Desert Hills wins again, sends Snow Canyon to brink of elimination

Snow Canyon at Desert Hills, St. George, Utah, Apr. 29, 2014 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — Most Desert Hills baseball fans have a vivid recollection of how last year’s baseball season ended, with Snow Canyon defeating the Thunder twice on championship Saturday to walk away with the state 3A Championship trophy. So, while no one will say it out loud, it’s pretty clear that DH followers would love nothing more than to eliminate Snow Canyon from ever getting to the playoffs this season to defend that crown.

Desert-Hills-smsnow-canyon-smTuesday, the Thunder took a big step to that end, beating Snow Canyon 3-1 and dropping the Warriors a game behind Pine View in the race for the last playoff spot from Region 9.

A trio of pitchers, Brayson Hurdsman, Braiden Irvin and Dylan File, combined to hold Snow Canyon to just a one run and six hits, while striking out nine Warriors along the way.

Brayson Hurdsman, Snow Canyon at Desert Hills, St. George, Utah, Apr. 29, 2014 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, St. George News
Brayson Hurdsman, Snow Canyon at Desert Hills, St. George, Utah, Apr. 29, 2014 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, St. George News

Desert Hills, 17-4 overall and 9-2 in region, has already clinched the top seed from Region 9 and will host a first round “pod” May 10 at DHHS. The Thunder also won the region last season, only to lose the state championship to SC, which had finished second in the region.

This year the Warriors, 5-6 in region, will need some help just to get into the playoffs. Snow Canyon will have to beat Desert Hills at Warrior Field Friday night and hope that Dixie can win at Pine View at the same time, which would creat at tie at 6-6 between SC and PV. The two teams would then square off in a play-in game at a neutral location most likely Tuesday night.

But if Pine View wins or Snow Canyon loses, the Panthers would head into the postseason as the Region 9 fourth seed.

Tuesday night, D-Hills jumped out on top in the first inning 1-0 on an RBI single by File that plated Hurdsman, who had singled and stolen second.

The Warriors tied the game in the second on an RBI single from Bryan Phelps that scored Brady Sargent, who had also singled and stolen second.

The game stayed tied until the bottom of the third when the Thunder grabbed the lead for good. Evan Moss led off with a walk. After a popout, he stole second, which prompted SC to intentionally walk File. Hurdsman followed with a walk of his own, then Wyatt Bendall broke the 1-1 tie with a sacrifice fly to center field.

Irvin came in to pitch in the fourth and held Snow Canyon to a couple of hits in his two innings of work. File relieved with a one out and a runner on second in the sixth and struck out two batters to retire the side.

The Thunder then added an insurance run to make it 3-1 as Moss singled home Ty Black after a couple of walks by the SC pitcher.

File then struck out the side, allowing a single, in the seventh to close out the game.

Stats: scdh42914

Cedar 11, Hurricane 4

It was a pretty good game until the sixth inning, when the Redmen busted it open with a six-run outburst.

Cedar locked up a playoff spot with the win on the road and has an excellent chance at the No. 2 seed with a win against the Tigers Friday.

Kayden Lunt got the win for Cedar, which improved to 17-5 overall and 7-4 in region. The Redmen struck for five in the third to take a 5-0 lead, but Hurricane answered with three in the fourth and it stayed that way until the sixth.

Brock Esplin, Trey Esplin and Josh Boyer all hit doubles for the Redmen, who had 10 hits in the game and close out the region season at home Friday against the Tigers.

Hurricane, 7-13 and 1-10, got a double and a triple from Cody LeBaron and a double from Easton Jolley on Senior Night at HHS.

Region 9
W
L
RS
RA
pct.
W
L
RS
RA
pct.
Desert Hills 9 2 65 27 .818 17 4 144 40 .810
Cedar 7 4 58 33 .636 17 5 156 56 .773
Canyon View 7 5 67 52 .583 13 8 126 97 .619
Pine View 6 5 62 63 .545 11 9 124 107 .550
Snow Canyon 5 6 70 76 .455 11 11 154 154 .500
Dixie 4 7 62 51 .364 11 11 130 102 .500
Hurricane 1 10 32 114 .091 7 13 110 192 .350

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Twitter: @oldschoolag

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2014, all rights reserved.

 

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