Photos by Jeff Barrett
The Region 12 Title all came down to the final game of the season, which took place on Monday in Price. But before the contest was underway, the Dinos honored their eight seniors: Keaton Rich, Jacob Vasquez, Braxtin Henrie, James Castro, Rylan Hart, Jordan Fossat, Beau Vea and Dallyn Oneil.
Gears then shifted as Canyon View and Carbon took the field each looking to claim a region championship. Rich received the nod and pitched around two, one-out walks for a scoreless first. The Dino hitters were aggressive early and put the ball in play, but hit it right at Falcon defenders. In fact, Jake Garrett only needed five pitches to get through the first and 12 total to get through two full innings. A leadoff double would put the Falcons in business in the second. Rich then walked the next batter to put two on with no outs. He promptly recorded a strikeout (looking) and induced a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.
On a roll, Rich followed up the second by striking out the side in the third. The momentum was now with the Dinos and their bottom of the batting order came through. Castro recorded the first Carbon hit and Vea followed suit to put two on with no outs. Hart then singled home a run while Rich helped his own cause with a two-RBI double. Rich would later show off his speed and aggressive base running, which led to another run when the Falcon catcher airmailed his throw to third into left field. When the frame was over, the Dinos were on top 4-0.
Not to be out done, the Falcons were ready to respond. A single and a two-out walk put runners on first and second. Canyon View then hit a single to left, but the Falcons opted to play it safe and avoid Vea’s arm. That decision proved costly when Rich got the next batter to fly out to end the inning unscathed.
With the same score in the fifth, the Falcons began to make some noise. Rich exited after a leadoff walk and Camden Wilson came in, but he did not have his best stuff. The junior recorded one strikeout, but walked three to bring home the first Falcon run of the game.
Vea was then called upon in a high-leverage spot. The first batter he faced lifted the ball into shallow center, where Rich tracked it down and laid out in an attempt to make the catch. Unfortunately, the ball popped out of his glove on impact and one more run came into score. Vea then took matters into his own hands, delivering two strikeouts in seven pitches to escape the jam.
Fast forward to the final two innings where the Dinos remained on top 4-2. The Falcons led off the sixth with a single, but the runner was caught stealing on an amazing throw from Jacob Vasquez on one knee. It was bang-bang play that could have gone either way, but went in the Dinos’ favor. A strikeout made out number two, but Canyon View then doubled to put a runner in scoring position. Vea never faltered and notched his fourth strikeout to end the frame.
With just three outs remaining in the title game, the tension was palpable. Once more, the Falcons led off the inning with a single. That run would come home to score on a one-out double, putting the tying run in scoring position. Vea came through one final time with two strikeouts, the latter of the looking variety, as the Dinos claimed the Region 12 Championship. Canyon View left 11 baserunners stranded in the one-run thriller.
Vea was named the Tram Electric Player of the Game for his efforts both on the mound and at the plate. He finished with six strikeouts through two and two thirds innings. He also went 1-2 at the dish and was part of the four-run third.
Although Rich lacked the overall consistency he has shown throughout the season, he always came through with big pitches in critical moments. He also hit a two-RBI double and scored the eventual winning run. It was certainly a team victory that not only clinched the region title, but also gives the Dinos momentum as they prepare for the state playoffs. Carbon will now await the final RPI standings, which will be released on May 5.
