The Emery Spartans won four games over the weekend at the Cactus Classic tournament in Mesquite, Nev., earning a perfect 4-0 record.
The team kicked off tournament action on Thursday with a matchup against Pahranagat Valley High School from Alamo, Nev. The Spartans jumped out to a quick 7-1 lead after two innings of play, before hanging on for the 12-8 win. Koda Alton led the team with two hits in three at-bats. Jesse Barnett, Colton Willson and Brax Jensen knocked in two RBIs apiece. Emery took advantage of nine walks and five hit batsmen to take the win despite only being credited with seven hits. Easton Gordon went three innings on the mound, giving up just one hit and two earned runs while striking out three. He also issued four walks.
Friday featured two games for the Spartans; first up was host Virgin Valley. Cade Brazier went six innings of work on the mound for Emery, allowing just two runs on five hits with three strikeouts. Willson and Alton led the way with two RBIs each. Alton and Barnett also had the only extra-base hits in the game, both doubles. Tied at two in the fifth, Emery scored three runs in the inning to eventually take the 5-2 win.
The Spartans would cap off Friday’s doubleheader with a tilt against Las Vegas’ Valley High School. Emery scored four runs in the top of the seventh and held on for the 10-7 win, despite being out-hit, 10-6. Kyson Stilson had two of the six hits, adding an RBI in the game. He also got the win on mound after relieving starter Kason Stilson, going 2 1/3 innings, allowing just two runs on four hits.
Emery faced a familiar foe in Saturday’s championship game. San Juan hadn’t lost in the tournament until Emery handed them a 6-2 defeat. Logan Healy went just shy of five innings on the mound, allowing just one earned run on one hit while striking out four. He also issued eight walks in the game. The Spartans had nine singles in the game, two off the bats of Gordon, Barnett and Rance Jensen. Bron Gordon and Jensen led the team with two RBIs apiece.
Emery (4-1, 0-0 Region 15) will begin Region 15 action Tuesday afternoon at home against Grand (3-0, 0-0 Region 15). The game will be broadcast live on ETV Channel 10.
Emery Baseball would like to thank the following sponsors for their support this season:
Codale, Hometown, United Minerals, Emery Telcom, Sutherlands, Savage, JN Auto, Johansen & Tuttle Engineering, Eastern Utah Community Credit Union, Desertview Federal Credit Union, Pro Rehab, Castleview Hospital, Tram Electric, Southwest, JR’s Stop & Go, BK’s Stop N Shop, Magnuson Lumber, Market Express, Mr Automotive, Pierce Oil, Stilson & Sons, Swire Coca Cola, Smith’s, Office ETC, Jones Ace Hardware and Loveless Ash.
