ST. GEORGE — Three nights ago, Dixie beat up Hurricane 17-3 and some fans around Region 9 rolled their eyes and figured it was going to be another long year of frustration for the Tigers.
Anyone at Friday night’s rematch between the two teams saw a completely different Hurricane team and, though the Flyers won the game 9-4, there’s no doubt Hurricane is much improved.
“This is the game we thought we were going to get from them Tuesday night, but things kind of got out of control on them,” Dixie coach Danny Ipson said. “This is what we expected. We’re not even surprised.”
The Tigers held a 3-2 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth at Don Lay Flyers Field, when Dixie put together a seven-run rally to seize control of the game.
“They bounced out and were ready to play tonight,” Dixie’s Collin Hutchings said. “Hermansen pitched well. He threw a lot of strikes and that was the biggest deal. Seems like over in Hurricane they were walking a lot of us.”
Hurricane pitcher Drake Hermansen and Dixie hurler Kody Hutchings put on a pretty good duel, limiting the offenses in the 3-2 battle into the bottom of the sixth. But Hermansen tired a bit and was pulled in favor of brother Drew Hermansen. With no outs and two men on, Hobbs Nyberg tried unsuccessfully to lay down a sacrifice bunt on the first two pitches he faced. With an 0-2 count, Nyberg instead swung away and ripped a double to right field to tie the game at 3-3.
After a walk loaded the bases, Tyson Fisher hit a sacrifice fly to give the Flyers their first lead of the game at 4-3. One batter later, Drew Bailey made it 5-3 on an RBI single and Kody Hutchings followed with an RBI groundout to make it 6-3.
But Dixie wasn’t done. Collin Hutchings singled in another run to make it 7-3 and then a Hurricane error brought in two more to complete the seven-run sixth inning for Dixie. The Tigers got an RBI single from Tobie Swenson to complete the scoring.
Drake Hermansen pitched well early in the game and also had a good day at the plate. The Tigers took a 2-0 lead when Hermansen tripled home Lucas Stout and Kyle Williams in the top of the third inning. That was part of a 2 for 3 day for Hermansen.
Dixie evened the score at 2-2 on a bases loaded two-run single by Jaxon Davis. The Flyers left two men on in that inning as Hermansen induced a harmless flyout to left to stop the rally.
The Tigers regained the lead at 3-2 just moments later as Alec Flemetakis laid down a perfect bunt for a hit. Dixie overthrow first base on the play, allowing Williams to come all the way around and score.
Dixie had seven hits in the game and Kody Hutchings pitched all seven innings, allowing nine hits and four runs. The Flyers, 9-1 overall and 2-0 in region, have non-region games at Weber next Friday and a doubleheader at Mountain Crest next Saturday.
Hurricane, which finished with nine hits, including two each by Drake Hermansen and Stout, fell to 4-5 overall and 0-2 in region with the loss. The Tigers have a two-game set vs. Pine View next week. Tuesday it’s at Panthers Field and Friday it’s in Hurricane. Both are scheduled for 7 p.m.
Stats: hurdix32015
Canyon View 9, Cedar 4
The Falcons got ace pitcher Zack Brinkerhoff five runs in the first inning and he cruised from there.
The Redmen, who beat Canyon View 7-3 Tuesday night, did rally to pull within 6-4 in the top of the sixth. But the Falcons plated three insurance runs in the bottom of that inning to put the game away.
Payton Higgins homered and Skyler Johnson and Zak Savage both doubled in the victory for CV, which improved to 5-6 overall and 1-1 in region play.
Cedar fell to 9-2 overall and 1-1 in region. The Redmen play two with Desert Hills next week in a match-up of last season’s top two teams in the region. Tuesday, the game’s at DH. Frfiday it’s back in Cedar for 4 p.m. start.
Canyon View will host undefeated Snow Canyon Tuesday and then play at Warriors Field Friday night.
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