ST. GEORGE – Desert Hills coach Jerry Beck knows it’s just preseason and he knows his team is solid and will compete in Region 9. But he still couldn’t help being agitated after the Thunder lost their third straight heartbreaker, 3-2 to Layton Friday night.
“The pitching’s been solid, the fielding’s been solid,” Beck said. “We just can’t seem to get that one big hit when we need it.”
As an example, Desert Hills led 1-0 over the Lancers in the fourth inning, but stranded runners on second and third. The next inning, DH led 2-0 and had Kaleb Caplin at second with nobody out. A fly out, a strike out and a ground out later and again the Thunder left a runner in scoring position in a tight game.
Layton rallied for three runs in the sixth inning for the come from behind win, collecting just two hits in the inning, but getting base runners though a hit batter and a walk off of Caplin.
“I just missed my spots and if you do that just once or twice, it can get you in big trouble against a team like Layton.” Caplin said. “I love my team. I think we have a chance of being very good this year.”
The Thunder started the year 3-0, beating 5A West Jordan and knocking off 4A’s top team, Maple Mountain. Since then, DH is 0-3 after 4-2 and 5-2 losses Thursday to Arbor View (Nev.) and Friday’s close one vs. Layton.
“I’m a little disappointed right now,” Beck said. “We need to find a way to win these close games. This is a solid team.”
Desert Hills plays early, at 8:30 a.m. against Logan Saturday, then will play an afternoon game against a yet to be determined opponent.
Other scores so far tonight (will update):
Dixie 11, Box Elder 10
The Flyers trailed 9-1 in the third and even went into the seventh inning down 10-7. But a three-run rally in the final half-inning forced extra baseball and the Flyers didn’t waste the extra inning. Tanner Wilde singled home the game-winner, Dixie’s 10th hit of the game.
Dixie 2, Springville 1
Trevor Cox was the late-game hero as he doubled and later scored on a wild pitch to Dixie its fifth win in as many tries. The Flyers play East at 1 p.m. with a later game to be determined.
Park City 4, Pine View 2
The Panthers couldn’t get the offense going against the Miner’s Chandler Anderson. Anderson also doubled twice as PC overcame a 2-1 deficit to get the win.
Pine View 19, Northridge 16
Well, coach Mike Gargano called it “ugly,” but his team survived a marathon Friday night contest that featured 35 runs, 19 hits and nine defensive errors. PV improved to 3-2 with the win and plays Morgan at noon Saturday with a placement game to be determined later Saturday.
Hurricane 11, Union 1
Canyon View 10, Mt. Crest 0
Canyon View 5, Bonneville 3
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