Fresh off an upset of the Manti Templars, the Emery Spartans traveled to Utah Valley University to open bracket play in the 3A state tournament. They took on the Morgan Trojans, who just a year ago eliminated the Spartans from postseason play. Emery would avenge last year’s postseason loss against Morgan, coming away with a 10-3 upset win over the Trojans.
Morgan would break the ice early, with the bases loaded, Emery would give up a fielder’s choice to junior Cooper Stuart, bringing one Trojan home and giving Morgan the 1-0 lead. Emery would battle back and escape the remainder of the inning unscathed.
Emery would go three up, three down at the top of the third, but Morgan would continue their offensive momentum. Junior Luke Baurele would hammer a stand-up triple to set the Trojans up in scoring position. A hard ground ball to shortstop from junior Easton Venz brought Baurele home to increase Morgan’s lead 2-0.
Looking to strike back, Emery loaded the bases at the top of the fourth. Senior Trevin Gilbert capitalized on the opportunity, hitting a sacrifice fly that brought home two runners for the Spartans to even the score at 2-2. Sophomore Garrett Conover continued the momentum, hitting a single to bring home senior Hayden Christiansen and give Emery the lead at 3-2.
The Spartans wouldn’t stop there, with junior Peyton Neilson poking a single through to bring home senior Jace Frandsen – doubling up the Trojans 4-2. A Beau Stilson single would again load the bases for Emery, something sophomore Trygg Jensen would capitalize on, slapping an RBI single to shallow right field to bring another runner home. Senior Hayden Sitterud would pop up a ball to deep center field, sacrificing himself for another Emery RBI and a 6-2 advantage.
Circling back to the top of the order, junior Tyce Larsen smoked a ball into right field, bringing two more runners across home plate and building the lead even further to 8-2.
Emery would end the fourth inning scoring eight runs on six hits.
Emery would drive the dagger a little deeper in the top of the sixth when Sitterud smashed a ball over the left field wall for a two-run homer. This elevated Emery’s lead to 10-2.
A late run would come through in the bottom of the seventh for the Trojans, but it was too little, too late as Emery came away with the 10-3 win.
“The bigger the game the bigger these kids step up,” said Manager Chase Julian following the contest. ”It’s contagious when you get going, it gets everyone going. It’s amazing what it can do”
Sitterud would end the evening with the win on the mound, going six full innings, giving up seven hits and three earned runs, but striking out six Trojans. Offensively, Sitterud went 2-3, scored two runs, and scored three RBIs.
Rounding out the Spartans’ offensive attack was Larsen, who went 1-3 with two RBIs. Jensen, Gilbert, Conover and Neilson each added an RBI of their own.
With the win, Emery moves on to face the top-seeded Canyon View Falcons in winners bracket play. That game will be played at UVU at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 13.
Emery has faced the Falcons twice this year, falling 5-3 and 14-2.
That game will be streamed on KOAL 107.3 FM and 750 AM and on YouTube at Castle Country Radio-Emery.