One hit makes all the difference: Cavemen bow to Pleasant Grove after tense contest
American Fork's Andrew Bartholomew approaches the mound and talks with pitcher Austin Pitcher during a game against Pleasant Grove, at Pleasant Grove High School on Monday, May 5, 2014. GRANT HINDSLEY, Daily Herald
American Fork's Emmett Green takes a swing during a game against Pleasant Grove, at Pleasant Grove High School on Monday.
Pleasant Grove's Bub Wilde picks up a grounder during a game against American Fork at Pleasant Grove High School on Monday, May 5, 2014. GRANT HINDSLEY, Daily Herald
Pleasant Groves Bub Wilde throws to first after tagging out American Fork's Emmett Green on May 5. Both teams will be in the 5A playoffs that begin today.
Pleasant Grove's Zach Peterson misses a catch in the outfield during a game against American Fork, at Pleasant Grove High School on Monday, May 5, 2014. GRANT HINDSLEY, Daily Herald
It was as close a game as could have been expected between Region 4 powers, but one hit made the difference as Pleasant Grove earned the league championship with a 4-2 home victory over rival American Fork Monday.
The stands were overflowing and the sidelines full as these two neighbors battled through a tense, well-played contest that wasn’t decided until the final out.
Despite struggling with his control at times, Easton Walker went the distance for the Vikings on the mound, backed up by some tight defense from his teammates, including a pickoff at second and a pair of double plays.
It looked like he might be chased off early, however, as the Cavemen got the bats going in the top of the second inning.
Austin Pitcher opened the turn with a double, and Andrew Bartholomew followed him on after being hit by a pitch. A run scored after an overthrow, and a second one was driven in by a Riley Winters double before Pleasant Grove was able to close out the turn.
The Vikings answered immediately in the bottom half with a two-out rally. Ben Eldredge singled and Logan Bullock walked to set the situation up.
Walker’s base hit plated one run, then a second one came across to tie the score when Zach Peterson smacked the ball down the third-base line.
The teams were runless through almost the next four innings. In the bottom of the sixth, Chase Merrell drew a leadoff walk, sending Pitcher to first and bringing reliever Tanner Norton to the mound.
Grant Hindsley, Daily Herald
Pleasant Grove’s Ben Eldredge tags out American Fork’s Kody Hall at second base, at Pleasant Grove High School on Monday.
After checking the runner at first, Norton delivered a fat strike and Eldredge sent it out of the yard to provide the winning margin for the home squad. Walker retired American Fork’s batters in order in the seventh to secure the win and the region trophy.
“It’s been a really long time since we got one,” said Viking coach Darrin Henry. The last league title that school officials were sure about was in 1988, when Henry was a player.
He thinks there may have been one more after that, but it was long enough ago that it had slipped beyond ready memory.
“This was one of our goals this year, so it feels really sweet to get it,” Henry said, especially considering the opponent.
“Everyone knows about this rivalry,” Henry said. “We always get our biggest crowds to these games. This is also a great way to prepare for the state tournament. There’s no more fun and excitement than this right here.”
Henry said Walker had never pitched against the Cavemen because he’d been injured when they’d played before. “He had some extra adrenaline today,” Henry said. “He’s our ace, and we were happy to have him on the hill.”
He wasn’t too displeased with the lower end of his batting order as well, which provided either the runners or the RBI for all of Pleasant Grove’s scores in this game.
“Our philosophy is that it doesn’t matter where you hit but how you hit,” Henry said. “If you look, these guys are all about even in RBI.” No. 8 man Eldredge nearly hit for the cycle, with a single, double, and the game-winning home run.
“This is a young team still and their pitchers did a good job,” Henry added. “But they bought in to what we were trying to do. All the summer work and winter work paid off today.”
The Vikings (17-6, 14-2) and the Cavemen (16-7, 11-5) will finish their series at American Fork Tuesday and back at Pleasant Grove Wednesday. Both games are set for 4 p.m.
The Cavemen need to win one of those contests to get the second seed from the region and the home field in the first round that comes with it.
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