American Fork’s Ryder Robinson (7) steals third base earlier than getting tagged by Westlake’s Mason Hartle (10) at Westlake Excessive in Saratoga Springs on Thursday, April 27, 2023. Laura Seitz, Deseret Information
There was no scarcity of offense in Thursday’s area 4 battle between American Fork and Westlake.
In a sport that mixed for 38 hits, seven dwelling runs, and 28 runs, the highest ranked Caveman held off a late rally to take down the Thunder 16-12 Thursday afternoon in Saratoga Springs.
The Caveman tallied a season excessive 19 hits with 4 of these coming from sophomore sensation C.J Mascaro. The centerfielder completed the day going 4 of 5 on the plate with two dwelling runs and tallied a workforce excessive 5 RBIs.
“It was an important sport to have. I haven’t had one in a minute however was lastly capable of break by way of,” stated Mascaro.
Each American Fork participant who stepped as much as the plate in the course of the sport recorded at the very least one hit, and 7 of the 9 recorded at the very least one RBI. Whereas definitely your entire lineup was swinging with confidence, head coach Jared Ingersoll was exceptionally happy along with his younger sophomore.
“We anticipate that from C.J.,” stated Ingersoll. “He regarded actual snug as we speak and made a number of actually good swings. Credit score to him, his management, and his toughness.”
With the victory, the Cavemen improved to 12-4 on the season with a 6-2 mark in area play. Westlake, who dropped to 1-8 in area play, was led by senior Sage Strayer, who, like Mascaro, logged two dwelling runs and 5 RBIs.
“Westlake did a very good job, they're scrappy and so they hit rather well as we speak,” stated Ingersoll. “You’ve received to tip your hat to them.”
The highest ranked Cavemen opened the sport with 5 straight hits, leading to a fast Westlake pitching change. By the point the highest half of the inning ended, American Fork had scored 5 runs, and regarded poised to blow open the rating.
The Thunder slowly chipped away, nonetheless, including their very own run within the backside of the primary, after which two extra within the backside of the second to chop the American Fork result in two.
The Cavemen used one other robust inning within the third to stretch the lead. Mascaro’s first dwelling run of the evening capped a 4 run inning, giving American Fork a 9-3 lead.
“Having belief with others and having the ability to have that makes it simple to swing on the plate and really feel assured,” stated Mascaro. “We had been capable of focus, swing the bat, and be aggressive within the depend.”
After Strayer and fellow senior Jensen Smith every blasted the ball over the fences for Westlake within the backside of the third, the Thunder and Cavemen settled for a lot much less offense within the center innings. Westlake senior Mason Hartle raced previous dwelling plate on sacrifice fly to left, pulling the Thunder inside three after 5 innings.
With momentum beginning to sway the hosts method, the highest of the lineup for American Fork got here up clutch within the prime of the sixth. Senior Ryder Robinson received issues going with a lead-off double, adopted by Mascaro’s second dwelling run of the sport.
“He’s there within the two gap and he’s awfully good,” stated Ingersoll. “We swung it fairly good as we speak which we would have liked each run. That was for certain.”
The Cavemen added two extra runs within the backside of the sixth to take a commanding 13-7 lead. Like they'd so usually, although, the Thunder responded, scoring three runs of their very own with the center of the lineup as much as the plate.
Leaving two runners stranded to shut the inning damage Westlake, however the confidence to come back again within the seventh was brewing.
American Fork senior Josh Rojas did all he may to chill any momentum and slam the door shut on a comeback. With runners on second and third, Rojas delivered a deep fly ball to left area that cleared the fences and gave the guests one other seven-run lead.
Westlake wouldn’t go down and not using a battle. After two singles, Strayer tallied his second dwelling run of the sport, bringing the Thunder trustworthy to their toes and pulling the hosts inside 4 with no outs.
American Fork’s counter was to usher in Rojas from behind the plate as catcher to the mound because the pitcher. The senior downed every of the three Thunder batters he confronted, ending the sport with a strikeout.
“I feel every little thing in baseball is a studying expertise whether or not a few of them are actually laborious and a few of them are actually good,” Ingersoll stated. “At the moment we discovered ourselves on the best aspect.”