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American Fork poses for photos following its 3-1 win over Timpanogos on Monday. March 9, 2026

Brandon Gurney, Provo Daily Herald

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American Fork players congratulate Timpanogos following their 3-1 win over the Timberwolves on Monday. March 9, 2026

Brandon Gurney, Provo Daily Herald

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American Fork coach Jarod Ingersoll instructs his players following the Cavemen's 3-1 win over Timpanogos on Monday. March 9, 2026

Brandon Gurney, Provo Daily Herald

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American Fork's Ty Holmstead finished out the game from the mound for the Cavemen in their 3-1 win over Timpanogos on Monday. March 9, 2026

Brandon Gurney, Provo Daily Herald

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American Fork's Gavin Robinson slides across the plate to score his team's first run in Monday's 3-1 win over Timpanogos. March 9, 2026

Brandon Gurney, Provo Daily Herald

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American Fork's Kenny Johnson takes a swing at a pitch in his team's 3-1 win over Timpanogos on Monday. March 9, 2026

Brandon Gurney, Provo Daily Herald

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American Fork began the 2026 season much like it ended last season in taking a 3-1 win over Timpanogos at Larry H. Miller Park on the BYU campus.

Of course not many teams can string together two straight wins from one season to the next, and it’s a testament to the remarkable success the Cavemen have set forth in winning three of past five 6A state championships, including one last year.

But as American Fork coach Jarod Ingersoll often tells his players, it’s an entirely new season.

“We talk a lot about the fact that it’s a new year and that no one is going to give us anything. We’re going to get every team’s best shot,” he said. “Hopefully it makes us better players and a better team by playing tough competition like Timpanogos, a team that’s coached by Kim Nelson, who is the best coach there ever was in my opinion.”

Indeed Ingersoll was privileged to play for Nelson back when he was a player at American Fork, along with two other assistant coaches he has on staff.

“He’s magical with what he does as a coach and none of us are the players or the coaches we are without him,” Ingersoll added. “He’s the godfather of baseball here in the state and I really can’t say enough about Kim and some of the coaches he has on his staff. Kim is the best.”

As for Monday’s game, it was played under relatively perfect weather conditions, and due to an uncommonly mild winter in Utah County, American Fork players have been able to practice outside much more than in years past. And it showed with the relatively sharp play exhibited from both teams with the Cavemen committing just one error and the Timberwolves none.

“Oh, it definitely helps. We’ve been lucky with the weather,” Ingersoll said. “We did some good things for it being our first game of the year, I felt. With us practicing outside more than we ever have you’d think it would lead to cleaner baseball. So there’s things to work on, sure, but overall it was a good start to the season today. I liked a lot of things that I saw out there.”

Leading the way from the plate for the Cavemen on Monday were Gavin Robinson and Ty Holmstead, both of whom had two hits in their three at bats, with Robinson scoring two of his team’s runs and Holmstead one. Two RBI hits were provided by Kenny Johnson and Tallon Willardson.

Pitching took center stage, however, with Cruz Adams, Johnson and Holmstead combining to hold the Timberwolves to just a single run scored. It was the type of effort Ingersoll hopes will be a staple with his team this season and anticipates solid pitching throughout the season.

“We have a great pitching staff, we feel,” he said. “We have a great group of leaders who don’t care who gets the stats. They just want to win, and I liked what I saw from our pitchers today. We feel that’s going to be our strength this year and today was a great start for them. We just need to continue to make sure we improve because there’s a long way to go.”

And as Ingersoll mentioned previously, nothing has been earned yet by this team, although what has been earned in past years serves as a ready blueprint on how to rise to become the last team standing when it’s all said and done in late May.

“We know the culture is here with what we’ve done and how we do things, but these kids hopefully know that they have to establish their foothold with all that,” he concluded. “But I like this group a lot. I think we have a great senior class of leaders who understand the culture and what it takes. So we’re optimistic and hopefully we can continue to improve and we’ll see what we can accomplish at the end.”