Valley Top 5: Maple Mountain baseball, Spanish Fork softball top first rankings
Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald
Spanish Fork players congratulate junior Jade Romero after she hit a home run during the non-region game at Lehi on Tuesday, March 19, 2024.Each week, Daily Herald sports experts Jared Lloyd and Darnell Dickson rank the top five teams in the Utah Valley in baseball, softball, boys soccer, boys lacrosse, girls lacrosse and boys volleyball (records as of April 14):
BASEBALL
1. Maple Mountain (12-2)
Golden Eagles pitching staff in lockdown mode (2.40 ERA).
2. Orem (12-2)
Ace Owen Miller is 5-0 on the mound for the Tigers.
3. Timpanogos (15-6)
T-Wolves running hard through Region 8 (9-0).
4. Salem Hills (9-4)
Dagen Gammell and Kaleb Holman have combined for 29 RBI.
5. Lone Peak (8-5)
Took 2 of 3 from Skyridge in Region 3 play last week.
-Darnell Dickson
SOFTBALL
1. Spanish Fork (15-2)
The Dons have found their stride and are going to be tough to beat.
2. Springville (15-4)
The Red Devils have won seven straight since falling just short against Spanish Fork
3. Salem Hills (13-5)
This Skyhawk squad knows how to score, having already put up 166 runs this season.
4. Pleasant Grove (10-6)
Everyone in Region 3 is chasing the Vikings but they won’t be easy to catch
5. Cedar Valley (10-5)
The Aviators face tough competition in Region 8 but have the talent to hang with the best.
-Jared Lloyd
BOYS SOCCER
1. Lone Peak (6-1)
The Knights seized the top spot by beating a good American Fork team.
2. American Fork (7-1)
Expect the Cavemen to be itching to avenge the loss to their rivals but there’s a lot of games first.
3. Wasatch (8-0)
The Wasps might be the best defensive team in Class 5A, having only allowed four goals all season.
4. Salem Hills (6-1)
The Skyhawks have started strong and will be ready if Wasatch stumbles.
5. Provo (4-3)
The Bulldogs are still improving but three wins to start Region 8 has them in good shape.
-Jared Lloyd
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
1. Westlake (11-2)
Thunder are No. 1 in 6A RPI.
2. Orem (15-2)
Tigers are No. 1 in 4A RPI.
3. Maple Mountain (12-2)
Golden Eagles are No. 1 in 5A RPI.
4. Skyridge (10-4)
Falcons coming off upset of Westlake last week.
5. Pleasant Grove (15-4)
Setter Ethan Hillyard leads Vikings with 8.3 assists per set.
-Darnell Dickson
GIRLS LACROSSE
1. Pleasant Grove (7-2)
Vikings have won two straight overtime games.
2. Payson (6-1)
Morgan Jacobson leads Lions with 27 goals and five assists.
3. Skyridge (6-2)
Falcons host Westlake and Lone Peak in Region 3 play.
4. Timpanogos (6-2)
T-Wolves try to rebound from last week’s loss at Payson.
5. Lone Peak (4-4)
Defending 6A state champs off to 3-1 start in Region 3.
-Darnell Dickson
BOYS LACROSSE
1. Skyridge (7-2)
The Falcon offense can be impressive, as shown by their 133 goals scored so far.
2. Orem (5-2)
After starting 1-2, the Tigers have rattled off four straight wins.
3. Pleasant Grove (5-3)
The Vikings start Region 3 action on Thursday.
4. Payson (5-3)
The Lion defense will be key all season as it looks to shut down opponents.
5. Spanish Fork (4-3)
The Dons get the nod atop the crowded Region 7 field thanks to their defensive performance so far.
– Jared Lloyd
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