ST. GEORGE — Dixie’s Little Leaguers looked ready for primetime Sunday morning after crushing Wyoming 19-5 in their first game of the Mountain Region tournament.
Going into the tournament, head coach Nate Andrus said he suspected Dixie’s power-hitting lineup would score some runs. They did, outscoring their opponents 57-2 in four games en route to winning the Utah state championship
Against Wyoming, Dixie plated 19 runs on 15 hits in five innings.
“Our gameplan going in was to put the ball in play, and we’re going to win the game,” coach Andrus told St. George News on Monday. “I’ve never coached a game where every player on the roster either gets an RBI or scores a run, so that was really impressive to see.”
Dixie started with a seven-spot in the top of the first.
Maverick Andrus had a big hit in the frame, a double that plated two runs. Drex Lyle hit a sacrifice fly and then Boston Wade smacked a two-run triple.
Derek Ozaki hit an RBI single and Dixie scored an unearned run to jump ahead 7-0.
Due largely to walks and errors by Dixie fielders, Wyoming responded with four runs in the bottom of the first.
“We called a timeout and talked about it,” coach Andrus said after the spate of four errors allowed Wyoming back into the game.
“Wanted to rally everyone, just told them to take a step back and breathe and just relax,” Andrus said, noting some of the ballplayers were not at 100 percent because of a flu bug.
Noah Manumaleuna and Jack Haslem each hit RBI groundouts in the second and Dixie was comfortably ahead for good at 9-4.
Maverick Andrus started on the pitcher’s mound for Dixie, throwing one active inning. He surrendered four runs (two unearned) off one hit, struck out two batters and walked four.
Lyle came on in relief, allowing one hit and no runs. He walked one batter and struck out five.
Eli Platt and Ezra Bird each had three hits for Dixie while Doozy Brinton and Wade also collected multiple-hit games.
Seven Dixie batters coaxed walks from the Wyoming pitchers.
Dixie cemented the victory with a seven-run fifth inning, highlighted by Maverick Andrus’ three-run home run to center field.
Up next for Dixie in Mountain Region play is Colorado, which pummeled Montana 18-7 in the first round.
Dixie and Colorado are scheduled to meet in San Bernardino, California, at 5 p.m. (MT) Tuesday, with the game slated for live broadcast on ESPN2.
“We’re super excited to matchup with Colorado in their first year here,” coach Andrus said. “They hit the ball well, they’ll be a free-swinging team. I like our chances. We are showing that we’re hitting the ball as well as anyone in our region.”
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