball to right field with two outs and would safely get aboard thanks to an error that would also allow Wade Stilson to score. Jensen would be replace by courtesy runner Sean Rogers. Oakley Alton came up to bat sending a line drive to center, scoring Jace Mangum from third. So with the score 10-1 and Emery needing just one run to end the game in six, Union intentionally walked Wakefield to get to Nielson, a strategy that would backfire when Nielson was walked as well, and with nowhere to put him Rogers would score the 11th run.
Turner Stoker took the win starting the game and going five, giving up one earned on two hits and struck out four. Jensen came in to go one surrendering just one hit.
Wade Stilson and Ward both went 2-4 at the plate with three RBI’s. Stilson would score two runs and Ward added one.
The Spartans won’t have to wait long to find out their fate as far as the final RPI rankings are concerned, they will be released on Thursday May 5 at 9 a.m.. The bracket for the 3A State Baseball Championships will also be unveiled at that time and the Spartans will know who they will be playing in the first round that starts on Saturday.
2022 State Baseball Championships
May 7
Union- Win- 7-6
Juab- Loss- 11-1
The Emery Spartan baseball team traveled to Nephi on Saturday to face the Union Cougars in the opening game of the 3A State Baseball Championships. In the game with Union, Emery built up a 7-1 lead going into the of bottom the fifth, Union made it interesting but the Spartans held on for the 7-6 win. In game two they faced the No.1 seed Juab on their home field and Juab would put up six runs in the first two innings pushing Emery to an 11-1 loss and dropping them in the one loss bracket.
In the first game, it was 2-1 headed into the top of the fourth when Wade Stilson came up with a hard ground ball that would get past the shortstop on an error driving in Easton Nielson and Mason Stilson. Gannon Ward came to the plate next sending another ground ball to right that brought in Tyler Stilson and then Jace Mangum came up to the plate sending another grounder to right driving in Wade Stilson and Ward.
Everything went quiet for both Union and Emery until the bottom of the fifth when Union added a run putting the score at 7-3.
In the bottom of the sixth the Union Cougars added two runs making things very interesting at 7-5 and would score one more in the bottom of the seventh on the final out out the game allowing Emery to escape with a one run advantage.
Mangum would earn three RBI’s in the win, Wade Stilson went 2-4 with two RBI’s and two runs scored and Gannon Ward went 3-4 with one run and drove in two.
Oakley Alton would get the start and collect the win on the bump for the Spartans going 5.0 giving up one earned on six hits and struck out three. Ryker Jensen came in to collect the save giving up two earned on four hits and stuck out three.
In game two the Spartans would face the No. 1 seeded Juab Wasps.
The Wasps jumped out to a quick 11-1 lead after the third inning and maintained the lead through the following innings, ending the game in five.
The Spartans could only collect three hits in the loss with Alton going 2-2 and Tyler Stilson went 1-3 earning the only Emery RBI when he drove in Nielson in the third.
Trevin Wakefield got the start going 2.1 innings giving up six earned on eight hits and striking out two. Turner Stoker came in to finish the game with 1.2 innings of work striking out one.
Up next for the Spartans they will face Region 12 foe Grand at Mountain View High School in Orem on Thursday at 1:30. Now that they are in the one loss bracket they will have to run a gauntlet playing five games in three days just to play in the Championships on Saturday knowing the whole time that their next loss will end the season.
May 12
Grand- Win- 13-4
Grantsville- Loss- 7-5
The Emery Spartans entered Thursday’s games knowing that the next loss would send them home. First up was a region opponent, the Grand County Red Devils, a team they had already beaten three times in the regular season. The second was the Grantsville Cowboys last year’s state champs. The first game went the Spartans way 13-4. In game two Emery led for the first five innings and then could get the Cowboys off the field losing 7-5.
The Spartans jumped out early in the game against Grand pushing the score to 7-2 by the end of the second inning, The bats went quiet for Emery, but the Red Devils would put two runs up in the top of the sixth, cutting the Emery lead to 7-4.
It was in the bottom of the sixth that the Spartans bats would come back to life. Wade Stilson would get the party started with a bunt and would reach on an error from the pitcher that would allow both Mason and Tyler Stilson to score. Gannon Ward hit a sacrifice fly to center that scored Wade. The Spartans would add two more pushing the lead to 13-4. In the top of the seventh, Grand would get two on base and that is where they would stay as Ryker Jensen who came in to go one inning and struck out three, ended the game.
Trevin Wakefield got the start on the bump for the Spartans put in six innings of work giving up two earned and striking out eight.
Tyler Stilson and Jace Mangum both went 2-3 putting up one RBI and scoring a run. Easton Nielsen went 1-3 with two RBI’s.
In the second game of the day against No. 5 Grantsville, Emery meant business coming right out of the gate taking a quick 5-0 lead after two.
The Cowboys would basically take over the game from that point on, putting up single runs in the next two innings and then coming up big in the bottom of the fifth coming up with five runs to take the 7-5 lead. Emery would have their chance in the sixth with Gannon Ward aboard but he was left stranded and then a three-up, three-down seventh would bring the Spartan season to an end.
Wade Stilson had a great game going 4-4, with two RBI’s and scored a run and Gannon Ward was 1-3 , with a run scored and an RBI.
On the mound for the Spartans, Oakley Alton got the start going four innings giving up five earned on seven hits and struck out one. Easton Nielsen came in, throwing just five pitches to two batters. Turner Stoker was then brought in going two innings.
The Spartans ended the season with an overall record of 14-12 and put up a 6-6 Region 12 mark.