No doubt about it: Crimson Cliffs wins 2nd consecutive 4A state baseball championship

Written by E. George Goold
May 20, 2023

OREM — Beau Sampson and the deep senior class on the Crimson Cliffs baseball team were not going to be denied.

Crimson Cliffs senior pitcher Beau Sampson during his no-hitter against Snow Canyon in the 4A state baseball championship, Orem, Utah, May 20, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News

Sampson threw a no-hitter and the Mustangs scored early and often in a 13-0 exclamation point victory over Snow Canyon Saturday, winning their second consecutive 4A state championship.

“Man these are some confident kids. I never saw a doubt in any one of their eyes,” Mustangs manager Justin Abbott told St. George News. “To answer your question, no, there was never any doubt that we would win.”

The drama was taken out of the game early  on the campus of Utah Valley University. Crimson Cliffs plated three unearned runs in the top of the first and never looked back.

After three dramatic come-from-behind wins early in the week put  No. 1 seed Snow Canyon into the championship series, the Warriors just ran out of gas against Crimson’s deep pitching staff and lineup.

“I think so, I think we did,” Snow Canyon manager Reed Secrist said. “We didn’t play very good in the first three games and we found ways to win. That’s a credit to my players.”

The Warriors got set back with a bye week before the tournament, he added, contributing to the crazy roller coaster ride Snow Canyon went on during the championship.

“Great for my guys to stick with it, grind, get it done and get those wins and put us where we should have been, right here against Crimson,” Secrist said. “No doubt we’re the best two teams in the state, and we’re where we should be. I’m proud of these guys and thank goodness they’re on my side.”

Crimson Cliffs’ Steele Barben is hit by a Snow Canyon pitch in the 4A state baseball championship, Orem, Utah, May 20, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News

Snow Canyon starting pitcher Talan Kelly ran into trouble immediately in the top of the first. Crimson loaded the bases and Ty West hit a high chopper to the pitcher’s mound.

Kelly fielded it and had time to set his feet and throw, but the toss to first was wild and all three Mustangs scored on the error.

Sampson had all the run support he needed before he even toed the rubber. The senior left-hander allowed no hits or runs in 4.2 innings of work.

“He was unbelievable,” Abbott said. “He wants that ball. There was no doubt that he was going to get the ball.”

Despite working on a no-hitter, Sampson wanted to get fellow senior Aaron Morris onto the mound in the state championship game.

“And I see zero hits on the scoreboard, and in the back of my mind I’m not even thinking about it (letting Morris finish),” Abbott said. “But that’s the type of guys that they are, the type of teammates. They want to get the next guy up, and they love each other.”

Morris recorded the last out and Crimson started the celebration.

The Mustang bats churned out 14 hits in the convincing win. Senior Brexten Starley homered for the second game in a row, doubled and collected three RBI to lead the attack.

Senior Petey Soto had three hits, all singles, for two RBI and he scored three times.

Petey Soto scores for Crimson Cliffs against Snow Canyon in the 4A state baseball championship, Orem, Utah, May 20, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News

“I’m feeling so happy right now,” Soto said. “And don’t get me wrong, I knew this was going to happen. We had the squad, we’re all talented, same as last year. We had the same mentality coming into state.”

McKay Wright, Ty Maynard and West each contributed two hits for the winners and Tate Maynard, Steele Barben and Trey Evans all hit single knocks for Crimson.

Snow Canyon said goodbye to three seniors, each of whom played a major role in the team’s success: Sam Lindsey, Coden Herman and Braden Loveland.

“They were great,” Secrist said, noting that only having three seniors meant that they had even bigger leadership roles. 

“All three of them were solid,” he said. “They wanted to win this bad, it stinks when it doesn’t happen. Hopefully, the younger guys can learn from them and get after it next year and get it done.” 

Crimson outfielder Jayger Baldwin said the seniors on the club have been playing together forever.

“I love them so much,” Baldwin said. “I would not want to play with any other team or with any other teammates than them.”

Crimson beat Snow Canyon 4-2 in Game 1 on Friday night. Saturday’s 13-0 victory made a Game 3 unnecessary.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Eric George Goold came to St. George News from southwestern Colorado, where he was a radio news reporter. He has been a journalist for over 20 years in five different states. He graduated with a master's degree in English from Kansas State University and writes nonfiction as well. Goold has been published in Sunstone Magazine and has done multiple public readings about local history. When he has free time, he enjoys chess, movies and dogs.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews

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