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The Emery Spartans went 4-0 over the weekend in Mesquite, NV, winning a tournament championship after beating Virgin Valley High School 11-3 in the championship game. The Spartans outscored their opponents 45-6 during the four games.
In game one on Thursday, Emery’s bats were alive as it won the game by a 16-0 margin in just three innings. Race Nielsen pitched three innings of two-hit ball. Eight players registered a hit in the game, with Easton Gordon and Koda Alton bashing doubles. Tel Gardner, Logan Labrum and Easton Gordon combined for seven RBIs in the game. The Spartans also took advantage of 13 walks in the game thrown by Virgin Valley pitchers.
Against Pahranagat Valley from Alamo, NV in Friday’s first game, Emery again exploded offensively, scoring 13 runs to Pahranagat’s one. Gordon, Gardner and Nielsen knocked in eight of Emery’s 13 runs in the game. Jordan Balletka, Gardner and Nielsen had doubles in the game. Gordon went 4 1/3 innings on the mound, striking out three batters, for the win. He gave up just one earned run on one hit.
Gardner took the mound in game two on Friday, in another game against Virgin Valley. He struck out eight batters, while walking four, for the win. The Spartans won the game 5-2. Balletka and Gardner both went 2-3 in the game with two singles apiece. Labrum went 2-2 with a walk, while giving Emery its only extra-base hit in the game.
With three wins in the three games, the Spartans again took on Virgin Valley, this time on Saturday in the championship game. Emery jumped out to a quick five-run first and never looked back, winning the game 11-3. Balletka went 2-2 with three RBIs. Alton went 3-4 with three singles. Labrum had another multi-hit game, going 2-3 in the game while scoring two runs. Zach Jorgensen picked up the win on the mound after going five innings, giving up one earned run while striking out five.
Emery (5-0, 0-0 2A East) will travel to Roosevelt on Wednesday for a matchup with the Union Cougars. Game time is set for 3 p.m.