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Lehi's Jackson Brousseau delivers to the plate during a 5A baseball state tournament game against Maple Mountain at UCCU Ballpark in Orem on Monday, May 23, 2022.

Darnell Dickson/Daily Herald

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Maple Mountain outfielders Bennett Averett (23) and Caleb Chandler collide while attempting to make a catch against Lehi in the 5A baseball state playoffs at UCCU Ballpark in Orem on Monday, May 23 2022.

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Lehi's Jaxon Christiansen, left, dives back toward second base as Maple Mountain's Corbin Bailey reaches for the tag during a 5A baseball state tournament game at UCCU Ballpark on Monday, May 23, 2022.

Darnell Dickson/Daily Herald

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Lehi coach Jason Ingersoll (in black) looks to the dugout during a time out against Maple Mountain in a 5A baseball state tournament game at UCCU Ballpark on Monday, May 23, 2022.

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Maple Mountain's Jordan Hollingshaus (left) and Dax DeWitt talk strategy during a 5A baseball state tournament game against Lehi at UCCU Ballpark in Orem on Monday, May 23, 2022.

Darnell Dickson/Daily Herald

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Maple Mountain's Cooper Seamans (right) waits for the ball as Lehi's Braden Willes dives back to first base during a 5A baseball state playoff game at UCCU Ballpark in Orem in Monday, May 23, 2022.

Darnell Dickson/Daily Herald

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Lehi catcher Maddux Madsen looks for the ball after it hit a Maple Mountain batter during a 5A baseball state tournament game at UCCU Ballpark in Orem on Saturday, May 23, 2022.

Darnell Dickson/Daily Herald

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Lehi's Zach Evans takes a swing against Maple Mountain during a 5A baseball state tournament game at UCCU Ballpark in Orem on Monday, May 23, 2022.

Darnell Dickson/Daily Herald

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The 5A state baseball tournament has seen a bit of chaos in 2022.

Five of the eight teams, on paper, shouldn’t have even gotten this far in the tournament and one of those, No. 22 Maple Mountain, took out top seed and defending state champions Spanish Fork Dons in the Super Regional to advance all the way through to the final eight teams from the one-and-done round.

But Lehi restored a bit of order in the universe as the No. 2 seeded Pioneers cruised by Maple Mountain 10-0 in five innings in the first round of the 8-team bracket format on Monday.

The victory came with solid pitching and defense, timely hitting, lots of stolen bases, three sacrifice flies, along with Maple Mountain’s own struggles from the mound through the first three innings where Lehi plated ten runs. Four Golden Eagle hurlers walked seven and hit three more Pioneer batters.

Meanwhile, Lehi’s Jackson Brousseau was in total command going five innings for the complete game victory. Besides getting the shutout, Brosseau only allowed two hits, didn’t walk anyone, though he did hit one batter, and only one Golden Eagle runner reached second base. What was also good for a possible Pioneer tournament run was Brousseau only hurled 60 total pitches in his 5-inning effort.

“It was just the way Maddux (Madsen) called it, just throwing strikes, getting ahead, great defense behind me,” said Brousseau, who related that Madsen, as a catcher, is allowed by the Lehi coaching staff to call the pitches versus a pitching coach or the head coach, who according to Brousseau calls a few pitches here or there.

Brousseau was also the starting quarterback on the Lehi football team that took state in the fall and played on a state championship basketball team two seasons ago. He felt those experiences helped him and the team.

“Our starting right fielder (Wack Christensen) played receiver on the football team and was a big leader. And just the experience, we’ve been here before so nerves are a little less.” Brousseau said.

Brousseau also contributed to Pioneer offensive effort reaching base three times via a single, a walk and being hit by the pitch. His speed-up or courtesy runner Jamon Robertson scored three times and had two stolen bases.

Madsen and his two younger brothers also played key roles in the victory. Maddux had two singles and a sacrifice fly. As a catcher, he’s entitled to a speed-up runner so younger brother Mays got to circle the bases for two runs and also had a stolen base. Then McGwire Madsen, who is the leadoff hitter and plays shortstop, had a triple and an RBI.

Another star for the Pioneers was Jake Olsen who had a solo homerun in the second inning to give Lehi a 4-0 lead. Then he walked, stole two bases and scored again in the third inning.

Lehi head coach Jason Ingersoll was very happy with the result of the game and the fact that his team could end the game early because of the mercy rule.

“We plan on being here for the whole week,” Ingersoll said. “We’ve had three weeks off and a bye to the super regional, while other teams have stressed arms. I think we’re ready to roll.

“I know Maple Mountain has a good hitting team but when you have Jackson Brousseau, he makes them look not so good, and in my opinion, we have the best defensive team in the state,” added Ingersoll.

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