OREM — The Desert Hills Thunder advanced to the 3A state baseball championship with a 5-4 win in extra innings over cross-town rival Snow Canyon Friday. In a game that had more plot lines than a J.R.R. Tolkien novel, the Thunder won in dramatic comeback fashion to earn a berth into the state championship.
“I was nervous,” said Desert Hills’ Braiden Irvin of what would be the biggest at-bat of his life. “I got up there and I knew I had to get the ball in play. I knew had to do something to make it happen.”
In the top of the eighth inning, Desert Hills and Snow Canyon were knotted up at 4-4. With two outs and teammate Ty Rutledge on second, Irvin connected with the pitch and hit a hot grounder to the shortstop that slipped just out of his grasp. Snow Canyon’s defense struggled to pick it up and, in a gutsy call, third base coach Jeramie Ybright sent Rutledge around third to the plate. Rutledge slid home for what would be the winning run. SC was unable to make a play at the plate.
“He (Ybright) didn’t do anything until I was about at the base,” Rutledge said. “And then he sent me home. You listen to your coach.”
Desert Hills ace Kaleb Caplin then put away the Warriors in 1-2-3 fashion to finish his complete game gem and RSVP the Thunder to the state championship.
The first four and a half innings were a scoreless stalemate until Snow Canyon’s offense loaded the bases and sophomore Brady Sargent brought in three runs with a rocket over the left fielder’s head. Jacob Lindsay then hit a deep sacrifice fly to bring Sargent in to make it 4-0. DH was not discouraged for long.
“We had a lot of tough breaks last year,” Caplin said. “And we are basically the same group so we knew what to do to win. We were able to battle back from 4-0.”
The Thunder responded immediately in the top of the fifth. The first three batters drew walks and with the bases loaded, DH’s Baden Powell was able to ring up an RBI single. Caplin then hit a sacrifice fly to bring in one more and Dylan File hit the ball to shallow left field to make 4-3 before the Warriors could do damage control.
“We came out and got those four runs to put us up,” said Snow Canyon head coach Reed Secrist. “And then to walk the next three guys. The bottom line is that if we had made our plays we would’ve won.”
Desert Hills was stymied at the plate until their last chance in regulation play in the top of the seventh. Still down a run with two outs, Bryce Gibson hit a laser at the second baseman that SC’s Lindsay dived for but was unable to pull down. Powell scored to tie the game. Sound defense by the Thunder sent the game into extra innings at which point Irvin drove in the winning run.
“No doubt Snow Canyon is our big rival,” said Desert Hills head coach Jerry Beck. “I wasn’t surprised to see them here today and I won’t be surprised to see them again tomorrow (in the state title game).”
The Thunder displayed an impressive team effort with RBI’s by Caplin, Gibson, File and Powell. Caplin pitched eight complete innings and recorded four strikeouts.
“We just need to focus on winning one more,” Rutledge said. “We have worked hard all year for this.”
Desert Hills will await the winner of Saturday’s 9 a.m. matchup to play for the 3A state baseball title at 11 a.m. With one more victory, DH will claim the 3A state baseball title. Snow Canyon can fight its way back into the title game with a win in tomorrow’s early game.
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DH celebrates the go-ahead run during Friday evening's semifinal playoff game, Desert Hills vs. Snow Canyon, Orem, Utah, May 17, 2013 | Photo by Bruce Wilson, Special to St. George News Friday evening's semifinal playoff game, Desert Hills vs. Snow Canyon, Orem, Utah, May 17, 2013 | Photo by Bruce Wilson, Special to St. George News Ty Rutledge scores the go-ahead run during Friday evening's semifinal playoff game, Desert Hills vs. Snow Canyon, Orem, Utah, May 17, 2013 | Photo by Bruce Wilson, Special to St. George News Brogan Secrist dives back to first during Friday evening's semifinal playoff game, Desert Hills vs. Snow Canyon, Orem, Utah, May 17, 2013 | Photo by Bruce Wilson, Special to St. George News Kaleb Caplin pitched all eight innings and got the win in Friday evening's semifinal playoff game, Desert Hills vs. Snow Canyon, Orem, Utah, May 17, 2013 | Photo by Bruce Wilson, Special to St. George News Friday evening's semifinal playoff game, Desert Hills vs. Snow Canyon, Orem, Utah, May 17, 2013 | Photo by Bruce Wilson, Special to St. George News Friday evening's semifinal playoff game, Desert Hills vs. Snow Canyon, Orem, Utah, May 17, 2013 | Photo by Bruce Wilson, Special to St. George News Ty Rutledge after Friday evening's semifinal playoff game, Desert Hills vs. Snow Canyon, Orem, Utah, May 17, 2013 | Photo by Bruce Wilson, Special to St. George News
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