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Dash McCann of Timpanogos slides safely into third base during a Region 8 baseball game against Provo on Wednesday, April 24, 2024.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Timpanogos coach Kim Nelson, center, gives instruction to his players during a time out of a Region 8 baseball game against Provo on Wednesday, April 24, 2024.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Carter Hall of Timpanogos delivers a pitch against Provo in a Region 8 baseball game on Wednesday, April 24, 2024.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Provo pitcher Gehrig Orchard (left) and catcher Kelson Scott confer on the mound during a Region 8 baseball game against Timpanogos on Wednesday, April 24, 2024.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Provo left fielder Kampton Fuller slides to the ground after making a catch in foul territory during a Region 8 baseball game against Timpanogos on Wednesday, April 24, 2024.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Provo's Gehrig Orchard delivers a pitch during a Region 8 baseball game against Timpanogos on Wednesday, April 24, 2024.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Dylan WcWhorter of Timpanogos lays down a bunt during a Region 8 baseball game against Provo in Wednesday, April 24, 2024.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Jackson Sotelo of Timpanogos (11) slides safely into second base during a Region 8 baseball game against Provo on Wednesday, April 24, 2024.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Timpanogos base runner Dash McCann slides back into second base during a Region 8 baseball game against Provo on Wednesday, April 24, 2024.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

❮ ❯

Timpanogos coach Kim Nelson has taken his team to play preseason games down south in St. George pretty much every year.

This season, it was more than just an opportunity to play in good weather.

It was also a scouting trip.

The T-Wolves are the defending Class 5A champions but moved down to 4A with the newest alignment. Timpanogos topped Provo 5-1 on Wednesday, pushing their Region 8 record to 11-0 as they prepare for the state tournament.

The T-Wolves were just 6-6 in the preseason with losses to Dixie (No. 1 4A RPI), Viewmont (No. 1 5A RPI) and American Fork (No. 2 6A RPI) showing them where they could get better. The strength in 4A is down south, with five of the Top 10 RPI teams from Region 9.

“Dixie is very good,” Timpanogos coach Kim Nelson said. “Snow Canyon (No. 2 4A RPI) is good, too. They’re just both very good. But we went down there and saw those teams. So we know that there’s nothing to be afraid of. It’s not like we’re going into the state tournament without any knowledge.”

Junior right-hander Carter Hall, who transferred from Orem, got the complete game win against Provo. Hall threw 93 pitches, striking out four and holding the Bulldogs scoreless in his final four innings of work by retiring 15 of the final 18 batters he faced. Hall is 5-0 with an ERA under 1.00.

Nelson found a moment after the game to impart some wisdom to his young pitcher.

“He came out one time, I don’t even think he was taking a breath,” Nelson said. “He was just so tight. I said, ‘Are you mad?’ He says, ‘Yeah.’ I said, ‘Who are you mad it?’ He says, ‘Them (Provo).’ I just told him he had to let it go. Baseball is a game where if you’re mad at somebody, the tighter your muscles are, the slower the reaction is going to be. So you’ve got to find a way to relax and breathe your way through it. But he pitched a very good game. He’s been very good all year.”

Timpanogos got on the board first with two runs in the top of the second. Tyler Hunter reached on a two-out error and eventually came home on a wild pitch as Provo starter Gehrig Orchard ran into control problems and issued three walks in the inning. Kayden Harding walked to force in a second run for a 2-0 T-Wolves lead.

Provo got one back in the bottom of the inning, taking advantage of a fielding error to move Tre Eyre to third. Eyre came home on a sacrifice bunt by Kelson Scott to cut the deficit to 2-1.

In the top of the third, Brighton Tate walked and came home on Jackson Sotelo’s double. Hunter moved the runner to third with a sacrifice bunt and Sotelo scored on a wild pitch for a 4-1 Timpanogos advantage.

Tate’s sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth drove in a run and gave the T-Wolves a 5-1 lead.

Timpanogos (18-6), which beat Provo 11-2 on Tuesday, faces the Bulldogs (16-7 overall, 6-5 Region 8) in the regular-season finale on Friday.

The T-Wolves are No. 3 in the 4A RPI and will be one of the top eight seeds in the upcoming state tournament. Due to the tournament format, Timpanogos will get a bye until the Super Regionals and won’t play for nearly two weeks.

“Maybe I’ll take them bowling,” Nelson said dryly. “The schedule makes it hard. You can’t play any game because we’ve already played our maximum number. You can’t play once the tournament starts, anyway. In practice, we’ll train and work on the things that will make us better.

“We pitched really well in the preseason but we kind of struggled hitting the ball. We lost to Viewmont and American Fork in the seventh inning, a couple of games we shouldn’t have lost. Right now, we just have more guys in the lineup that are making a difference with their hitting. Our pitching has always been there, but now we have more guys that are a threat to do something at the plate.”

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