The Carbon Dinos kicked off bracket play in the 3A state baseball tournament on Monday, May 11, as they faced off against the Logan Grizzlies. Originally a back-and-forth affair, the Dinos seized the game’s momentum in the sixth inning, pouring on eight runs and securing a mercy-rule win over Logan.
Following a scoreless first frame from both squads, Carbon drew first blood in the bottom of the second, scoring off a sacrifice fly from Jacen Urbanik that brought Logan Bennett across the plate for a 1-0 lead.
The Dinos doubled this output in the bottom of the third, with Bennett hitting a ball to right field that the Grizzlies were unable to get a hold of, resulting in an inside-the-park home run, bringing home Bennett and Jackson Bosone to build Carbon’s advantage to 3-0.
Logan struck back in the top of the fourth and fifth innings, knotting the game at three apiece heading into the bottom of the fifth. Looking to secure some separation, the Dinos responded to the Grizzlies’ run with a two-run frame, with Bennett scoring his third run of the day off a poor defensive play, and Maddux Wilson crossing home plate on a bunt from Brody Ware.
The final nail in the coffin came in the bottom of the sixth, where Carbon exploded for eight runs, with pinch-hitter Ricky Sandoval tallying three RBIs on two hits in the frame, including the walk-off strike that brought Ware home and gave the Dinos the 13-3 victory.
The bats were hot for the Dinos all afternoon, with Bennett leading the way, scoring three runs on three hits while adding three RBIs. Wilson collected two runs on two hits with two RBIs, and Sandoval added three RBIs on two hits, all coming in the bottom of the sixth.
On the mound, Jordan Nichols secured the win, going five innings, allowing one earned run and striking out five.
The win advances the Dinos in the winners’ bracket, where they now await a showdown with No. 2 Grantsville. That game is set for Tuesday, May 12, at 4:30 p.m. at Lindquist Field in Ogden, Utah.
Live pregame coverage of the contest will begin at 4:15 p.m. on KOAL 107.3 FM & 750 AM, as well as an audio stream available on YouTube at Castle Country Radio – Carbon.