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.